To think these theatre prices are outrageous?

[takeharry]

Currently looking at HAMILTON tickets, now I understand they have a ‘star’ casting in Leslie Odom Jr, original broadway cast but FIVE HUNDRED fucking pounds? For one ticket?

There are a few £250/£275 tickets left but the vast majority left are £500.

AIBU to think there should be some sort of regulatory body to prevent this kind of bullshit pricing?

£1k for a couple to have an evening at the theatre

I've read all your posts and just been confused when you just say "I understand why, it's still bad."

A private organisation is charging £500 for a theatre show. It's what they want to do and what they've decided to do. I assume for the most part we all believe in free will and being allowed to make our own destiny?

If you had a business would you want to be dictated to what is a "fair" price or would you reasonably do what most people do and set the price in a way where you maximise your profit and be rewarded as much as you can for the work you put in delivering that service?

Agree with you that this is too expensive. The only thing I think that should be legislated against though are add on fees. I wonder how much of the ticket price actually goes to the theatre and the cost of the production.

I am not the poster, but I am still curious WHY you are "just am opposed to £500 theatre tickets."

Do you just oppose to every luxury price in general, or is it specific to the one show you want to see (and you have paid for cheap tickets anyway)

No one is saying about having to buy tickets Ever heard of theoretical discussion?

Obviously not

well...yeah?
You could say the same about literally any goods, services or experiences that are more expensive than it costs to produce (i.e. pretty much everything).
It's capitalism 101. Things are worth what people will pay for them.
I don't really get the confusion.

OP, you would be making a valid point if all tickets were £500, and no other options were available. I'm not in the UK, so I just took a look at the booking website - there are very few tickets available for when Leslie Odom is performing, and the ones left are £500. On the days Leslie Odom is not performing, there are still tickets and they appear to range from £60 upwards - so a wide range of price points.

The price of theatre tickets in this instance is not prohibitive - there are many options to get tickets at varying prices.

What is being sold, complete with charity contribution, is a particular niche product, a luxury product as others have said, which is a show where a known star, of renown, is performing. That's really very different.

I understand the tickets are that price because people will pay it. I also think it’s a ridiculous price.

What when your closest show is London lol.

I have no idea who this star is but why it means you should have to cough up £250 charity donation on top of increased ticket price I don't have a clue.

You said it would annoy you for a ticket to include a charity donation.

But it’s very easy to avoid.

You know what the offer is. You can accept the conditions or not. Why be annoyed?

Nobody is confused.

I can’t afford that price, but if I could, I would pay it.
Amazing show. Incredible performer.

but it's NOT theoretical. It is luxury, no one has to do anything.

You could argue about mandatory school lunch price, or the cost of insuline or whatever, but a non-essential luxury item?

Whats' the reasoning behind demanding prices are cap, and capped to what? For some families, £50 would be unthinkable and that's even before you add transport to London, food and often an overnight stay unless you are very local.

I generally agree with this.

I went to see Legally Blonde on tour at our local-ish theatre (not London). It was £75 a ticket, which was reasonable as it is a big hit musical with Amber Davies playing the lead. The theatre was sold out every night.

A few weeks later there was a lesser known musical (Karate Kid) that sounded like it could be ok, but it was mid-week and no big names, yet still the same prices for tickets so we decided against it. They sold so few tickets at that price that they halved the number of seats available so people were sitting nearer the stage. I remember checking on the day and they'd only sold about 20% of the tickets.

I can't help thinking that if they'd put the tickets at £10 to £50 each rather than £60 to £150, they would have filled the theatre and actually made more money.

So I guess it is a supply and demand thing...

I avoid the London shows as the experience in smaller theatres is often so much nicer and more affordable.

Yes and I wouldn't pay. So I don't need you to tell me not to pay. It's like the " mean girl" responses to the OP " oh well if you can't afford it do t go". when she's merely trying to have a bloody discussion

But OP, for you (and me too!) it's a 'ridiculous price' as you would not, perfectly reasonably, see value in paying that kind of money for a theatre show, regardless of the performer.

I couldn't afford it, and even if I could, I wouldn't spend it.

But there are people who can afford it, or who really feel it is a special, worthwhile experience for them, maybe they love this show, or this performer or musical theatre in general, whatever - and so they are happy to pay it.

It's not ridiculous in itself.

If every ticket for every performance of Hamilton was £500, you would have a point as many many people would never have a chance of seeing the show - and because they couldn't, the business model would be unlikely to succeed.

Literally had no idea. Thank you.

I didn’t realise discussion meant that people had to share your viewpoint.

I am simply expressing my view, as are you.

i don’t need you being snippy.

it's not a discussion when all the OP says is "it's ridiculous" and is being rude to people who try to engage in the discussion 😂

I just Googled to find out who Leslie Odom Jr is, as I'd never heard of him!

How am I being rude? By reiterating that I do understand why they are £500 or something else?

YABU, you don’t have to go.

I believe my post here summarises my views well. They are offering you their services and their work. They are the ones to decide how much they want to sell it for

That's what I was going to say as well.

I saw Hamilton in London two years ago and didn’t like it that much tbh. Bit… boring…?!

I’ll get me coat…

No you’re right, that would be terrible. In fact, they should raise the prices. Keep all the oiks out. Theatre should be for those than can afford it, the peasants can stay at home and watch Love Island.