Ricky Jay Doing Three Shows in New York at the End of November

[Richard Kaufman]

Buy tickets now!
http://www.livenation.com/artists/164272/ricky-jay

[Doug Thornton]

$177.00 per ticket. Wow.

[Roger M.]

It's a new trend in NYC, charge Broadway ticket prices for shows that are nowhere near Broadway, off-off Broadway as it were.

Doesn't matter though, RJ has always been a huge draw in NYC, and this short run will no doubt sell out quickly.

[Ted M]

Title: Cons, Cards and Conversation: An Evening with Ricky Jay

[Herb]

As noted all seats -in the orchestra and mezzanine both - are priced at $177 - PLUS there is a $25.50 per ticket service charge and to top it off (and in my view add insult to injury) - a $2 per ticket facility charge. The entire bill for two tickets in the search I just ran came to $409.

Not sure who the target audience is for this but that pricing makes the show inaccessible to many magic lovers. I will be intrigued to see how it sells...Despite the availability of good seats at this moment, I won't be going.

[Joe Mckay]

I had no idea that Broadway tickets are so expensive.

London's West End seems much cheaper.

[I.M. Magician]

I had no idea that Broadway tickets are so expensive.

They can be acquired for much less. There are deals available for Broadway shows such as matinees for example.

If you include the fees, cost of train to get there and so on, it adds up to a very expensive day.

I would certainly go to his gig if the price wasn't so expensive.

[Joe Mckay]

I always wondered how a hit show can earn you millions.

And with prices like that - I can see why.

[Richard Kaufman]

Tickets can only be had "for much less" on shows that have been running a long time, or are not selling out.

If the show is selling out, there are no discounted tickets. Instead, you pay even more.

[Ted M]

Of course Genii received comp tickets for review purposes...

[Richard Kaufman]

Of course ... NOT.

[Roger M.]

The number one rule when it comes to Broadway tickets is to check out one of the three TKTS booths for discounted tickets for that days shows.
If a Broadway show isn't sold out by mid-afternoon, the remaining tickets are discounted and sold at TKTS (which is a Broadway charity org).

The downside is you're making show plans late in the same afternoon as that evenings show - but the upside is you're often getting a ticket for half, or a quarter of the actual ticket price.

I doubt RJ's show will have tickets at TKTS though, as it's far, far off Broadway, and as noted earlier, will likely sell out.

In a city where a one bedroom condo goes for over a million dollars, and has a monthly maintenance fee of $1500.00 or so as well, one presumes that a $200.00 ticket to a show isn't really going to impact an NYC homeowners wallet too hard.

For the rest of us, it's painful, and a ton of cash!!

[observer]

As noted all seats -in the orchestra and mezzanine both - are priced at $177 - PLUS there is a $25.50 per ticket service charge and to top it off (and in my view add insult to injury) - a $2 per ticket facility charge. The entire bill for two tickets in the search I just ran came to $409.

Not sure who the target audience is for this but that pricing makes the show inaccessible to many magic lovers. I will be intrigued to see how it sells...Despite the availability of good seats at this moment, I won't be going.

I used to go to shows in NY. If the ticket price was $40, you paid $40 for a ticket. Period. I always assumed the ticket price was calculated so as to make sure performer/producer/venue/whoever all got an acceptable piece of the $$$. Why are we now showing additional charges for the venue etc? If you need to charge $179 to make sure everybody's covered, then just price the tickets at $179. "Plus $2 for ... " just gives the impression of gouging the customers for every penny the show can get out of them.

[Richard Kaufman]

Don't complain: you're lucky to see a good show for under $200.

[Roger M.]

I used to go to shows in NY. If the ticket price was $40, you paid $40 for a ticket. Period. I always assumed the ticket price was calculated so as to make sure performer/producer/venue/whoever all got an acceptable piece of the $$$. Why are we now showing additional charges for the venue etc? If you need to charge $179 to make sure everybody's covered, then just price the tickets at $179. "Plus $2 for ... " just gives the impression of gouging the customers for every penny the show can get out of them.

The primary reason for breaking down ticket prices is one of optics as seen by the eyes of the customer.

Most productions will have a fixed ticket price, and will want the patron to be aware of what that fixed ticket price is.

When the venue adds a venue service charge, when the box office adds a box office service charge, when the credit card charges a credit card convenience fee, when you're charged an additional two bucks to make your reservation and download tickets via the internet, etc, etc, etc ... those productions want you to be aware that those charges are totally unrelated to the cost the production had chosen to charge for the actual ticket, but are indeed hefty add-ons that (in many if not most cases) the production has absolutely no control over.

Recall that, on Broadway, venues, box offices, production companies, credit card handlers, etc can all be completely different companies.

The basic ticket price may be $150.00, but balloon up to $175.00 with the add-ons.
The actual core production wants you to see the $150.00 ticket fee independently of all the additional charges, rather that for you (the customer) to presume that the actual ticket price the production wants to charge you is $175.00.

Most productions and production companies are aghast at the assorted add-ons attached to their tickets ... but often can do little or nothing about it.

I'm aware that this is largely a position of optics, and the pundits can easily claim it's all one price for one ticket ... and even though I understand the argument, the reality is that it's an argument that is faulty in terms of the reality of putting on shows and selling tickets to those shows.

[Doug Thornton]

If you'd rather not wait for the day of a show (going to TKTS, as Roger M mentioned), get on the TheaterMania email list. They keep you up to date on discounts.

http://www.theatermania.com/

And if you ARE in NYC or nearby on the day you're hankering for some live theatre you can try for a lottery (although you don't know where you'll be seated):

http://www.broadwayforbrokepeople.com/

Tickets range from $10 - $42 ($10 for "Hamilton"? Yes.) and if your name is chosen you have about an hour to commit to buy. Maximum 2 tickets per person.

[Daniel Bain]

I have 4 tickets for Ricky Jay show this Thursday night (very good seats). At least two of my guests have a last minute conflict.

Anyone interested in switching tickets who has 2-4 tickets for Tuesday or Wednesday night performance? (Otherwise, I may have a couple tickets available for sale for Thursday night.)

Daniel

[performer]

Oh, I will wait until it comes out on You Tube.

[Scott M.]

I have a second row seat for tonight's show for which my friend is suddenly sick and can't go. I was going to try and sell it at the box office but if anyone here is interested let me know by replying...

Scott

[Richard Kaufman]

Seeing it tomorrow night.

There are still seats available at the back of the balcony for tonight and tomorrow night.

[Richard Kaufman]

Saw the show. Ricky ambled onstage and held the audience for 90 minutes, performing about half a dozen tricks and telling lots of stories. Steve Martin made a surprise appearance.
Standing ovation.

[performer]

In America you can get a standing ovation for sneezing. I have never seen a magician even once get a standing ovation in the UK. It seems to happen here all the time. Yanks are very easy to please and Canadians are just as bad.

[Scott M.]

Saw the show. Ricky ambled onstage and held the audience for 90 minutes, performing about half a dozen tricks and telling lots of stories. Steve Martin made a surprise appearance.
Standing ovation.

I got Elvis Costello the night before.

[observer]

Any media reviews?

(RJ, not Elvis)

[Richard Kaufman]

Crickets ...
But I will have a full write up in the February Genii.

[Bill Mullins]

It would also appear that Mr. Jay has a show coming up in San Francisco.

[Richard Kaufman]

Sunday Jan 22 he will be interviewed by Van Dyke Parks. Not what we saw in New York.


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[observer]

Looking forward to the review. All I could find on line was a pre-show mention (press release?) in the Brooklyn Vegan.

[Richard Kaufman]

The show was very good. Ricky has evolved with his age--something very important that many artists neglect.

[Ted M]

Crickets ...
But I will have a full write up in the February Genii.

Hooray!

I was wondering why there were no details in your post.

I await with anticipation!