Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: It's September and the show isn't until March, why so early? A: Simple answer: Shows Sell Out. Detailed answer: If you're at all familiar with the theatre world, then you know securing tickets up to a year in advance isn't early at all, it's standard if you want the best seats, and in some cases, a seat at all. By securing your seats with my groups, you are guaranteed the best seats available in the second round of seat assignments. Subscribers are assigned seats first, follwed by groups. In some cases, when a touring production is only here for a week or two, there is little to nothing left after that. If you don't want to sit in the back row of the balcony, paying more, then you should secure your seats as early as possible. Some theatre companies are also now doing what is called "Dynamic Pricing", which means, the price can go up based on popularity of a show. Your tickets could be $85 today and $150 tomorrow. If you lock in your seats and price with the group at the time the show is made available, your price will not go up. If I sell out of tickets and secure more, you may notice a price change. In some instances, I may have the tickets for several months before I put the information out, depending on when my deposit is due. For example, Les Mis in San Francisco, I secured those seats in November 2011 for an August 2012 show, and put them on sale in February, with a July 2012 payment deadline. By the time Les Mis was in performance, the seats were $150 each and the entire run had sold out, but our group rate remained unchanged. Q: Why can't I get a group ticket a week before the performance date? A: Group orders have payment deadlines, usually between four and six weeks before the show date. Meaning, I have to make a final payment on the order, the tickets are shipped to me and the order is closed. In some cases, I may be able to add tickets for you, but would need immediate payment, your tickets likely won't be with the group and could cost more than the original offered price, based on "Dynamic Pricing" as described above. Q: Why are there sometimes tickets still available after the deposit deadline and sometimes the show disappears from the CTG site? A: If there are enough orders to meet the deposit amount due, I can keep the order on sale until the payment due date or until all my tickets are sold out. If not, then the order is cancelled (ie: Rock of Ages and Billy Elliott). It's important to say you want to go by the deadline and plan on it. In 2011 I had secured fantastic sixth row Rock of Ages seats in Sacramento, nobody said they wanted to go by the deposit deadline so the order was cancelled. A month before show date I kept getting requests for tickets, I booked another group, but the best seats available were in the back of the Second Tier, which nobody wanted and the order was cancelled a second time. Q: How can I pay for my tickets? A: There are several ways you can pay for your tickets! The preferred method is with credit or debit card. I use Eventbrite for credit/debit card purchases. Please note, Eventbrite does charge a small processing fee based on dollar amount. I now have Venmo, and of course, and Chase for quick pay methods. Q: When will I receive my tickets? A: Once all payments on the order have been received, I pay off the order and typically receive the tickets within a week of payment. I mail your tickets out as soon as I can and send an email and post an alert on the Facebook page that tickets have been mailed. Q: How do you pick the dates? A: A few factors determine how I pick a show date: Length of the run, pricing, seat availability and popularity. Popularity: A show like The Lion King or Wicked, where I suspect people may want to travel from another city (ie: Sacramento to San Francisco) to see the show would make me more inclined to pick a weekend matinee performance. Seat availability: If the best seats at a matinee are Orchestra row Q but we can get row E for an evening performance, I'd be more inclined to do the evening show. Pricing: Price discount is a factor and Mary Poppins is a great example here. There was a $25 per ticket savings on Friday night, with no discounts on a weekend performance. Adding in the seat availability factor, I chose a Friday night performance. Length of show run: The longer a show stays, the better the seating availability. Subscribers are generally scheduled the first week after a show opens, reducing availability for great seats, waiting a week or two can make a huge difference in where we sit! Q: What happened to San Jose and Sacramento? A: Unfortunately group interest diminished in both cities and group minimums could not be met. As of 2018 I am back in Sacramento, and if interest returns, so will the groups. Let me know if you're interested in Sacramento theater! Q: The shows always seem to be Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Why not weeknights? A: I would absolutely do a weeknight show if the demand is there and there are enough people for a group. Often weeknights offer even greater discounts over weekend performances. If you would like to attend a weeknight show, let me know, especially if there are quite a few of you attending! I'll see what I can do. We have had some successful weeknight shows for the more popular shows that are harder to get into on weekends their first and second time around on tour that have required multiple group dates (ie: Wicked, Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots and Hamilton). Q: Would you ever consider multiple group dates for a show, I can't make the one you picked. A: ABSOLUTELY!!! In order to make a second group, I would need to have enough people to meet the minimum number for a second group. When the demand is there, I have done it and will continue to do so when I can. In fact, I've even had three dates for some shows like Book of Mormon and Hamilton. I hate when someone wants to see a show and can't attend the date selected. Q: Are Wheelchair/ADA seats available with groups? A: YES!! If you need wheelchair or ADA accessible seating, let me know ASAP, even if the show isn't "on sale" yet, I may all ready have the reservation, and if not, I can be sure to add the seats for you. The sooner I know the sooner I can secure these seats for you! Q: Are student tickets available? A: Student rate tickets are usually available and usually in the baloncy or mezzanine at a discounted rate. Sometimes a minimum number is required. Student tickets go fast! Tell me as soon as possible, even if the show is not yet available, that way I can secure your student seats immediately with the rest of the group - and get your students the best available seats! If no student rate is offered, I can always secure front Balcony seats, or other area, depnding on your cost restrictions, at the discounted group rate. Q: How do you know all this theatre "stuff"? A: I have an extensive theatre, groups and box office background including working as a manager at the Orpheum in San Francisco for several years. (If you're with a theatre company and need someone...I would LOVE to get my theatre career back...yes, shameless plug here, but it may work, who knows.) Please remember, I welcome your feedback and suggestions. |
Header images: Legally Blonde, Bring it On, Hair, Book of Mormon and Chicago