64 replies to this topic

[Ian]

Good on Sarah Millican for making a stance

http://wos.im/QfK4G3

[fringefan]

What's also very unfair is discrimination against those who go alone, e.g. offers of two-for-the-price-of-one which do not extend to half-price for solo patrons (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, I'm looking at you) and theatres which don't allow you to book a single seat of your choice.  The Royal Court's website does this but if you ring, the Box Office staff can at least override the system for you; however, try it with a Delfont Mackintosh theatre and they absolutely refuse to let you book a seat if it will leave another single alongside.  How can they get away with this nowadays?

[Alf]

I really like Sarah Millican, and now she's done this I think I love her. Good on her.

[Palatio]

good for her.

No idea why the service charge is there - when booking electonically there is minimal person interaction (less than when you go in person to the box office - for which there is often no service charge!). Just greedy theatre groups basically.

On the subject of rip offs, I recall getting told off by one over-zealous usher at a London theatre for bringing in my own water - he said we were not allowed to do this but we could purchase from their bar or their sellers. At the scandalous prices they charge????? So I stood my ground and of course nothing happened. I never understand why people want to pay up to £3 for a small bottle of water when they can buy the same stuff for pennies from a supermarket - planning ahead a little.......

[zyx123]

Oh how I hate ATG, the fact that the booking fee is different depending on if it is a play or a musical is laughable. I used to have an ATG loyalty card, but there are never any offers anymore (as a person who generally goes to the theatre alone agree about the 2 for 1). I will simply book at the box office in the future.

Looking at booking Blue/Orange in Manchester, £10 ticket has a £5.90 booking fee. Not surprising they have hardly sold any tickets.

[bex1210]

I resent paying booking fees. I'm the 1 doing the booking why do I have to pay to do it. I can kind of understand box office booking fees because someone if helping you do it but not online booking.

[peggs]

Nice one, it's artists/companies etc who can make the stand. And yes who with all this equality legislation around can they treat single seat bookers differently and since there seem to be so many of us single bookers surely we'd buy the last single seat anyway!

[Pharaoh's number 2]

My local theatre is awful with single seats. I turned up 30mins or so before curtain up to get a ticket, but the only stalls tix available were either pairs or groups of four. They wouldn't sell me a single seat as it would leave another single seat, or a group of 3, and that's their "policy". How ridiculous is that, 30 mins before curtain up? They'd rather have 2 empty seats than 1.

[fringefan]

I genuinely believe that the business (!) of refusing to sell single tickets and/or charging a set fee per transaction, not per ticket, is discriminatory.   I bet if someone had the time and energy to go as far as the European Court, it would be found to be unfair and outlawed.   But maybe a public campaign (including, perhaps, naming and shaming the offenders and praising any theatres which perform well in this respect, if there are any) would be quicker and more effective.  As for theatres which charge not one but TWO fees (Rose Theatre, Kingston), do they seriously expect any business from solo theatregoers?

[Lynette]

Palatio, on 17 September 2012 - 03:42 PM, said:

good for her.



On the subject of rip offs, I recall getting told off by one over-zealous usher at a London theatre for bringing in my own water - he said we were not allowed to do this but we could purchase from their bar or their sellers. At the scandalous prices they charge????? So I stood my ground and of course nothing happened. I never understand why people want to pay up to £3 for a small bottle of water when they can buy the same stuff for pennies from a supermarket - planning ahead a little.......

WHAT?? Name and shame please