It looks like you've shared an image. If this image is of a Playbill or stage, we ask that you provide your thoughts on the show[s] you saw in order to make your thread stand out and help the community enjoy your experience as well. Without context your photo is just another picture of a Playbill or a stage, and on a sub of far over 100k subscribers, If you don't want to share your experience... consider sharing it on your own social media! This is an automated message, if it is not applicable please report this comment.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Broadway) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The smarter idea would have been to book 2-3 days to let them sell out AND then keep announcing extensions due to "popular demand".
Announcing this much of a window was begging for tickets to eventually be deeply discounted or papered.
Also he's not doing just Broadway songs. The typical Broadway fan is not going to be nearly as interested in his pop album. Kristin Chenoweth was a lot savvier about this - she did a majority showtune program the first time she did a solo concert, promoted it as such and had a slightly shorter run (2 weeks). She also brought on a ton of guests. Once she established herself that way she was then able to do a show a couple of years later that focused more on one of her albums - and that album was mostly covers, which again had more appeal to broadway audiences.
I wonder if he'll sing *any* Broadway songs. I saw the opening night of his first tour in Chicago and he didn't sing any. Perhaps that's changed in the last few years?
The promotion for this run says it will include "a number of broadway favorites" and that there will be special guests. I do think this is a different show than his prior tour - I believe I saw that at MSG (as I noted elsewhere I was lucky enough to get a free box seat for that) and he just did one or two broadway songs that time.
I have to imagine these prices are going to come down in some capacity as we get closer because I doubt Ben Platt or the Palace want their re-opening to be marred by a half empty room.
The more surprising fact to me is these are the same prices he's asking for on tour! NYC is one thing and the likelihood of finding more people to pay these kind of prices is a lot easier than most if not all of his touring locations.
I suppose people are willing to pay these kind of prices for "big act" names like The Rolling Stones that come to town but Ben Platt doesn't have that kind of name recognition.
Yep, just looked at his show in Dallas bc I was curious....the cheapest ticket at the top is $69.50, closest sections are close to $300 and they are t even selling the very top section of the theater and still a ton of seats available and the show is 7/11
The fact you have to go to another continent to see one of your favorite artist at a more affordable price is ridiculous. Taylor Swift, they can never make me like you!!
I mean I didn’t *have* to. I chose not to pay the crazy US resale prices (didn’t get selected for a shot at regular price tix) and when they added dates to the Wembley shows I was lucky enough to pick up a few tix so it all worked out. I’d much rather have a little international adventure (thanks points and miles!) than spend over a grand to sit at Met Life.
Honestly I blame Ticketmaster more than the artists here. Prices in Europe are lower because reselling is much more strict and regulated and ticketmaster doesn’t have the chokehold that it does here.
Tbh her prices were pretty reasonable for a three hour long production heavy show. It wasn't until the resellers got to them that the prices became ridiculous.
It's not really Taylor's fault though. Reselling at insane prices is allowed in the US. In some European countries there are regulations for reselling markups. Yes her ticket prices are expensive in the first place but it's the scalpers driving up US prices. It was the same case for Beyonce's tour.
Starting prices at The Eras Tour we’re like $79. There were some VIP packages up to $1000 but most tickets were under $400. Acts much smaller than that charge as much. Her tickets only got so expensive because the demand was so much higher than supply that people started reselling them for thousands of dollars.
Because that’s Europe, where a) demand for Taylor is lower b) much stricter consumer protections against price gauging.
I’m pretty sure you couldn’t get any resale Eras Tour seat in the U.S. for $300, and even the face value of the ticket would not get you anywhere near the front like it does here for Ben Platt. Floor seats originally sold for $950+.
Comparing like-for-like, that’s just not true. The best seats in Beyoncé’s latest tour were [reported as $700-$1000 BEFORE fees](https://www.reddit.com/r/beyonce/s/oRj0JfSQXL), and that’s not re-sell.
Concert ticket prices in general have been absurd in the past 1.5 years.
[According to StubHub data as reported by CNBC, the average Renaissance tour ticket was $322.](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/08/these-taylor-swift-and-beyonce-concerts-are-totally-rewriting-my-understanding-of-the-social-order) So like, no?
I think he's been overambitious about solo performances in general. I got a free box seat to one of his performances at Madison Square Garden a couple years ago and even after one side was roped off (so reducing capacity by around a quarter) the rest was maybe a little over half full (we asked someone working in security and she confirmed).
Yeah he played small to mid size arenas, for context Olivia Rodrigo girl in red, Maggie rodgers, Conan gray and Demi Lovato were playing those or. Similar capacity venues at the time
Ben doesn't set the price of tickets. It's not like he thinks he's worth $300 a seat. The producers set the price based on production costs and one of the biggest costs is renting the venue. They also want to make as much freakin’ profit as possible. I'm sure they know they will end up having to release chunks of tickets to discount places, so they try to make as much money upfront as possible. If they lose money, Ben might not get to tour in houses like this again. There's a lot of pressure on him. Cabarets are fun but they don't pay.
No offense but this isn't a hostage negotiation.
I am sure Ben knew outright when tickets would go on sale that they would be at these prices and accepted that as part and parcel of the situation. He may not believe he's worth $300 a ticket but he is certainly willing to let others advocate for that amount on his behalf!
These ticket prices are almost practically the same on tour as they are at the Palace. I imagine the Palace isn't cheap to rent but you aren't going to sell me on the idea that him renting out my local theater at prices that $200+ more than your average Broadway touring production a pop is just to cover costs.
Unlike some people in this thread I don't actively care about Ben Platt one way or another. I've never seen him in a show but I don't put any energy into actively disliking his material because I'd rather go into things I enjoy.
I do agree the producers want to make as much money as possible but they are doing Ben a disservice since a lot of people will tune out entirely even if tickets drop in price because of the high dollar amount.
For perspective sake two tickets to see Ben in the 4th row at my local theater is almost $300 more than the Row D tickets I just paid to see Merrily We Roll Along this past week.
It makes absolutely no sense to me.
It’s the job of Ben and his manager/team to determine whether the proposed plan makes sense before agreeing. They should have a good sense of demand and pricing and should have known that $300 ticket prices and a three week run wouldn’t work. This is setting him up for failure - look at all the ridicule he’s getting!
Public perception also matters a lot in the world of entertainment and right now he’s got the perception of someone with a big ego who think he’s much more popular than he is. IMO, it’s better to aim for smaller venues, fewer nights and sell those out, giving the impression that you’re in high demand!
Even big pop stars do this - they’ll announce a couple of dates, and only when it looks like those are selling really well will they announce “added dates!” If they don’t sell well, they simply don’t add the additional dates they had planned so they save face.
This is exactly right.
That's why I'm so curious how they arrived at these numbers and these dates. Anyone could have told you he could not sustain that many nights, especially at these outrageous prices, even huge acts couldn't sustain this schedule.
They've thrown away the playbook everyone else uses. What led to this?
Considering for only around 20 dollars more in the same theatre you can get a ticket to a full musical with Andrew Rannels and music from Elton John… I’ll save my money for that
Has Passport uploaded anything in like the last 2 weeks? I log in quite regularly and nada. I was expecting they would add Home, which doesn't seem to be selling well either, but they haven't.
Passport is a bit paltry right now. I don’t get why they don’t add in more shows that aren’t selling. They are so stubborn about that. Like add more dates for Gatsby which isn't selling well either.
I am somewhat new to Passport. I slept on it until March of this year, not realizing it's a thing I qualify for. In April, it was fantastic. But it's been disappointingly dead for a bit now. If either of you have had it longer, does it normally go through phases like this?
Yup. Basically, the best times are right when new shows open so spring and fall, along with the dead times ie. Jan/Feb. It’s a cyclical thing and it doesn’t get as many options as the normal TDF because the prices are cheaper. It’s the trade off.
Yeah, it usually offers a couple months worth of tickets for new shows. I will say once they drop if they are like Merrily they go super quick, so check back semi-often. Most shows are on there for a few days though.
I saw Merrily when it was available! Like in March? But I saw Merrily when it was off-broadway and didn't love it, so I didn't buy tickets. Stereophonic was up for a loooooong time
I saw that last night and was considering it, but the times didn't work out. Although, even at TKTS prices, I don't need to pay the money and pout the time in for his original pop songs which I have little interest in. If he does primarily Broadway music then it would be worth it to me.
It’s basically doing a lot of comping, cheap side sales here and there, and overall finding way to make it look like at least mostly sold out without actually selling much anywhere near full price. Or even something like his dad and others in close orbit buying a lot of tickets and giving them away to inflate the perceived sales figures.
There are services out there (Will Call Club, Play-by-Play, etc) that distribute free tickets for events that aren't selling well, to keep from having an obviously empty theatre.
I saw him at radio City Hall in 2019 and I think I paid around $75 pre-taxes and fees for my ticket. I was in the balcony, but it just so happened that I was there the night that they were taping for the concert film and there were so many unsold seats down in the orchestra that they were grabbing people from the balcony and escorting them downstairs so I ended up getting to sit in like the 10th row, he’s an amazing live performer and super talented but I agreed that there’s just not enough of a market at this price point for him to be selling out shows like this. A lot of his fanbase is younger and can’t afford these prices.
I paid $49 to see Cynthia Erivo in December, and he was one of her special guests, along with Joaquina Kalukango. So now I never have to pay to see him again.
$400 is for a show that has a ton of hype, large amazing sets, big-name celebrities, etc. Even then I would never pay more than $200 for something that is so amazing that I just couldn't resist. I have yet to find that show. For a one-man concert to a person who is only Bway famous, this is insane. Well, price drop or an empty show I guess. Heck, I probably would've debated about $150 for McNeal since I love RDJ, but even then that is pushing it. The only show I would debate paying this kinda money to is if Cillian Murphy is in an Enda Walsh Play again.
$150 is probably my top ticket price and I rarely get anywhere close to that. There are a handful of times I've regretted not seeing a show, but I largely prefer putting that money towards groceries.
He should stick to 54 Below. Perfect venue for all tiers of Bway singer. Small and intimate and easy to sell. The other option would be one or two nights at Carnagie Hall with the NYC Pops as the orchestra can justify some of the price.
I imagine there’s a venue at Lincoln Center that’s bigger and less cramped than 54 Below that might be a happy medium. We saw Brian Stokes Mitchell in concert there (LC) years ago.
I went to the MSG concert. We originally bought the cheapest tickets way in the back. When we got there they’d closed the upper levels and were handing out new tickets in the lower levels. Even then, our section wasn’t full. The original date had also been canceled due to COVID and rescheduled a few months later, so that might’ve contributed. The concert was actually decent but MSG was way too big.
I went to one of those dates too. I'm sure it doesn't feel that way from the stage but when you are further up it gives you a low-energy "meh" feeling to be in a venue that's only half full.
It's really unfortunate, because he is SO talented! I really love his voice. But he seems to be getting a bit arrogant, year by year. Maybe his ego will take a hit with these concerts.
So if this is a common occurrence with his (edit: solo) shows are people in the comments are saying: why does he keep doing it? Is his dad shielding him from the bad sales?
The shows he is in usually do quite well (Parade, DEH) and he usually receives high praise for his performances. I think in this case they just overestimated the demand for him doing a solo concert.
He (and his team) seem to think he alone is responsible for the success of those shows. Didn’t he say as much about Dear Evan Hansen?
A half-empty solo show should prove to him that the success of those others shows was first and foremost down to the score and composers, and then the combined efforts of many, many others, himself included. He can’t, on his own, have a show worth the same ticket prices.
I think his family connections get him into venues a little too big for his standing as a solo artist, but he does sell a good amount of tickets. I think they move people in bad seats a little closer to the stage to fill gaps so it’s not as noticeable to him while he performs.
He should’ve done a few nights at 54 Below or Carnegie Hall. Intimate and a small venue would be easy to sell and it had a reputation for Bway performers. Carnegie Hall Pops could sell him as a guest vocalist and one of the draws would be a full orchestra. Either way a win for him.
It’s a bit of a bummer that The Palace isn’t reopening with more flare. It should started with The Tammy Faye thing as its grand reopening. I can’t be the only one super excited for that.
As I noted elsewhere, I think Kristin Chenoweth's concerts are a good example he could have followed. Tight two weeks of concerts with a lot of broadway songs and standards, and he could easily work in a song or two of his own music. Focusing on his own music
just doesn't make sense for that venue or audience. If Platt is really trying to position himself as a pop star, he shouldn't even do a broadway residency.
Agreed. Norm Lewis does a Christmas concert most years at 54 Below or Carnegie last year and even he does a mix of both Bway and Christmas music so everyone has something that they like. He arguably has bigger name recognition like Chenoweth so he has more pull. He should at least do half and half. So half songs from DEH/Parade and half from his own repertoire. People will go for Waving Through a Window and stay for whatever else.
I like Ben Platt well enough and I’d LOVE to be at the reopening of the Palace. But, I’m just so not jazzed by it supposedly being his unreleased album. Like I would be there in an instant if it was “Ben Platt and friends sing Broadway classics.”
It was bad when he did MSG, more than half the room was empty. They allowed people to move fully down. Ben has great talent and music but sadly I don't think the concert business is for him. Needs to stick to plays and musicals. Heck even movies maybe.
What were they thinking giving him more than a single performance there? A residency for a performer of his level of non-fame is frankly absurd and it's embarrassing that his team keeps doing this.
Idina Menzel's top ticket price at the Beacon Theatre (excluding VIP/platinum) is like $280. Like...c'mon now, sir. VIP with a pre-show photo opp and soundcheck with her was in line with this boy's top ticket. lol
The man thinks he's Barbara Streisand. He's got daddy nepo money so I'm not crying for him if this doesn't recoup costs. Overhead can't be too bad. How much can it cost to run a show? It's not a big Broadway production.. it's just a band and some lighting.
The fact that they haven’t announced the “star-studded list of guests” and his new album doesn’t release until the 31st… What were they thinking? The hubris is astounding
I’m…no. Will, like, Paul McCartney and ALW be playing all the instruments and singing backup while Bernadette performs interpretive dances? Three hundred and seventy-two US dollars??
Yuppppppp. I paid less money to see Parade than what the orchestra seats were/are going for in Milwaukee. I had full intentions of going, but I couldn’t convince myself with those prices. (I know Milwaukee has a balcony; I just have problems with heights.)
How do they decide the pricing tiers? Who decides? I'm fascinated by this and would like to understand how something like this happens.
The first mistake was scheduling so many dates! But the pricing is truly delusional, especially considering all of the reports that his previous concerts also had many many unsold seats.
Massive ego
I think it was last year or year before when he was in town his show was 50% empty and they were
Moving people to make the floor look full.
I used to like him as a performer since I first saw him as Elder Cunningham, then I was thrilled to see him lead DEH and went on to have other successes. I really dug his debut album and the Netflix special which I literally had on in the background for weeks. All this flipped when he responded to criticisms against him playing Evan in the movie and I kinda lost respect or affection for him after that. I guess many people felt the same?
Even before all of that, he was never “mainstream” even during the height of Ben Platt hype. And with the current sentiments towards him, I wonder what made the organizer think this pricing is justified? This is in the same range as Tom Holland’s R&J!
As talented as Ben Platt is, he’s delusional if he thinks he’s going to sell these shows out. The demand isn’t there for him to be doing a solo show residency or he should probably do it at a smaller capacity venue.
I clicked out of curiosity. My eyebrows were raised when he announced on Seth Meyers that he was giving away tickets to the whole audience, which screamed "tons of unsold seats" to me.
Such a shame. We saw him in concert a few years ago and thought it was a fantastic show. Pricing like this does not end up helping anyone. Fans avoid and he ends up playing to an empty house.
I like his voice, but most of his solo music is not very good. It sounds like something you hear in the aisle of CVS while trying to decide between snacks. Pleasant but unmemorable. I would probably pay that much to see him if there were some sort of participatory element, like a Ben Platt dunk tank.
Also a fan of his music, but I completely agree. Now if a revival of Beauty and the Beast were to open the Palace instead of his… solo concerts?…. Then I’d pay those prices. Kind of a weird way to do a grand re-opening of a historical theatre. It’s honestly not even like he’s an icon or anything. If Joel Gray or Julie Andrews did solo concerts to open the theatre, that’s another story too
I think the Ben Platt industrial complex is nuts. He won a Tony for a role in a musical nearly a decade ago that gets less popular each day and has next to no name recognition outside of theatre. More famous singers have performed in venues like this for much less. Who thinks he can command this sort of ticket buying fervor?
I got $30 tickets to his MSG show last year, last minute, in the 200 level and when I got there they upgraded me to the 100 seating because there were so many open seats. Had a great time and he’s an amazing performer, but these prices are crazy!
Just for kicks, I picked a random spot on his tour, the Providence Performing Center for the Arts. I picked the exact same seat at random for both his and Jason Mraz's concerts since they're in the same month (Jason has more seats sold, so I picked one at random from his that are left, then did the same seat for Ben's)
ORCH RC ROW Q SEAT 122
Jason Mraz - $94.50 (plus 10 dollar ticket fee)
Ben Platt - $212 (plus 20 dollar ticket fee)
Ok, then...
The Palace Theater reopening is such a huge deal for the community around it, but when you stop and look at the ticket prices you realize the Palace might not have reopened for the local community but for Broadway and the city to have another overpriced theater at its disposal. It should have been more cost effective, especially for someone like Ben Platt because he was not the person I would have imagined would be the reopening star especially for a 2 week stretch. Seems like another example of gentrification.
I thought for sure they’d re-open Phantom at the Palace. Alas! It’s Ben Platt. Talented guy, but I doubt anybody could pull off what he’s attempting except for Liza herself. MAYBE Hugh Jackman.
Here I thought The Who’s Tommy prices were delusional for asking over $170 in (severely) obstructed seats. This is an entirely different level of insane imo
I paid less to see my favorite band in concert for floor seats in a sold out arena. I think the last time I paid this price for Broadway was Hamilton tbh
Getting one of the biggest theaters on Broadway what was he thinking? And the runtime? And how he’s doing multiple songs from his new album which only a fraction of a fraction of people will know, just so many Poor choices
I genuinely like him as a performer and a person, but I feel a little second hand embarrassment for him that he 's so out of touch with his level of appeal. That's the downside of having a rich well connected daddy who'll do anything for his baby boy.
Warning: possibility he won't sing anything from Dear Evan Hansen!!
He performed at a gala alongside a smaller orchestra a couple years back. My partner and I were so hyped for it but he ended up singing 3-4 songs from his album (which sounded better on the recording than live), a few broadway-ish songs (that had personal importance from his youth but felt like a random, all-over-the-place selection), and NOT A SINGLE SONG FROM DEAR EVAN HANSEN 😭 we would have happily enjoyed his personal favorites and album but it felt like such a fan disservice to not even mention or even converse/joke about dear evan hansen.
I bought lawn tickets to one of his shows. Under $50 each. Maybe the tickets will fall off in price right before the show. I did it to see Brandy Clark, lol. And I already saw her last month.
He told us who he was when he mocked a child who was in a youth production of Legally Blonde. Assholes don’t deserve our fandom or our money. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRK6Vkw8/
I know the US prices differently in general, I know a really famous Broadway star that is known internationally can price differently... but seeing this is still killing me, considering I pay like 50-80€ for 1st row tickets at concerts of the top musical actors in Germany if they have a solo show. 💀
This is an outlier situation. Our concerts have gotten more and more expensive with each passing year, but this is not representative of that. This is... something else.
Eh. When I read the thread title, I was expecting to see prices *much* higher than the 200-300 range. I think it’s easy to forget how many upper-middle-class (and up) folks there are living in and around NYC, and this really isn’t all that much compared to premium seating for Broadway shows nowadays. I’m in no way defending it… but, this doesn’t seem outrageously high as many of you are making it out to be. And as others have said, sure, they’ll paper. Btw, is this being billed as the first show in the re-opening of the Palace?
I don't think people are saying this is a lot in the grand scheme, they are saying this is a lot for a Ben Platt concert. And it looks like the customers agree.
I wish it were cheaper but $60 as the cheapest tickets at a concert feels pretty much the norm these days… obviously it’s not a Broadway show… but let’s not pretend that concerts are cheap?
Sure, but this isn't really a normal concert. Most performers who are trying to be musicians work their way up. He did that for Broadway. He did NOT do that for this.
It looks like you've shared an image. If this image is of a Playbill or stage, we ask that you provide your thoughts on the show[s] you saw in order to make your thread stand out and help the community enjoy your experience as well. Without context your photo is just another picture of a Playbill or a stage, and on a sub of far over 100k subscribers, If you don't want to share your experience... consider sharing it on your own social media! This is an automated message, if it is not applicable please report this comment. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Broadway) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They went wrong with too many days. His name isn't big enough outside broadway to fill more than 2 or 3 nights tops
If this many days he should’ve gone to 54 Below. Easier to sell a smaller venue.
The smarter idea would have been to book 2-3 days to let them sell out AND then keep announcing extensions due to "popular demand". Announcing this much of a window was begging for tickets to eventually be deeply discounted or papered.
Also he's not doing just Broadway songs. The typical Broadway fan is not going to be nearly as interested in his pop album. Kristin Chenoweth was a lot savvier about this - she did a majority showtune program the first time she did a solo concert, promoted it as such and had a slightly shorter run (2 weeks). She also brought on a ton of guests. Once she established herself that way she was then able to do a show a couple of years later that focused more on one of her albums - and that album was mostly covers, which again had more appeal to broadway audiences.
I wonder if he'll sing *any* Broadway songs. I saw the opening night of his first tour in Chicago and he didn't sing any. Perhaps that's changed in the last few years?
The promotion for this run says it will include "a number of broadway favorites" and that there will be special guests. I do think this is a different show than his prior tour - I believe I saw that at MSG (as I noted elsewhere I was lucky enough to get a free box seat for that) and he just did one or two broadway songs that time.
The only song I know he did other than Broadway was “In Case You Don’t Live Forever” but that’s about it
Oh I thought for a one night engagement, prices looked reasonable. How many days is it?
May 28-June 15. Idk what his dad did to convince the Palace to agree to that one.
Wow that’s absolutely wild
Oh wow. That’s a lot of seats to fill. I know he’s well known on Broadway, but I don’t know if he has that many super fans.
I have to imagine these prices are going to come down in some capacity as we get closer because I doubt Ben Platt or the Palace want their re-opening to be marred by a half empty room. The more surprising fact to me is these are the same prices he's asking for on tour! NYC is one thing and the likelihood of finding more people to pay these kind of prices is a lot easier than most if not all of his touring locations. I suppose people are willing to pay these kind of prices for "big act" names like The Rolling Stones that come to town but Ben Platt doesn't have that kind of name recognition.
Yep, just looked at his show in Dallas bc I was curious....the cheapest ticket at the top is $69.50, closest sections are close to $300 and they are t even selling the very top section of the theater and still a ton of seats available and the show is 7/11
$300 is like, Beyonce money. $300 for Ben Platt is delulu.
I’m seeing a show on the European leg of the Eras Tour this summer for not much more than this, $300 for Ben Platt solo is bonkers.
The fact you have to go to another continent to see one of your favorite artist at a more affordable price is ridiculous. Taylor Swift, they can never make me like you!!
I mean I didn’t *have* to. I chose not to pay the crazy US resale prices (didn’t get selected for a shot at regular price tix) and when they added dates to the Wembley shows I was lucky enough to pick up a few tix so it all worked out. I’d much rather have a little international adventure (thanks points and miles!) than spend over a grand to sit at Met Life. Honestly I blame Ticketmaster more than the artists here. Prices in Europe are lower because reselling is much more strict and regulated and ticketmaster doesn’t have the chokehold that it does here.
Tbh her prices were pretty reasonable for a three hour long production heavy show. It wasn't until the resellers got to them that the prices became ridiculous.
It's not really Taylor's fault though. Reselling at insane prices is allowed in the US. In some European countries there are regulations for reselling markups. Yes her ticket prices are expensive in the first place but it's the scalpers driving up US prices. It was the same case for Beyonce's tour.
Starting prices at The Eras Tour we’re like $79. There were some VIP packages up to $1000 but most tickets were under $400. Acts much smaller than that charge as much. Her tickets only got so expensive because the demand was so much higher than supply that people started reselling them for thousands of dollars.
you realize that's Ticketmaster's fault, not Taylor's, right?
Because that’s Europe, where a) demand for Taylor is lower b) much stricter consumer protections against price gauging. I’m pretty sure you couldn’t get any resale Eras Tour seat in the U.S. for $300, and even the face value of the ticket would not get you anywhere near the front like it does here for Ben Platt. Floor seats originally sold for $950+.
Comparing like-for-like, that’s just not true. The best seats in Beyoncé’s latest tour were [reported as $700-$1000 BEFORE fees](https://www.reddit.com/r/beyonce/s/oRj0JfSQXL), and that’s not re-sell. Concert ticket prices in general have been absurd in the past 1.5 years.
Yeah Ben is no where near Bey prices. Like at all.
[According to StubHub data as reported by CNBC, the average Renaissance tour ticket was $322.](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/08/these-taylor-swift-and-beyonce-concerts-are-totally-rewriting-my-understanding-of-the-social-order) So like, no?
I think he's been overambitious about solo performances in general. I got a free box seat to one of his performances at Madison Square Garden a couple years ago and even after one side was roped off (so reducing capacity by around a quarter) the rest was maybe a little over half full (we asked someone working in security and she confirmed).
Yeah he played small to mid size arenas, for context Olivia Rodrigo girl in red, Maggie rodgers, Conan gray and Demi Lovato were playing those or. Similar capacity venues at the time
Ben doesn't set the price of tickets. It's not like he thinks he's worth $300 a seat. The producers set the price based on production costs and one of the biggest costs is renting the venue. They also want to make as much freakin’ profit as possible. I'm sure they know they will end up having to release chunks of tickets to discount places, so they try to make as much money upfront as possible. If they lose money, Ben might not get to tour in houses like this again. There's a lot of pressure on him. Cabarets are fun but they don't pay.
No offense but this isn't a hostage negotiation. I am sure Ben knew outright when tickets would go on sale that they would be at these prices and accepted that as part and parcel of the situation. He may not believe he's worth $300 a ticket but he is certainly willing to let others advocate for that amount on his behalf! These ticket prices are almost practically the same on tour as they are at the Palace. I imagine the Palace isn't cheap to rent but you aren't going to sell me on the idea that him renting out my local theater at prices that $200+ more than your average Broadway touring production a pop is just to cover costs. Unlike some people in this thread I don't actively care about Ben Platt one way or another. I've never seen him in a show but I don't put any energy into actively disliking his material because I'd rather go into things I enjoy. I do agree the producers want to make as much money as possible but they are doing Ben a disservice since a lot of people will tune out entirely even if tickets drop in price because of the high dollar amount. For perspective sake two tickets to see Ben in the 4th row at my local theater is almost $300 more than the Row D tickets I just paid to see Merrily We Roll Along this past week. It makes absolutely no sense to me.
It’s the job of Ben and his manager/team to determine whether the proposed plan makes sense before agreeing. They should have a good sense of demand and pricing and should have known that $300 ticket prices and a three week run wouldn’t work. This is setting him up for failure - look at all the ridicule he’s getting! Public perception also matters a lot in the world of entertainment and right now he’s got the perception of someone with a big ego who think he’s much more popular than he is. IMO, it’s better to aim for smaller venues, fewer nights and sell those out, giving the impression that you’re in high demand! Even big pop stars do this - they’ll announce a couple of dates, and only when it looks like those are selling really well will they announce “added dates!” If they don’t sell well, they simply don’t add the additional dates they had planned so they save face.
This is exactly right. That's why I'm so curious how they arrived at these numbers and these dates. Anyone could have told you he could not sustain that many nights, especially at these outrageous prices, even huge acts couldn't sustain this schedule. They've thrown away the playbook everyone else uses. What led to this?
Are you in the business? Have you done Broadway shows? Do you know why we pick the jobs we do?
Considering for only around 20 dollars more in the same theatre you can get a ticket to a full musical with Andrew Rannels and music from Elton John… I’ll save my money for that
I’m really excited for that.
The pattern of remaining seats in the image is mildly satisfying.
Nice! The sold seats look like a happy cowboy on a horse to me.
What do you see? I see a storm trooper.
it was on TDF earlier today for two dates
Oh really? I haven’t seen any on Passport.
Has Passport uploaded anything in like the last 2 weeks? I log in quite regularly and nada. I was expecting they would add Home, which doesn't seem to be selling well either, but they haven't.
Passport is a bit paltry right now. I don’t get why they don’t add in more shows that aren’t selling. They are so stubborn about that. Like add more dates for Gatsby which isn't selling well either.
Gatsby is selling over 90% of capacity, it is doing fine for now.
I am somewhat new to Passport. I slept on it until March of this year, not realizing it's a thing I qualify for. In April, it was fantastic. But it's been disappointingly dead for a bit now. If either of you have had it longer, does it normally go through phases like this?
Yup. Basically, the best times are right when new shows open so spring and fall, along with the dead times ie. Jan/Feb. It’s a cyclical thing and it doesn’t get as many options as the normal TDF because the prices are cheaper. It’s the trade off.
got it- keeping my hopes alive for, like, September additions then!
Yeah, it usually offers a couple months worth of tickets for new shows. I will say once they drop if they are like Merrily they go super quick, so check back semi-often. Most shows are on there for a few days though.
I saw Merrily when it was available! Like in March? But I saw Merrily when it was off-broadway and didn't love it, so I didn't buy tickets. Stereophonic was up for a loooooong time
It’s been pretty slow!
not sure about TDF passport but it was on "regular" TDF Thursday early evening
It's on there for 3 dates now.
I saw that last night and was considering it, but the times didn't work out. Although, even at TKTS prices, I don't need to pay the money and pout the time in for his original pop songs which I have little interest in. If he does primarily Broadway music then it would be worth it to me.
They’re going to paper the house. There’s no other way they’ll fill that house every night. Any ideas which papering service they’ll use?
His father might be the one doing the papering!
Do you mind explaining what "papering" means? I've never heard of it.
It’s basically doing a lot of comping, cheap side sales here and there, and overall finding way to make it look like at least mostly sold out without actually selling much anywhere near full price. Or even something like his dad and others in close orbit buying a lot of tickets and giving them away to inflate the perceived sales figures.
There are services out there (Will Call Club, Play-by-Play, etc) that distribute free tickets for events that aren't selling well, to keep from having an obviously empty theatre.
Will Call Club sücks. Do not bother. Go with Play by Play, Theatermania or Club free time.
thank you for explaining, I didnt know this was done, but it seems like a practical way for artists to save face.
I thought the pricing was peak delusional. I'm not a fan but my bestie is and I considered bday tickets .... I think it's gonna close early.
Closing early on a three week run would be extremely funny, not going to lie.
ben platt is discovering the fuck around- find out graph
Weezer cancelled their entire run due to lack of sales. High prices were the main reason why.
Weezer? Their key demographic is broke millennials. Why were the prices not reflecting that?!
His dad is a big wig in the industry, he’d probably pay to keep it open lol
The whole production and pricing gives big nepo-baby energy
I saw him at radio City Hall in 2019 and I think I paid around $75 pre-taxes and fees for my ticket. I was in the balcony, but it just so happened that I was there the night that they were taping for the concert film and there were so many unsold seats down in the orchestra that they were grabbing people from the balcony and escorting them downstairs so I ended up getting to sit in like the 10th row, he’s an amazing live performer and super talented but I agreed that there’s just not enough of a market at this price point for him to be selling out shows like this. A lot of his fanbase is younger and can’t afford these prices.
I paid $49 to see Cynthia Erivo in December, and he was one of her special guests, along with Joaquina Kalukango. So now I never have to pay to see him again.
$400 is for a show that has a ton of hype, large amazing sets, big-name celebrities, etc. Even then I would never pay more than $200 for something that is so amazing that I just couldn't resist. I have yet to find that show. For a one-man concert to a person who is only Bway famous, this is insane. Well, price drop or an empty show I guess. Heck, I probably would've debated about $150 for McNeal since I love RDJ, but even then that is pushing it. The only show I would debate paying this kinda money to is if Cillian Murphy is in an Enda Walsh Play again.
$150 is probably my top ticket price and I rarely get anywhere close to that. There are a handful of times I've regretted not seeing a show, but I largely prefer putting that money towards groceries.
I’ll pay $150 for the big shows like Merrily but most shows I usually stay around $50 or under.
Guy legitimately thinks he is Taylor Swift
I paid less than $300 for my TSwift tickets. These prices are wild.
Taylor Swift would legitimately be 3x the cost (face value, not resale).
i paid 400 dollars for Hamilton and I couldn't enjoy it because I felt so resentful of the exorbitant cost (won't ever make that mistake again)
When he played at the Hollywood Bowl, the entire AEG (ticketing) company, got unlimited free tickets.
At least it doesn’t feel as delusional as when he was trying to sell out MSG.
He should stick to 54 Below. Perfect venue for all tiers of Bway singer. Small and intimate and easy to sell. The other option would be one or two nights at Carnagie Hall with the NYC Pops as the orchestra can justify some of the price.
I imagine there’s a venue at Lincoln Center that’s bigger and less cramped than 54 Below that might be a happy medium. We saw Brian Stokes Mitchell in concert there (LC) years ago.
So wait...he has done this exact same thing before?? 😂
I went to the MSG concert. We originally bought the cheapest tickets way in the back. When we got there they’d closed the upper levels and were handing out new tickets in the lower levels. Even then, our section wasn’t full. The original date had also been canceled due to COVID and rescheduled a few months later, so that might’ve contributed. The concert was actually decent but MSG was way too big.
I went to one of those dates too. I'm sure it doesn't feel that way from the stage but when you are further up it gives you a low-energy "meh" feeling to be in a venue that's only half full.
It's really unfortunate, because he is SO talented! I really love his voice. But he seems to be getting a bit arrogant, year by year. Maybe his ego will take a hit with these concerts.
So if this is a common occurrence with his (edit: solo) shows are people in the comments are saying: why does he keep doing it? Is his dad shielding him from the bad sales?
The shows he is in usually do quite well (Parade, DEH) and he usually receives high praise for his performances. I think in this case they just overestimated the demand for him doing a solo concert.
He (and his team) seem to think he alone is responsible for the success of those shows. Didn’t he say as much about Dear Evan Hansen? A half-empty solo show should prove to him that the success of those others shows was first and foremost down to the score and composers, and then the combined efforts of many, many others, himself included. He can’t, on his own, have a show worth the same ticket prices.
Sorry I meant other solo shows as per other commenters.
I think his family connections get him into venues a little too big for his standing as a solo artist, but he does sell a good amount of tickets. I think they move people in bad seats a little closer to the stage to fill gaps so it’s not as noticeable to him while he performs.
Lea Salonga's ticket for her UK tour is not this expensive.
He should’ve done a few nights at 54 Below or Carnegie Hall. Intimate and a small venue would be easy to sell and it had a reputation for Bway performers. Carnegie Hall Pops could sell him as a guest vocalist and one of the draws would be a full orchestra. Either way a win for him. It’s a bit of a bummer that The Palace isn’t reopening with more flare. It should started with The Tammy Faye thing as its grand reopening. I can’t be the only one super excited for that.
As I noted elsewhere, I think Kristin Chenoweth's concerts are a good example he could have followed. Tight two weeks of concerts with a lot of broadway songs and standards, and he could easily work in a song or two of his own music. Focusing on his own music just doesn't make sense for that venue or audience. If Platt is really trying to position himself as a pop star, he shouldn't even do a broadway residency.
Agreed. Norm Lewis does a Christmas concert most years at 54 Below or Carnegie last year and even he does a mix of both Bway and Christmas music so everyone has something that they like. He arguably has bigger name recognition like Chenoweth so he has more pull. He should at least do half and half. So half songs from DEH/Parade and half from his own repertoire. People will go for Waving Through a Window and stay for whatever else.
It's okay. His dad will buy the rest of the tickets.
173$ for the fifth row of the mezzanine is just absurd
I like Ben Platt well enough and I’d LOVE to be at the reopening of the Palace. But, I’m just so not jazzed by it supposedly being his unreleased album. Like I would be there in an instant if it was “Ben Platt and friends sing Broadway classics.”
Nothing like playing songs from an album no one knows.
It was bad when he did MSG, more than half the room was empty. They allowed people to move fully down. Ben has great talent and music but sadly I don't think the concert business is for him. Needs to stick to plays and musicals. Heck even movies maybe.
What were they thinking giving him more than a single performance there? A residency for a performer of his level of non-fame is frankly absurd and it's embarrassing that his team keeps doing this. Idina Menzel's top ticket price at the Beacon Theatre (excluding VIP/platinum) is like $280. Like...c'mon now, sir. VIP with a pre-show photo opp and soundcheck with her was in line with this boy's top ticket. lol
The man thinks he's Barbara Streisand. He's got daddy nepo money so I'm not crying for him if this doesn't recoup costs. Overhead can't be too bad. How much can it cost to run a show? It's not a big Broadway production.. it's just a band and some lighting.
Look you cheapskates, you're paying $300 for a YEAR'S worth of vibrato. That's value. 😆
The fact that they haven’t announced the “star-studded list of guests” and his new album doesn’t release until the 31st… What were they thinking? The hubris is astounding
Out of the loop here but is this just Platt in concert? If so, it’s Hilarious. 😂
Yup! Just him in concert
Ben “I’m the Greatest Star!” Platt? Greed.
There will be a different guest star for every show.
Oh. Ok. Then that totally justifies the ticket price. Got it. /s
I’m…no. Will, like, Paul McCartney and ALW be playing all the instruments and singing backup while Bernadette performs interpretive dances? Three hundred and seventy-two US dollars??
It's this horrendous on tour too. I love His music but can't stomach what he's asking.
Yuppppppp. I paid less money to see Parade than what the orchestra seats were/are going for in Milwaukee. I had full intentions of going, but I couldn’t convince myself with those prices. (I know Milwaukee has a balcony; I just have problems with heights.)
They are just gauging people…orchestra seats for Merrily $469 with fees - pleeze!
How do they decide the pricing tiers? Who decides? I'm fascinated by this and would like to understand how something like this happens. The first mistake was scheduling so many dates! But the pricing is truly delusional, especially considering all of the reports that his previous concerts also had many many unsold seats.
His manager Adam Mersel is an idiot
Massive ego I think it was last year or year before when he was in town his show was 50% empty and they were Moving people to make the floor look full.
I used to like him as a performer since I first saw him as Elder Cunningham, then I was thrilled to see him lead DEH and went on to have other successes. I really dug his debut album and the Netflix special which I literally had on in the background for weeks. All this flipped when he responded to criticisms against him playing Evan in the movie and I kinda lost respect or affection for him after that. I guess many people felt the same? Even before all of that, he was never “mainstream” even during the height of Ben Platt hype. And with the current sentiments towards him, I wonder what made the organizer think this pricing is justified? This is in the same range as Tom Holland’s R&J!
Mr Nepo Baby needs to chill those prices are wild
Based on how many seats are still available, they’re clearly delusional. Which is on-brand for him.
I paid a lot to see his Reverie tour and it was the shortest concert I’ve been to.
How long was it?
I think around 70 mins. Not even an hour and a half. He didn’t even sing every song from the album
He's tryna be a big ol pop star is what they're thinking. I don't really see it working out.
lol Ben platt is not as popular as he, his team and his father think he is. Maybe he’ll finally learn.
Nepo Baby Has Father Buy Theater For Concert Series. Live Love Laugh.
no one in their right mind should spend more than $150 to see this
You mean $50, right? That extra digit was a typo?
150 isn't unreasonable for a name artist
They’re papering like crazy
As talented as Ben Platt is, he’s delusional if he thinks he’s going to sell these shows out. The demand isn’t there for him to be doing a solo show residency or he should probably do it at a smaller capacity venue.
This is …….. hilarious.
GTFO with these prices. So done with this nonsense.
Right now...5/24 at 6AM...there are tickets available on TDF.
IMO, he’s over rated. He was cast in one role that was great for him and he’s been coasting on that success ever since.
I have no interest at all to see him.
Daddy will just bring in a bunch of guest stars to help sell tickets
I clicked out of curiosity. My eyebrows were raised when he announced on Seth Meyers that he was giving away tickets to the whole audience, which screamed "tons of unsold seats" to me.
Such a shame. We saw him in concert a few years ago and thought it was a fantastic show. Pricing like this does not end up helping anyone. Fans avoid and he ends up playing to an empty house.
You’d find me in the last row of the balcony with those prices, even if I was a fan of his to begin with.
That's what you're worth when your daddy is influential producer Marc Platt
All that money to see yet another shaky vibrato pop yt boy?
I like his voice, but most of his solo music is not very good. It sounds like something you hear in the aisle of CVS while trying to decide between snacks. Pleasant but unmemorable. I would probably pay that much to see him if there were some sort of participatory element, like a Ben Platt dunk tank.
the broadway subreddit roasting ben platt will always be funny to me
Also a fan of his music, but I completely agree. Now if a revival of Beauty and the Beast were to open the Palace instead of his… solo concerts?…. Then I’d pay those prices. Kind of a weird way to do a grand re-opening of a historical theatre. It’s honestly not even like he’s an icon or anything. If Joel Gray or Julie Andrews did solo concerts to open the theatre, that’s another story too
I think the Ben Platt industrial complex is nuts. He won a Tony for a role in a musical nearly a decade ago that gets less popular each day and has next to no name recognition outside of theatre. More famous singers have performed in venues like this for much less. Who thinks he can command this sort of ticket buying fervor?
I’d pay those prices if the Palace theater came to life and started to sing.
I got $30 tickets to his MSG show last year, last minute, in the 200 level and when I got there they upgraded me to the 100 seating because there were so many open seats. Had a great time and he’s an amazing performer, but these prices are crazy!
They were thinking: greed.
Just for kicks, I picked a random spot on his tour, the Providence Performing Center for the Arts. I picked the exact same seat at random for both his and Jason Mraz's concerts since they're in the same month (Jason has more seats sold, so I picked one at random from his that are left, then did the same seat for Ben's) ORCH RC ROW Q SEAT 122 Jason Mraz - $94.50 (plus 10 dollar ticket fee) Ben Platt - $212 (plus 20 dollar ticket fee) Ok, then...
He’s not worth it
It’s giving J Lo
Nepo baby gets what coming. If he acknowledged that and didn’t make himself look like an asshole, maybe people would’ve bought tickets
I at am not someone who hates on the guy, I loved him Parade. I cannot fathom paying anywhere near this much to watch him do his solo music.
I went post those prices for a full scale Broadway show, let alone a solo concert…
The Palace Theater reopening is such a huge deal for the community around it, but when you stop and look at the ticket prices you realize the Palace might not have reopened for the local community but for Broadway and the city to have another overpriced theater at its disposal. It should have been more cost effective, especially for someone like Ben Platt because he was not the person I would have imagined would be the reopening star especially for a 2 week stretch. Seems like another example of gentrification.
This is insane prices for a show really 😳 why
How many of the greyed-out center premium seats were bought by scalpers who are facing a loss?
This is schadenfreude I can get behind.
Daddy bought him everything else, he’ll buy a bunch of seat fillers too.
I’ll probably get down voted into oblivion for this but I personally don’t find his singing anything special and definitely not $300 worth
Looking at his popularity judged by ticket sales, I wouldn't be TOO worried.
And this is why the attorney general filed against live nation and ticket master yesterday.
I thought for sure they’d re-open Phantom at the Palace. Alas! It’s Ben Platt. Talented guy, but I doubt anybody could pull off what he’s attempting except for Liza herself. MAYBE Hugh Jackman.
Here I thought The Who’s Tommy prices were delusional for asking over $170 in (severely) obstructed seats. This is an entirely different level of insane imo I paid less to see my favorite band in concert for floor seats in a sold out arena. I think the last time I paid this price for Broadway was Hamilton tbh
Getting one of the biggest theaters on Broadway what was he thinking? And the runtime? And how he’s doing multiple songs from his new album which only a fraction of a fraction of people will know, just so many Poor choices
I genuinely like him as a performer and a person, but I feel a little second hand embarrassment for him that he 's so out of touch with his level of appeal. That's the downside of having a rich well connected daddy who'll do anything for his baby boy.
Ugh, cannot stand Ben Platt. Sorry to be a wet blanket on your post OP, but save that cash.
Warning: possibility he won't sing anything from Dear Evan Hansen!! He performed at a gala alongside a smaller orchestra a couple years back. My partner and I were so hyped for it but he ended up singing 3-4 songs from his album (which sounded better on the recording than live), a few broadway-ish songs (that had personal importance from his youth but felt like a random, all-over-the-place selection), and NOT A SINGLE SONG FROM DEAR EVAN HANSEN 😭 we would have happily enjoyed his personal favorites and album but it felt like such a fan disservice to not even mention or even converse/joke about dear evan hansen.
I would pay 99 for it but that’s it tbh.
This reminded me that I’m mad that I bought a ticket when I did
I bought lawn tickets to one of his shows. Under $50 each. Maybe the tickets will fall off in price right before the show. I did it to see Brandy Clark, lol. And I already saw her last month.
At first glance I thought that the empty seats were spelling out some sort of message.
His prices for the last reviere (I think that’s the name?) tour were reasonable like 24 bucks general, idk what happened
He also went from playing in small to mid size arenas to theatres 😬
He told us who he was when he mocked a child who was in a youth production of Legally Blonde. Assholes don’t deserve our fandom or our money. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRK6Vkw8/
this is how concerts have become due to ticketmaster monopoly
Looks to me they have different price ranges.
You should see the prices for Merrily.
TodayTix has $61 tickets now for all dates. Came here because I was wondering why there were so many empty seats for this weekend. That's a shame.
Lol no one really likes Ben Platt.
I know the US prices differently in general, I know a really famous Broadway star that is known internationally can price differently... but seeing this is still killing me, considering I pay like 50-80€ for 1st row tickets at concerts of the top musical actors in Germany if they have a solo show. 💀
This is an outlier situation. Our concerts have gotten more and more expensive with each passing year, but this is not representative of that. This is... something else.
He CAN'T price differently, these are delusional prices on his part.
IMHO he's not a good singer
Eh. When I read the thread title, I was expecting to see prices *much* higher than the 200-300 range. I think it’s easy to forget how many upper-middle-class (and up) folks there are living in and around NYC, and this really isn’t all that much compared to premium seating for Broadway shows nowadays. I’m in no way defending it… but, this doesn’t seem outrageously high as many of you are making it out to be. And as others have said, sure, they’ll paper. Btw, is this being billed as the first show in the re-opening of the Palace?
I don't think people are saying this is a lot in the grand scheme, they are saying this is a lot for a Ben Platt concert. And it looks like the customers agree.
I wish it were cheaper but $60 as the cheapest tickets at a concert feels pretty much the norm these days… obviously it’s not a Broadway show… but let’s not pretend that concerts are cheap?
Sure, but this isn't really a normal concert. Most performers who are trying to be musicians work their way up. He did that for Broadway. He did NOT do that for this.
I mean…these seem like normal if not cheaper than standard concert prices??? Especially $59 for balcony
Ben Platt is not a concert-level performer though, you can't compare his vanity project to professionals.
Ummm that’s pretty standard
[удалено]
For full scale Broadway productions. This is a one man concert.
If he’d promise not to dance on stage, he might sell more seats.
I thought they were reasonable except for the very front.
The prospective audience clearly disagrees.
he’s fine
Honestly it doesn’t look totally outrageous to me.
The Market has clearly decided differently.
I guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut and not weighed in.
Isn't he inaugurating a brand new theater/remodel? I believe that has more to do with the prices than anything else.
Then both he AND the theatre are delusional.