Theatre Bookings

SandC

Was just looking at booking some tickets at our local theatre in Stoke on Trent for Al Murray Pub Landlord tour in April. He's only there for one night and all seats are £25.

That's fair enough, he's a big name etc. etc.

But why, oh why, do they charge a £4.75 booking fee PER TICKET and then some other transaction charge of about £2.50 on top of that?

Why can't they just advertise the price as it will be per ticket? Why is a booking fee not per booking?

I take it this is the case for all theatres, how do they get away with it? Or anyone who works in the business can you convince me that this is justified. Is this the part that pays for the theatre staff or what?

SandC

Actually, looking up another show at the same theatre - Stomp. Booking fee is no more than £2.00 and less for certain areas at the back circles.

:mad:

~Beanie~

Tell me about it. I booked tickets for a show at the same place and had to pay £4.75 booking fee per ticket and nearly £5 for delivery. I live 1/2 mile from the Theatre so thought this was completely outrageous when I could collect them in person. Guess what, this wasn't allowed apparently!

JohalaReewi

At one of our local venues you have to use ticketshafter to book, but another one you can book direct and they just charge a £1 fee to cover the postage (and no booking fees).

SandC

I don't know if you can go in to book but the telephone number seems to be a centre that does all the theatres in the Ambassador Group so I am presuming there is no option.

It's the differential in booking fees for different shows that's bugging me moreso than actually paying one.

Anyhow, I've booked the tickets anyway and the total says 'includes any booking fee/restoration levy'.

Beanie I haven't had to pay postage and there was an option for collection - maybe different shows have different rules? There is also another £2.75 web transaction fee, maybe if I phoned they would deduct that but add postage? Incidentally last show I booked for at Victoria Hall the tickets never turned up in the post so when I rang the box office they told me to go and fetch them. That's after I'd paid delivery charge, no chance of getting that back then? Couldn't be bothered at the time, the tickets were a gift and I was more concerned about where the originals had gone (and finding someone else in the seats on the evening when I wasn't even going!).

Ah well, I suppose if we don't like it we don't have to book it eh?