|
|
Post by danb on Sept 28, 2021 19:48:11 GMT
Saying the same thing over and over won’t transfer it into the realms of fact. Doing anything like this takes serious bucks. They either need to run it for longer or have radio/tv rights sold already to ensure any sort of financial health.
|
|
|
|
Post by sph on Sept 28, 2021 22:07:43 GMT
I think the costs of mounting a concert at the RAH are probably so enormous I'm genuinely surprised they chose that venue without a major star for Norma.
Why not go with a smaller venue in the West End?
|
|
610 posts
|
Post by chernjam on Sept 29, 2021 2:28:44 GMT
Sunset is my favorite (tied with Aspects of Love) of all musicals - ALW or otherwise. the idea of a 40 piece orchestra again, with people really being able to sing (Ramin especially) had me thinking of flying over to see this. But I realize I'm in the vast minority on this
|
|
|
|
Post by max on Sept 29, 2021 7:59:46 GMT
Sunset is my favorite (tied with Aspects of Love) of all musicals - ALW or otherwise. the idea of a 40 piece orchestra again, with people really being able to sing (Ramin especially) had me thinking of flying over to see this. But I realize I'm in the vast minority on this I don't think the concerns are about whether it will be any good - the previous iteration at Alexandra Palace seems to have had a lot going for it, but falling short on sound balancing, costume, learned lines. As it's an exciting prospect, and one of scale, I was hoping the producers' brave chutzpah (in setting out their stall) would be followed by a more controllable version from them in a venue that was guaranteed to buoy it up. They seem to have chosen further risk - which I can marvel at, but doesn't make me confident to book for. Despite many years of improvements at the Royal Albert Hall (on acoustics) it's often reported as volatile for sound balance - something that a one-off show is more prey to. |
|
|
|
Post by vickyg on Sept 29, 2021 10:27:52 GMT
In my experience one off concerts/ semi staged productions always seem to have this issue. Not enough rehearsal time to be (confidently) off book or have seamless sound and lighting but expensive tickets to cover the costs of a one off. Yes it's special because there won't necessarily be another opportunity to see something but it won't be flawless by any means.
|
|
|
|
Post by inthenose on Sept 29, 2021 15:25:03 GMT
In my experience one off concerts/ semi staged productions always seem to have this issue. Not enough rehearsal time to be (confidently) off book or have seamless sound and lighting but expensive tickets to cover the costs of a one off. Yes it's special because there won't necessarily be another opportunity to see something but it won't be flawless by any means. To me it just represents horrible value. Setting aside producers interests, in terms of what the consumer gets for their money these events are really only for die-hards or the wealthy. As you point out, not enough rehearsal time or time given to the noise boys to figure out the venue, how to balance the orchestra/ensemble, dark spots in the house, learn the speaker layout, know the piece inside out, tech mic pick up cues. All of this stuff contributes to these shows usually sounding awful. 40 piece orchestra is so commendable and sounds great as a sales pitch, the reality is they are usually so under rehearsed it can actually end up being more disappointing. And they chose a shocking venue. Lots of prestige, no practicality You can see where the money has gone, but these occasions depend on FOMO and it's not like Bonnie & Clyde where it is a one time chance to see it. Or even the recent Glenn Close production where you get to see a legend. It's Sunset Boulevard - "another one". I just don't get it. |
|
1,481 posts
|
Post by steve10086 on Sept 29, 2021 18:06:38 GMT
This concert is presented by ALPHA Club. Judging by their website it doesn’t look like they’ll be too worried about takings or ticket sales www.alpha-club.co.uk/ |
|
594 posts
|
Post by og on Sept 29, 2021 18:20:29 GMT
I think any theatre or concert production that includes “dining” (fine or otherwise) is to be avoided at all costs. I’m not going to the theatre or a concert to have my tea, I’m having that before I go and if I can’t do that it’s the chippy or 🍔 after. I’d be embarrassed eating a meal in a theatre. It’s naff. Drifting from the main subject, but for a huge chunk of theatre & concert-goers, the whole evening is the event. It's not just about going to see xxx as yyy in zzz for whatever reason, but it's a social affair that starts with food and ends with a show. That's why so much of Central London offers pre-theatre dining menus. If a venue has the facility to offer twinned dining and show tickets, good for them. It certainly makes it even easier for the patrons who don't need to worry about moving down the street in the rain, trying to find the theatre, after a bottle of wine. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't ATG offer it for some of their theatres? I know Palace Manchester had ticket offers with the restaurant next door at one point. Are you saying you refused to go to any shows at Manchester Palace whilst they were offering Dining & Ticket deals? Same question re: The Lowry, with their pre-theatre dining deals at Pier Eight? As for being embarrassed about eating a meal in a theatre, tell that to the Lord Lloyd Webber and his multi-million pound investment in Theatre Royal Drury Lane. |
|
4,361 posts
|
Post by shady23 on Sept 29, 2021 18:25:50 GMT
It seems like a lot of work for just one show. Would make much more sense if there was a matinee as well.
|
|
1,997 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Sept 29, 2021 18:28:50 GMT
One of the biggest red flags as far as I can see is the exorbitant price of the licence - and where does the profit from that go to? ALW's private fortune?
|
|
|
|
Post by danb on Sept 29, 2021 18:34:45 GMT
Would it be the same amount for an amateur production? It was popular a few years ago with the larger am dram groups. Surely they didn’t have to stump up that much?
|
|
19,676 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 29, 2021 19:08:25 GMT
I think any theatre or concert production that includes “dining” (fine or otherwise) is to be avoided at all costs. I’m not going to the theatre or a concert to have my tea, I’m having that before I go and if I can’t do that it’s the chippy or 🍔 after. I’d be embarrassed eating a meal in a theatre. It’s naff. Drifting from the main subject, but for a huge chunk of theatre & concert-goers, the whole evening is the event. It's not just about going to see xxx as yyy in zzz for whatever reason, but it's a social affair that starts with food and ends with a show. That's why so much of Central London offers pre-theatre dining menus. If a venue has the facility to offer twinned dining and show tickets, good for them. It certainly makes it even easier for the patrons who don't need to worry about moving down the street in the rain, trying to find the theatre, after a bottle of wine. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't ATG offer it for some of their theatres? I know Palace Manchester had ticket offers with the restaurant next door at one point. Are you saying you refused to go to any shows at Manchester Palace whilst they were offering Dining & Ticket deals? Same question re: The Lowry, with their pre-theatre dining deals at Pier Eight?As for being embarrassed about eating a meal in a theatre, tell that to the Lord Lloyd Webber and his multi-million pound investment in Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I mean having a meal in the auditorium as is the case with Cabaret. If people want to go to a restaurant before the show that’s different, but paying a fortune to be served food down the front of the stalls… show offy and naff. |
|
1,997 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Sept 29, 2021 19:11:27 GMT
Would it be the same amount for an amateur production? It was popular a few years ago with the larger am dram groups. Surely they didn’t have to stump up that much? I was in a production of Sunset. It was nowhere near. I can't remember what the flat fee was, but it was in addition to a percentage of the box office too.... |
|
1,997 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Sept 29, 2021 19:12:01 GMT
Drifting from the main subject, but for a huge chunk of theatre & concert-goers, the whole evening is the event. It's not just about going to see xxx as yyy in zzz for whatever reason, but it's a social affair that starts with food and ends with a show. That's why so much of Central London offers pre-theatre dining menus. If a venue has the facility to offer twinned dining and show tickets, good for them. It certainly makes it even easier for the patrons who don't need to worry about moving down the street in the rain, trying to find the theatre, after a bottle of wine. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't ATG offer it for some of their theatres? I know Palace Manchester had ticket offers with the restaurant next door at one point. Are you saying you refused to go to any shows at Manchester Palace whilst they were offering Dining & Ticket deals? Same question re: The Lowry, with their pre-theatre dining deals at Pier Eight?As for being embarrassed about eating a meal in a theatre, tell that to the Lord Lloyd Webber and his multi-million pound investment in Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I mean having a meal in the auditorium as is the case with Cabaret and SB. If people want to go to a restaurant before the show that’s different, but paying a fortune to be served food down the front of the stalls… show offy and naff.
Very nouveau riche, dear!
|
|
1,481 posts
|
Post by steve10086 on Sept 29, 2021 19:12:38 GMT
Drifting from the main subject, but for a huge chunk of theatre & concert-goers, the whole evening is the event. It's not just about going to see xxx as yyy in zzz for whatever reason, but it's a social affair that starts with food and ends with a show. That's why so much of Central London offers pre-theatre dining menus. If a venue has the facility to offer twinned dining and show tickets, good for them. It certainly makes it even easier for the patrons who don't need to worry about moving down the street in the rain, trying to find the theatre, after a bottle of wine. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't ATG offer it for some of their theatres? I know Palace Manchester had ticket offers with the restaurant next door at one point. Are you saying you refused to go to any shows at Manchester Palace whilst they were offering Dining & Ticket deals? Same question re: The Lowry, with their pre-theatre dining deals at Pier Eight?As for being embarrassed about eating a meal in a theatre, tell that to the Lord Lloyd Webber and his multi-million pound investment in Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I mean having a meal in the auditorium as is the case with Cabaret. If people want to go to a restaurant before the show that’s different, but paying a fortune to be served food down the front of the stalls… show offy and naff. I don’t think the Sunset “fine dining” is served in the auditorium! |
|
|
|
Post by max on Sept 29, 2021 19:20:30 GMT
Perhaps they should introduce it. An eating game, rather than drinking game, scoffing something every time someone sings 'Let's Have Lunch'
Professional licenses kick in to a completely different scale to amateur, and there's a sliding scale of fee based on auditorium size, so this is a one-off biggie.
The involvement of Alpha suggests the producers of the Alexandra Palace version may have played a blinder, if their first version attracted an organisation that has members with deep pockets and an established buy-in to their social calendar. Perhaps we should look at it all a different way: like the Medici sponsors of artists, we're getting a (probably far off) seat at a table that wouldn't have existed otherwise. Not sure I'm grafeful enough to book yet. Tantalising with a one-off, as there's no chance to hear it was brilliant after all and book a later performance.
As Alpha have staged Best West End concerts at the venue before, perhaps they do have a template sound design they know works. As long as it's not just pointed at the Alpha members in the best seats... ; )
|
|
|
|
Post by fiyerorocher on Sept 29, 2021 21:28:26 GMT
I mean having a meal in the auditorium as is the case with Cabaret. If people want to go to a restaurant before the show that’s different, but paying a fortune to be served food down the front of the stalls… show offy and naff. I don’t think the Sunset “fine dining” is served in the auditorium! The RAH has three restaurants within the building. The fine dining ticket is probably for the Coda, the most expensive one. They just refurbed it before covid. |
|
|
|
Post by theoracle on Sept 29, 2021 22:07:40 GMT
Has anyone tried ringing the box office and asking if it’s possible to book an arena seat without the dining option. I’ll probably be going to see this on my own and don’t fancy forking out £300 to sitt in a posh restaurant by myself before the show.
Otherwise what is the view like from the stalls? I’ve heard the acoustics are much better here but won’t the stage feel very far away? Or will there be screens on the side? Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by inthenose on Sept 29, 2021 23:27:45 GMT
Has anyone tried ringing the box office and asking if it’s possible to book an arena seat without the dining option. I’ll probably be going to see this on my own and don’t fancy forking out £300 to sitt in a posh restaurant by myself before the show. Otherwise what is the view like from the stalls? I’ve heard the acoustics are much better here but won’t the stage feel very far away? Or will there be screens on the side? Thanks. If the acoustics even factor into your booking decision don't go. It's a crapshoot. |
|
|
|
Post by FrontroverPaul on Sept 30, 2021 1:26:22 GMT
Has anyone tried ringing the box office and asking if it’s possible to book an arena seat without the dining option. I’ll probably be going to see this on my own and don’t fancy forking out £300 to sit in a posh restaurant by myself before the show. Otherwise what is the view like from the stalls? I’ve heard the acoustics are much better here but won’t the stage feel very far away? Or will there be screens on the side? Thanks. It's only the five front rows of the Arena that include dining. There are plenty of non-dining seats further back priced either £136 or £93. Also the view/acoustics from the stalls is no worse and probably better than from most of the (non-raked) arena. Stalls seat prices are usually higher than arena. If it helps, as I type this the best single seats available - in purely my opinion/experience - are Stalls Section O Row 3 Seat 111 and Arena Section F Row 8 Seat 29. If I were booking now I'd choose the stalls seat for £103 over the arena one for £33 more. |
|
|
|
Post by theoracle on Oct 25, 2021 11:30:11 GMT
Choir seats now also on sale for £28 if anyone doesn’t mind watching the performers backs
|
|
|
|
Post by digne on Nov 26, 2021 21:08:27 GMT
|
|
2,417 posts
|
Post by robertb213 on Nov 26, 2021 21:41:48 GMT
Never heard of Hoorah Tickets... it's a good deal if they're legit.
They're going to have to do some serious discounting over the next week, there are an embarrassing number of unsold seats at the moment 😳
|
|
19,676 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 26, 2021 21:55:53 GMT
SB fans might enjoy this podcast: podtail.com/en/podcast/the-sunset-project/15 minute or thereabouts episodes, very digestible. It fizzles out towards the end a bit (sounds like the creator was struggling with some personal issues) but for the most part it’s lots of gossipy fun. |
|
|
|
Post by digne on Nov 26, 2021 22:42:37 GMT
Never heard of Hoorah Tickets... it's a good deal if they're legit. They're going to have to do some serious discounting over the next week, there are an embarrassing number of unsold seats at the moment 😳 I've never heard of them either but googled the company before I purchased, and they only have positive reviews - they seem to only resell RAH member seats. My ticket arrived within minutes, at least. (I guess we'll see if I get in.  ) |
|
)