CityWOOF

When contacting the Box Office for your theater/opera/concert needs and concerns, there are some things ticket buyers should know.  Disclaimer: These are my own personal views and do not necessarily reflect the policies or attitudes of any organization with which I may or may not be affiliated.

• It is not necessary to begin the conversation by announcing your name and/or status.  If needed, that information will be asked of you.
• Sometimes there are things we can do for you, and sometimes there are not.  I will discuss those.  However, it is important to know that if you are pleasant and courteous with the person assisting you, things that may not normally be done are more likely to be done. Doors can opened to nice people. If you have an unpleasant or “entitled” attitude, those same doors can quickly shut.  As the old saying goes, you get more bees with honey…or something like that.  Sometimes the “squeaky wheel gets the grease” adage does not apply.  Believe me.  Thank you for being a subscriber.
• If you miss your show because you could not find parking, or a babysitter, or your cat was sick or whatever…you are not entitled to tickets to another performance!  There is nothing more perishable than a ticket to an event.
• When you buy a season ticket package, do not take each ticket to each show and add up the admission price and facility fee and then call the box office to complain that you’ve been overcharged.  What’s printed on the ticket is what is required to be printed on the ticket by law.  It does not reflect that actual price of the ticket.  A season ticket package includes benefits that are not reflected on the actual ticket itself.  Your subscriber handbook has all this information.
• Speaking of the subscriber handbook.  It was designed and printed and mailed to you with your tickets so that you would have all the information you need for the season.  Read it!
• When attending a play or a musical or whatever…know what you are going to see before you go see it.  Yes, Avenue Q was not for children.  You should have discovered that before you went.  Do your own diligence if you are bringing children to the theater.  It’s very easy to do.  And NO, you MAY NOT have a refund just because you didn’t like the show.
• We do not exchange tickets on the day of the show.  Flying out of town today?  Did you not know this two days ago?  You waited too long.  You lose.
• Yes, theater is magical.  So is opera.  However, that magic does not supercede the laws of physics.  By that, I mean that more than one person or object cannot occupy the same seat at the same time.  I’m sorry that Orchestra Section C row T seat 5 is not available.  Someone else is sitting there! They bought the seat before you did.  Is it really that hard to understand?

Once again, courteousness and pleasantness will get you a long way at the Box Office.  Thank you for your kind attention.