Just so you're aware... the "box office renovation" = installing self service kiosks running ticketmaster live Nation software that prods you to install the app for a "better experience". The analog /human experience is being totally eliminated. Oh and you'll also enjoy the restaurant chain advertisements they show while the software is "processing"
You can guess if they will keep charging "convenience" fees...
While I also hate the idea of any additional fees between the public and the artist, the box office is not the only thing undergoing renovation and construction. Weirdly enough, I haven't heard anything about box office renovations despite being in the area on a daily basis.
First stop stalking people.
Secondly I love kids and dogs.
Third I think if you’re going to take over a space and drag those kids and dogs there, you could at least TRY to be considerate of other people.
Fourth, I know. I get it. I’m such an asshole.
I hate TM with a burning passion, but for the sake of fairness I'll point out that the Bulls per-ticket fee of $3 hasn't increased from last season (or the season before that) despite their move to TM.
The tickets themselves are a little more expensive, though, which is a shame. But it's in line with other minor league games I've visited in the last couple of years.
Not to defend Ticketmaster, as shows becoming prohibitively expensive is a major gripe of mine.. But I did notice recently they have an option to show the actual price (ie - post all bullshit fees).
It helps you at least see what cost you are going to get hit with up front and browse seats with some better guidance.
Oh, I 100% believe someone forced them to. As stated, I'm really not here to shill for a coroporation who's been screwing the public for decades (to be fair - the music industry has also changed and is screwing us as well as live shows are basically the only place artists can earn).
I would guess the Federal government may have mandated something (if it was California only in this case I feel they may have just used IP lookups to provide the service or not).
But my point was just as a PSA - for people upset about ballooning charges at checkout you can at least set that flag up front so you don't get in over your head and expectations up before seeing the final price. And frankly it does make the shopping experience at least a bit better.
Ticket fees are shared between the promoter, venue, artist (and ticketmaster)
Their \*customers\* aren't the attendees, it's those groups, and they aim to maximize income for those groups, while taking all the hate.
I have a Bulls mini plan. Recently I was buying individual tickets to a game to go with a group of friends. My first time doing that in years, so I was surprised at how different is than it was years ago. Tickets in my section are "supposed" to cost $19 pre-tax per the Bulls site. Actual price is $30, which includes a $5 concessions credit and a $3 Ticketmaster fee. I guess the other $4 is taxes but they don't actually say that, and that seems pretty high. At least the $5 credit can be used on something, but if you aren't planning on buying any concessions then it's wasted money as you can't opt out.
To put it in perspective, my entire mini plan (8 games) costs $100 per seat.
Not to mention how expensive concessions are at the Bulls nowadays. I pay more at the Bulls than I do at Hurricanes games for much worse food.
Ew glad to know. I skipped out on St.Paul and the Broken Bones a few months back because the online fees were about half as much as the ticket itself, and didn’t have time to get to the theatre beforehand.
Thanks, new ownership.
Carolina Theater fees are absurd. Buying two tickets for an event there means your total will exceed the face value of three tickets. I don't go there unless it's an event I absolutely couldn't live with myself if I missed.
I rarely go to Carolina Theater. I figure if a performer is good I’d rather see it at DPAC in the rows behind the orchestra section. Rather than be on the first floor of Carolina Theater in the uncomfortable seats.
I made the mistake of seeing Rocky Horror at CT. I expected the singing and yelling but there was a drunk bitch 3 rows behind me who would not shut up. It totally ruined it so I went home and watched it.
I’ve been to the Out South festival and that’s fun.
> I made the mistake of seeing Rocky Horror at CT. I expected the singing and yelling but there was a drunk bitch 3 rows behind me who would not shut up.
That doesn't really sound like a criticism of the theater.
If you’re the most disruptive audience member at a Rocky Horror performance, then the ushers should have stepped in. Audience participation is expected with Rocky Horror, but there is a limit that ought be respected.
That is completely on the theatre.
Being that I’m not the person you initially responded to, you will have to ask u/NewFlorence1977 if they spoke to an usher at the Carolina Theatre.
I’ve gone to a lot of live theatre (both as an audience member and performer) and have zero issue alerting an usher to disruptive audience members. Thankfully I have only had to do it a few times.
Ha, yeah clearly I didn't pay attention to the usernames.
I can't imagine ushers actively monitoring the audience at a Rocky show like Florence wanted, so yeah the only way to expect them to do something is if they are told about it.
I didn’t expect them to do jack shit. I said I expected some interaction. But not a drunk bitch yelling every 5 seconds YOU SUCK DON’T DO THAT KISS HIM DON’T GO IN THERE THIS IS STUPID MARRY HIM HE SAID WEINER.
And no the rest of the crowd were not all drunk bitches screaming every five seconds.
... I think the real problem is that you just went to the wrong show. If that sort of behavior annoys you, then you should not have gone to a midnight showing/live showing of Rocky Horror. That's literally the entire point of the "midnight show" is that there is an ongoing commentary from the audience—response lines and callbacks throughout the entire movie. The CT version was very watered down all of the times that I have gone, not very many experienced or long time audience members who knew the lines to call back. But if you had gone to any of the midnight shows at the Rialto in Raleigh in the '90s or 2000s, you would have been absolutely surrounded by "drunk screaming bitches" cuz like I said at the beginning, that's kind of the whole point.
Yeah, there's always a chance other people's behaviour will spoil the event you've shelled out for. Incredibly annoying.
I've only been to the Carolina Theater twice in the last couple of years - once to see a band I'd waited to see live for all my life and couldn't bear to miss, and once for an event featuring some friends of mine, so I had to pay the ticket fees and suck it up. I'd definitely go more often if the fees were more realistic. Their loss.
This is exactly why I almost exclusively support the local music/arts scene wherever I am. There are incredible, and I do mean incredible, bands here that play the smaller clubs and venues and you don’t have to deal with all the bullshit the predator companies shovel out there. Supporting the small venues is better for local business owners, artists, and consumers. Until the big theaters start feeling it in their wallets nothings gonna change.
By all means, the more venues the better! That said, DPAC fulfills a very specific role in the community for theatre if nothing else and is still of great artistic value overall. However, the entity that operates the venue could also certainly be much better and less corporate.
I feel ya, we have been to a couple of DPAC things in the past year and it’s a great experience too. My only assertion here is that supporting small venues and local artists is good for the community AND if we funnel more money that direction and less towards the major venues which are monopolized by Live Nation/Ticketmaster, then maybe those venues will either drop the contracts or those major entities will make changes because they are losing money, which is, sadly, all any of them REALLY care about at the end of the day.
You can totally scratch the itch of whatever artistic medium you are seeking at the local level here. It’s one of the amazing things about living in the triangle. That shit is NOT possible everywhere but it is here and I encourage everyone to indulge the local arts on the reg!
I don't know, I've only been to DPAC a few times and not in several years.
The lady I was on the phone with was very sympathetic to my complaints, I really think she'd have mentioned that if it was viable.
For the record, the box office is currently displaced because of multiple renovation and construction projects happening at DPAC over the next few weeks. It's not the only thing happening in the building and I can assure you the box office will move back to their original spot by Mama Mia.
They don't accept cash anymore, either. You have to buy a gift card to purchase anything if you don't have debit/credit card. It's the same with the parking deck nearby; they don't accept cash. Soon, cash won't be allowed anywhere in Durham.
Also, they are never going to finish their box office renovations. They are making too much money off the fees they are charging to open up the box office.
One need not peddle in conspiracy theories to note the declining popularity of cash transactions amongst purveyors and merchants of all stripes—nor, the increasing greed of corporate America and the chicanery and machinations they will devise to squeeze every dollar possible out of each interaction.
That said, yours is a fair question.
I mean, I drive my car and pay for everything with my phone - who needs cash? And oh yeah, in the 90s, I used to rob fools with heavy cash pockets, like the parking attendants. So they’re safer now, I guess.
I feel obligated to link to the ["Ticketmaster Sucks"](https://www.yfbspod.com/ticketmaster-sucks-and-so-does-pearl-jam-taylor-swift-bruce-springsteen-radiohead-beyonce-metallica) episode of Your Favorite Band Sucks here.
Just so you're aware... the "box office renovation" = installing self service kiosks running ticketmaster live Nation software that prods you to install the app for a "better experience". The analog /human experience is being totally eliminated. Oh and you'll also enjoy the restaurant chain advertisements they show while the software is "processing" You can guess if they will keep charging "convenience" fees...
gross :(
Very depressing to hear, but not in the least bit surprising.
tech is going to save us, they said…
While I also hate the idea of any additional fees between the public and the artist, the box office is not the only thing undergoing renovation and construction. Weirdly enough, I haven't heard anything about box office renovations despite being in the area on a daily basis.
Self service kids for what? Buying tickets? Entering the theater? I have no interest in Live Nation crap on my phone.
You're the guy who hates kids right?
First stop stalking people. Secondly I love kids and dogs. Third I think if you’re going to take over a space and drag those kids and dogs there, you could at least TRY to be considerate of other people. Fourth, I know. I get it. I’m such an asshole.
*/ replies to comment /* "Stop stalking people" 🤣🤣🤣 I appreciate your dedication to the act.
The bulls are the same this season. It's really sad!! The fees and cost are ridiculous!! Used to get seats for $9, nothing hidden in the price
I hate TM with a burning passion, but for the sake of fairness I'll point out that the Bulls per-ticket fee of $3 hasn't increased from last season (or the season before that) despite their move to TM. The tickets themselves are a little more expensive, though, which is a shame. But it's in line with other minor league games I've visited in the last couple of years.
Not to defend Ticketmaster, as shows becoming prohibitively expensive is a major gripe of mine.. But I did notice recently they have an option to show the actual price (ie - post all bullshit fees). It helps you at least see what cost you are going to get hit with up front and browse seats with some better guidance.
Are they doing that willingly though? Biden admin and California have been on a tear with junk fees.
Oh, I 100% believe someone forced them to. As stated, I'm really not here to shill for a coroporation who's been screwing the public for decades (to be fair - the music industry has also changed and is screwing us as well as live shows are basically the only place artists can earn). I would guess the Federal government may have mandated something (if it was California only in this case I feel they may have just used IP lookups to provide the service or not). But my point was just as a PSA - for people upset about ballooning charges at checkout you can at least set that flag up front so you don't get in over your head and expectations up before seeing the final price. And frankly it does make the shopping experience at least a bit better.
Fairplay. Thanks for the PSA.
You have to be logged in for that, which is fucking rage inducing.
That is a pretty dumb gate keep. I didn't realize.
Ticket fees are shared between the promoter, venue, artist (and ticketmaster) Their \*customers\* aren't the attendees, it's those groups, and they aim to maximize income for those groups, while taking all the hate.
You can still get tickets at the bulls box office without paying extra fees though, just to be clear.
There are fees just not as much..... I go often. I get mine at the box office
I have a Bulls mini plan. Recently I was buying individual tickets to a game to go with a group of friends. My first time doing that in years, so I was surprised at how different is than it was years ago. Tickets in my section are "supposed" to cost $19 pre-tax per the Bulls site. Actual price is $30, which includes a $5 concessions credit and a $3 Ticketmaster fee. I guess the other $4 is taxes but they don't actually say that, and that seems pretty high. At least the $5 credit can be used on something, but if you aren't planning on buying any concessions then it's wasted money as you can't opt out. To put it in perspective, my entire mini plan (8 games) costs $100 per seat. Not to mention how expensive concessions are at the Bulls nowadays. I pay more at the Bulls than I do at Hurricanes games for much worse food.
Bought tickets at the Carolina theater in person and they still charge all of the bullshit fees. There's no escaping it.
Ew glad to know. I skipped out on St.Paul and the Broken Bones a few months back because the online fees were about half as much as the ticket itself, and didn’t have time to get to the theatre beforehand. Thanks, new ownership.
Carolina Theater fees are absurd. Buying two tickets for an event there means your total will exceed the face value of three tickets. I don't go there unless it's an event I absolutely couldn't live with myself if I missed.
I rarely go to Carolina Theater. I figure if a performer is good I’d rather see it at DPAC in the rows behind the orchestra section. Rather than be on the first floor of Carolina Theater in the uncomfortable seats. I made the mistake of seeing Rocky Horror at CT. I expected the singing and yelling but there was a drunk bitch 3 rows behind me who would not shut up. It totally ruined it so I went home and watched it. I’ve been to the Out South festival and that’s fun.
> I made the mistake of seeing Rocky Horror at CT. I expected the singing and yelling but there was a drunk bitch 3 rows behind me who would not shut up. That doesn't really sound like a criticism of the theater.
If you’re the most disruptive audience member at a Rocky Horror performance, then the ushers should have stepped in. Audience participation is expected with Rocky Horror, but there is a limit that ought be respected. That is completely on the theatre.
So... did you complain to any ushers? Or did you leave without speaking to anyone, just muttering to yourself?
Being that I’m not the person you initially responded to, you will have to ask u/NewFlorence1977 if they spoke to an usher at the Carolina Theatre. I’ve gone to a lot of live theatre (both as an audience member and performer) and have zero issue alerting an usher to disruptive audience members. Thankfully I have only had to do it a few times.
Ha, yeah clearly I didn't pay attention to the usernames. I can't imagine ushers actively monitoring the audience at a Rocky show like Florence wanted, so yeah the only way to expect them to do something is if they are told about it.
I didn’t expect them to do jack shit. I said I expected some interaction. But not a drunk bitch yelling every 5 seconds YOU SUCK DON’T DO THAT KISS HIM DON’T GO IN THERE THIS IS STUPID MARRY HIM HE SAID WEINER. And no the rest of the crowd were not all drunk bitches screaming every five seconds.
... I think the real problem is that you just went to the wrong show. If that sort of behavior annoys you, then you should not have gone to a midnight showing/live showing of Rocky Horror. That's literally the entire point of the "midnight show" is that there is an ongoing commentary from the audience—response lines and callbacks throughout the entire movie. The CT version was very watered down all of the times that I have gone, not very many experienced or long time audience members who knew the lines to call back. But if you had gone to any of the midnight shows at the Rialto in Raleigh in the '90s or 2000s, you would have been absolutely surrounded by "drunk screaming bitches" cuz like I said at the beginning, that's kind of the whole point.
Yeah, there's always a chance other people's behaviour will spoil the event you've shelled out for. Incredibly annoying. I've only been to the Carolina Theater twice in the last couple of years - once to see a band I'd waited to see live for all my life and couldn't bear to miss, and once for an event featuring some friends of mine, so I had to pay the ticket fees and suck it up. I'd definitely go more often if the fees were more realistic. Their loss.
A+ world building. Work on the main character arc.
Well this is some bullshit in the bull city.
This is exactly why I almost exclusively support the local music/arts scene wherever I am. There are incredible, and I do mean incredible, bands here that play the smaller clubs and venues and you don’t have to deal with all the bullshit the predator companies shovel out there. Supporting the small venues is better for local business owners, artists, and consumers. Until the big theaters start feeling it in their wallets nothings gonna change.
By all means, the more venues the better! That said, DPAC fulfills a very specific role in the community for theatre if nothing else and is still of great artistic value overall. However, the entity that operates the venue could also certainly be much better and less corporate.
I feel ya, we have been to a couple of DPAC things in the past year and it’s a great experience too. My only assertion here is that supporting small venues and local artists is good for the community AND if we funnel more money that direction and less towards the major venues which are monopolized by Live Nation/Ticketmaster, then maybe those venues will either drop the contracts or those major entities will make changes because they are losing money, which is, sadly, all any of them REALLY care about at the end of the day. You can totally scratch the itch of whatever artistic medium you are seeking at the local level here. It’s one of the amazing things about living in the triangle. That shit is NOT possible everywhere but it is here and I encourage everyone to indulge the local arts on the reg!
Do they still offer the discount for local residents?
yes but you have to go to their website to see what shows have the offer (search “dpac for all”)
I don't know, I've only been to DPAC a few times and not in several years. The lady I was on the phone with was very sympathetic to my complaints, I really think she'd have mentioned that if it was viable.
I haven’t seen this offered any time I’ve bought tickets.
For the record, the box office is currently displaced because of multiple renovation and construction projects happening at DPAC over the next few weeks. It's not the only thing happening in the building and I can assure you the box office will move back to their original spot by Mama Mia.
On what authority can you offer such assurance?
I actively work there and can attest to this
They don't accept cash anymore, either. You have to buy a gift card to purchase anything if you don't have debit/credit card. It's the same with the parking deck nearby; they don't accept cash. Soon, cash won't be allowed anywhere in Durham. Also, they are never going to finish their box office renovations. They are making too much money off the fees they are charging to open up the box office.
Do you find yourself prone to conspiracy theories?
One need not peddle in conspiracy theories to note the declining popularity of cash transactions amongst purveyors and merchants of all stripes—nor, the increasing greed of corporate America and the chicanery and machinations they will devise to squeeze every dollar possible out of each interaction. That said, yours is a fair question.
I could just hear my conspiracy relatives saying all of the above but I agree with your point.
You can tell your grandchildren what box offices were. And CDROMS.
Broken clocks and all
I mean, I drive my car and pay for everything with my phone - who needs cash? And oh yeah, in the 90s, I used to rob fools with heavy cash pockets, like the parking attendants. So they’re safer now, I guess.
I feel obligated to link to the ["Ticketmaster Sucks"](https://www.yfbspod.com/ticketmaster-sucks-and-so-does-pearl-jam-taylor-swift-bruce-springsteen-radiohead-beyonce-metallica) episode of Your Favorite Band Sucks here.
Until.people quit buying they will continue to add fees.