18,917 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 11, 2019 15:32:06 GMT
Ooop. Hey up. I've gone back a few pages, refreshed, logged in this time and I'm in the old GUI. How exciting! I wonder what the next page will look like. I’m more surprised that you’re booking Motown. Direct quote from my friend who went the other night: Sharpen up your shushing skills!
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Post by westendgurl on Mar 11, 2019 15:33:09 GMT
Can I add to the ATG hate? Mainly because when booking for Come From Away recently there was an error so I had to call and I just got my phone bill and wowza. All I can say is thank god I love the show!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2019 15:40:07 GMT
Ooop. Hey up. I've gone back a few pages, refreshed, logged in this time and I'm in the old GUI. How exciting! I wonder what the next page will look like. I’m more surprised that you’re booking Motown. Direct quote from my friend who went the other night: Sharpen up your shushing skills! Hahah. To be fair, I was looking for alternatives for this evening as my original plan of Royal Exchange has gone down the toilet. Was checking ticket prices* out of intrigue more than intent as it's not really my bag but I'm trying to be more open to things. That review helps solidify the decision though, looks like I'll be spamming on here tonight instead. Sorry! *£25 all seats with the theatrecard tonight.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Mar 11, 2019 16:29:29 GMT
Why would you remove the delete ticket from basket option? In a busy booking frenzy I often grab a seat and then delete if I find a better one. Is the hope that'll you'll just buy them all?!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2019 16:36:24 GMT
Why would you remove the delete ticket from basket option? In a busy booking frenzy I often grab a seat and then delete if I find a better one. Is the hope that'll you'll just buy them all?! No idea. Incredibly frustrating, especially when the previous model involved clicking a seat to reveal seat prices.
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Post by sparky5000 on Mar 11, 2019 17:25:25 GMT
What’s everyones opinion on when they prevent solo theatre goers from buying 1 ticket in a block of 2? I prefer to go with a friend or more obviously, but when I do choose to see a show solo it sucks to be told you can’t buy the ticket you actually want. I’d always choose a solo seat if I can, but sometimes they’re not in the areas of the theatre you want to be. Kinda feels a bit discriminatory, idk!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2019 17:40:53 GMT
I hate it passionately, I agree it's discriminatory. I can sort of see why a large West End theatre wouldn't want people leaving weird little gaps all over the place, but when it's somewhere like the Donmar Warehouse doing City Of Angels or the Almeida doing Richard III, there's no WAY those random solo seats are going to sit there unsold for the entire duration of the run.
I did have some fun with this last time I was booking a ticket at the Menier Chocolate Factory though; there were two seats together in the front row, and I only wanted one, so I selected the seat I preferred (call it A16) and tried to put it in my basket, to which it said "no, you can't leave a single seat, that's bad". So I changed my view from "select a seat" to "choose best available for me", asked it for a single seat in my price bracket, and it offered me the other one of the two (call it A15). So I left A15 in my basket in one internet browser, opened up the seating plan in another browser, and it let me buy A16 without any complaints whatsoever. And you know what? Despite being a single seat left all on its own, A15 was sold by the end of the day.
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Post by sparky5000 on Mar 11, 2019 17:48:02 GMT
I hate it passionately, I agree it's discriminatory. I can sort of see why a large West End theatre wouldn't want people leaving weird little gaps all over the place, but when it's somewhere like the Donmar Warehouse doing City Of Angels or the Almeida doing Richard III, there's no WAY those random solo seats are going to sit there unsold for the entire duration of the run. I did have some fun with this last time I was booking a ticket at the Menier Chocolate Factory though; there were two seats together in the front row, and I only wanted one, so I selected the seat I preferred (call it A16) and tried to put it in my basket, to which it said "no, you can't leave a single seat, that's bad". So I changed my view from "select a seat" to "choose best available for me", asked it for a single seat in my price bracket, and it offered me the other one of the two (call it A15). So I left A15 in my basket in one internet browser, opened up the seating plan in another browser, and it let me buy A16 without any complaints whatsoever. And you know what? Despite being a single seat left all on its own, A15 was sold by the end of the day. Oh that’s quite a good trick, I should try that! Not that solo ticket buyers should have to! And sure I get why larger West End theatres don’t want all the solo gaps, but when a show is unlikely to be a total sellout anyway, it’s pretty crappy to refuse a willing customer a seat where they want!
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3,940 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 11, 2019 17:50:07 GMT
I've already complained about it on the previous page. It drives me mad as I go to the theatre on my own about 95% of the time, and the rest of the time when my mother comes with me we don't sit together as we have different seating preferences, so I'm always buying a single seat & therefore hit this issue fairly regularly.
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2,549 posts
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Post by n1david on Mar 11, 2019 17:50:34 GMT
What’s everyones opinion on when they prevent solo theatre goers from buying 1 ticket in a block of 2? I prefer to go with a friend or more obviously, but when I do choose to see a show solo it sucks to be told you can’t buy the ticket you actually want. I’d always choose a solo seat if I can, but sometimes they’re not in the areas of the theatre you want to be. Kinda feels a bit discriminatory, idk! I strongly dislike it, but it's worth pointing out that all theatregoers are affected by it, not just those going by themselves. I usually go to the theatre as a party of two, and it's just as annoying where there's a gap of three seats and being told you can't buy two of them as that will leave the single seat. So I'd like to see it gone but I don't think it's discriminatory - it can affect any ticket-buyer.
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692 posts
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Post by sophie92 on Mar 11, 2019 18:01:01 GMT
What’s everyones opinion on when they prevent solo theatre goers from buying 1 ticket in a block of 2? I prefer to go with a friend or more obviously, but when I do choose to see a show solo it sucks to be told you can’t buy the ticket you actually want. I’d always choose a solo seat if I can, but sometimes they’re not in the areas of the theatre you want to be. Kinda feels a bit discriminatory, idk! I strongly dislike it, but it's worth pointing out that all theatregoers are affected by it, not just those going by themselves. I usually go to the theatre as a party of two, and it's just as annoying where there's a gap of three seats and being told you can't buy two of them as that will leave the single seat. So I'd like to see it gone but I don't think it's discriminatory - it can affect any ticket-buyer. Completely agree it’s annoying either way, but I think it’s worth noting that there are quite straightforward ways to work around trying to buy 2 seats out of a group of 3 (I actually had to do this myself yesterday!) whereas trying to buy 1 of a 2 (or sometimes 1 of a 4) might not be so straightforward and the only option could be to spend more money calling up to book over the phone.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2019 18:48:04 GMT
I hate it passionately, I agree it's discriminatory. I can sort of see why a large West End theatre wouldn't want people leaving weird little gaps all over the place, but when it's somewhere like the Donmar Warehouse doing City Of Angels or the Almeida doing Richard III, there's no WAY those random solo seats are going to sit there unsold for the entire duration of the run. I did have some fun with this last time I was booking a ticket at the Menier Chocolate Factory though; there were two seats together in the front row, and I only wanted one, so I selected the seat I preferred (call it A16) and tried to put it in my basket, to which it said "no, you can't leave a single seat, that's bad". So I changed my view from "select a seat" to "choose best available for me", asked it for a single seat in my price bracket, and it offered me the other one of the two (call it A15). So I left A15 in my basket in one internet browser, opened up the seating plan in another browser, and it let me buy A16 without any complaints whatsoever. And you know what? Despite being a single seat left all on its own, A15 was sold by the end of the day. And sure I get why larger West End theatres don’t want all the solo gaps, but when a show is unlikely to be a total sellout anyway, it’s pretty crappy to refuse a willing customer a seat where they want! Amen. Interestingly I've been watching availability and prices for seats for Matilda, Wicked and Les Mis at Manchester Palace. All sold incredibly well, but lots of single seats dotted around the place in many instances. By the night of each performance the majority of single seats had sold. Granted this is regional as opposed to London but it demonstrates there is demand for single seats. I do think if outlets were to relax their single seat policies, the 'left overs' would still sell, to other solo theatre goers.
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844 posts
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Mar 11, 2019 20:14:55 GMT
What’s everyones opinion on when they prevent solo theatre goers from buying 1 ticket in a block of 2? I prefer to go with a friend or more obviously, but when I do choose to see a show solo it sucks to be told you can’t buy the ticket you actually want. I’d always choose a solo seat if I can, but sometimes they’re not in the areas of the theatre you want to be. Kinda feels a bit discriminatory, idk! I strongly dislike it, but it's worth pointing out that all theatregoers are affected by it, not just those going by themselves. I usually go to the theatre as a party of two, and it's just as annoying where there's a gap of three seats and being told you can't buy two of them as that will leave the single seat. So I'd like to see it gone but I don't think it's discriminatory - it can affect any ticket-buyer. If you're leaving a single seat you can normally put that in your basket in another tab to hold it, book the ones you want in the original tab and then just cancel the single seat.
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1,912 posts
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Post by sf on Mar 11, 2019 21:31:27 GMT
What’s everyones opinion on when they prevent solo theatre goers from buying 1 ticket in a block of 2? I hate it with the kind of passion some people never experience in their entire life. I think I loathe it more than I loathe the charmless woman in the lobby at Hope Mill the other week who asked me if her group could take the other seat at my table and when I said yes, they could, I wasn't with anyone, came back with "Oh, what a pity you're on your own." I think I even loathe it more than I loathe Jacob Rees-Mogg. It's basically like a big neon sign screaming "HI! WE DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY!"
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Post by viserys on Mar 12, 2019 8:35:08 GMT
Serious question: With all the "leave no single seats" policies in place, how come there are always single seats dotted around the place anyway?
I've not often come across the problem because either there's so much availability that I can pick a single seat in an half-empty row or indeed just pick a left-over single seat.
I agree it's annoying though. It has something of the old stupid vibe of "only sad losers do things alone, we keep our nice seats for the normal people who only ever do things in pairs or groups". And surely people who do go in pairs could bear to be parted by sitting in different rows, if only single seats are left, seeing as they aren't meant to talk during the performance anyway.
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Post by peggs on Mar 12, 2019 22:02:56 GMT
. And surely people who do go in pairs could bear to be parted by sitting in different rows, if only single seats are left, seeing as they aren't meant to talk during the performance anyway. Well when I go with a friend yes, we would never consider not seeing something just cos we couldn't sit together but then they're off the board too so we may not count as your average theatre goer, I suspect if I tried that with other people they'd think it most odd even if yes you can wait till a couple of minutes to sit down so that's what 5 minutes in total on your own? The single seat thing proper winds me up but so do the looks I get from people when they ask who i'm going with/went with and I say just me, it's that pity look.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 12, 2019 22:07:15 GMT
First preference: go on your own 😁 Second preference: go with someone but don’t sit together 😐 Last resort: sit together 😕
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Mar 13, 2019 7:35:11 GMT
Yes to many people I know going to a concert, theatre etc is the strangest thing you could ever do.
What I find MUCH stranger is deciding not to go to something you really want to see because nobody else wants to go with you!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2019 8:39:16 GMT
I get that going to the theatre maybe the first time alone is daunting if you haven't done it, but otherwise yes it really irritates me (is it me or is it also THOSE types of couple who can't BELIEVE you're single who also come out with those types comments too...) Again it's one of those 'fine don't go to the theatre alone yourself but don't make a drama out of the fact I/lots of people do.'
Plus having to talk to other humans you bring with you is overrated sometimes.
Also with the sitting separately, surely seeing the thing you want to see is more important than sitting next to someone (again is it me or is it THOSE couples, could't possibly be seperated from my love-bunny for 90 minutes during the show)
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Mar 13, 2019 8:49:29 GMT
These are the same couples who are always leaning into each other during the show, oblivious that when they do so it blocks the view of those behind!
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Post by duncan on Mar 13, 2019 8:54:56 GMT
how come there are always single seats dotted around the place anyway Partly people who beat the system, partly the fact that tickets aren't just sold by the house but also held and traded among agents, tour operators etc and also used and discarded by the producers as needed. Also returns of course. Those are what I can think of offhand, but I'm sure box office people would have others. I know one theatre that has the single seat policy but which doesn't enforce it if the seat next to you is a restricted view seat and vice versa. I have never ever bought the cheap seat and then sat in the more expensive empty seat next to me.
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Post by lynette on Aug 24, 2019 19:27:24 GMT
Delfont Macintosh site for Wyndhams, Leopoldstadt. So there I am trying to book for Feb and I know I’ve booked before so I’m expecting the inevitable password fiasco. No idea what password I used last time. But hey, I have two and a half minutes to finish the transaction! What the ? Even with lightning fingers I can’t enter all my details on the password reset page and then go back to the site and enter cc etc in that time. So i give up.
Advice please? Apart from phone, which I will prob do.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Aug 24, 2019 21:14:50 GMT
Go through the booking process, reset the password, log in, then start the booking process again!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2019 22:27:39 GMT
I've had to use Spektrix more and more recently e.g. Lyceum Edinburgh, Hull New, London Arts and it is frustrating me. Having to scroll down on desktop to get to the next screen always confuses me and I always forget to do it.
For some theatres (mainly Hull New from experience) the price bands are also obscured on first view and it turns into a guessing game of which price is represented by which colour.
On the other end of the spectrum I LOVE the Edinburgh Fringe website. It is simple and user-friendly from my experiences of using it.
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Post by fossil on Sept 21, 2019 10:06:37 GMT
After frustrating experiences in the past of the National and RSC web sites releasing tickets I had reserved when their web sites became overloaded it was pleasing to note that a small venue can cope so much better.
I tried to book tickets for Nice Work If You Can Get It at the Arts Ed theatre school when booking opened at 2pm on Thursday. I kept getting error messages but managed to get two tickets into my basket but could not get the checkout to process the payment. However, the error message gave a booking reservation reference number and a message to phone the box office.
All tickets sold out very quickly and, pessimistically, I presumed I had lost the booking. However when I looked at my account page later it showed the tickets as being reserved until Saturday and to call the box office to claim and pay for the reservation, which I did.
If a small venue can hold the seats for 48 hours, why cannot the big venues tweak there systems to do the same instead of just 20 minutes or so, perhaps just at peak booking times?
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 5, 2019 22:04:42 GMT
And add me to the people who have had problems with ArtsEd booking. Exactly the same problem as the last two posts. Checked out shortly after 2pm.
Tried phoning a few minutes later but no one was picking up. Then had to go into meetings. Will try again tomorrow as at least the system says everything is reserved until Saturday.
Rather surprised there’s no proactive attempts for them to contact me though, not even an email. Sounds like this has been a problem affecting a lot of people.
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3,080 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 6, 2019 11:08:59 GMT
All sorted with ArtsEd this morning. I rather got the impression that all the lady I spoke to was doing was sorting the many bookings that hadn't gone through successfully. She was very calm and polite considering.
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 22, 2021 8:55:22 GMT
While everything else has been going on, the Delfont Mackintosh website has had a comprehensive redesign. I'm not sure it's an improvement, especially on a smartphone.
Swipe up for this, down for that; swipe left for that, right for this. And home may be where the heart is, but trying to return to it requires a masters degree in computer science!
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Post by ruby on Apr 22, 2021 11:16:06 GMT
While everything else has been going on, the Delfont Mackintosh website has had a comprehensive redesign. I'm not sure it's an improvement, especially on a smartphone. Swipe up for this, down for that; swipe left for that, right for this. And home may be where the heart is, but trying to return to it requires a masters degree in computer science! Yes, I didn't find it very easy on a smartphone either, my saved login didn't work so I had to reset my password. They're definitely not my favourite people at the moment as I booked for Mary Poppins over a month ago, since then have only had a vague email saying they'll let me know the options in a few weeks. As I booked the day before the tickets were taken off sale, they must have known when they took my money that the performance wouldn't happen!
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Post by Rory on Apr 22, 2021 17:03:11 GMT
I can honestly say I hate the new Delfont Mackintosh website. Horrible in a smartphone and not much better on a PC. And what a shame to have done away with the colourful and striking show logos and art design, to e replaced by random photographs. Hate it!
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