25 replies to this topic

[DeborahB]

I just received my renewal. I thought it was for the short fall season. However, it's for the fall, winter and spring seasons!
They want you to renew for the entire year. And there's no option (on the form) to only renew for a season at a time.
I called the subscription office to find out if I was seeing things. They confirmed that you can only renew for the entire year.

I am extremely devoted to NYCB. As some of you know I have a professional (and personal) connection (which is why I don't post about the performances anymore) to many of the dancers. However, this is nuts! I still go to performances three times a week, and have noticed that the house is in need of more bodies to fill the seats (it's pretty depressing). On the other hand, I was just at the Royal Ballet (I was in London last week) and the place was packed.

Of course I'll renew, but I bet that they'll lose many subscribers because of this scheme. This is not smart marketing.

[abatt]

Hi Deborah.  I was wondering if you were okay since you hadn't posted for some time.  Now I understand why you don't write on the board anymore.  Regarding the renewal, is there any option to pay in installments?

[DeborahB]

abatt, on May 25 2010, 01:26 PM, said:

Hi Deborah.  I was wondering if you were okay since you hadn't posted for some time.  Now I understand why you don't write on the board anymore.  Regarding the renewal, is there any option to pay in installments?

You are so sweet Abatt for worrying about me! I appreciate that a lot!
There is an option to pay in installments. You can pay half now and half in a month or so (or something like that).

[California]

DeborahB, on May 25 2010, 10:16 AM, said:

. . . I . . . have noticed that the house is in need of more bodies to fill the seats (it's pretty depressing). . . .

Several people have commented on all the empty seats, at both NYCB and ABT this month. Is it worse than recent seasons? Does it seem to reflect the struggling economy or just disappointing repertory offerings (or perhaps both)? Along with news of other companies folding or shortening their seasons, this is not good news for the arts...

Is there any information at all about the repertory planned for NYCB next year? In the print New York City Ballet NEWS (Spring 2010),  it says subscriptions for 2010-11 will be available in June, with single tickets for fall 2010 in August. I was guessing they'd announce the fall schedule in June. They list some works for fall in NEWS, but it's far from complete, and nothing is listed on the web site.

[abatt]

Based on what I observed during the Winter season at NYCB, the full length ballets (Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty) sold well, especially on weekends.  I think some of these rep programs are not of interest to the average ballet audience member.  Also, I think a new Wheeldon ballet sells a lot better than certain less esteemed choreographers.  I've noticed that the ALL Balanchine programs tend to sell well too.  It is disturbing to see so many empty seats at the Koch Theater lately. I think that this new system of requiring subscribers to pay for the fall, winter and spring seasons over only two installments is going to backfire.  They will be losing a lot of subscribers.

[DeborahB]

California, on May 25 2010, 02:03 PM, said:

DeborahB, on May 25 2010, 10:16 AM, said:

. . . I . . . have noticed that the house is in need of more bodies to fill the seats (it's pretty depressing). . . .

Several people have commented on all the empty seats, at both NYCB and ABT this month. Is it worse than recent seasons? Does it seem to reflect the struggling economy or just disappointing repertory offerings (or perhaps both)? Along with news of other companies folding or shortening their seasons, this is not good news for the arts...

Is there any information at all about the repertory planned for NYCB next year? In the print New York City Ballet NEWS (Spring 2010),  it says subscriptions for 2010-11 will be available in June, with single tickets for fall 2010 in August. I was guessing they'd announce the fall schedule in June. They list some works for fall in NEWS, but it's far from complete, and nothing is listed on the web site.

There's no question that there are many more empty seats than normal (for the spring). We could chock it up to ABT,  (now at the Met) but ABT's season just started. I'm guessing that NYCB could have even more empty seats now that they have competition across the Plaza. Such a shame.
I have two subscriptions to ABT too, and the tickets are more expensive than NYCB's. I really hope that NYCB quickly comes up with discounts before the season is over.

As for the rep. Not much is announced yet (it's supposed to be coming "soon."). However, there will be three new ballets by  Benjamin Millepied,
Susan Stroman (whom I just saw in the lobby of the Meniere in London on Sunday night. She's co-directing, with Hal Prince, a new Broadway bound musical starring Mandy Patinkin. Unfortunately, it's dreadful so I doubt it's transfer here) and Lynne Taylor-Corbett.

[abatt]

The Lynn Taylor Corbett ballet will be The Seven Deadly Sins, with Patti Lupone, in the Spring of 2011.  That was previously announced.

[DeborahB]

abatt, on May 25 2010, 02:43 PM, said:

The Lynn Taylor Corbett ballet will be The Seven Deadly Sins, with Patti Lupone, in the Spring of 2011.  That was previously announced.

Oh!! Now that's worth renewing early! I worship Patti!
I've seen her in everything she's done (within two hours from NYC).

And speaking of Wheeldon -- I saw "Tryst" at the Royal Ballet over the weekend. I simply loved it!
I wish the NYCB would stage it (I cast it with NYCB dancers while I was watching it. The lead screams, Wendy Whelan!)

[flo]

When exactly is the Fall Season?

[California]

flo, on May 25 2010, 01:07 PM, said:

When exactly is the Fall Season?

According to the print NYCB NEWS, September 14 - October 10,  with a gala on Thursday, October 7. It seems odd that there is nothing about it on the NYCB web site. I gather there was a press release a few months ago that showed up in various places, as I first learned about it here on this site.

For the rep, the print NEWS lists ". .  . classic works by Balanchine, including Serenade, Concerto Barocco, and Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet,  as well as works by Robbins and Martins. Highlights of the season will also include works created for the spring season Architecture of Dance-New Choreography and Music Festival."

Photos for the fall season story: Glass Pieces, Barber Violin Concerto, Serenade, Fearful Symmetries, Four Seasons. I'm especially hopeful that Glass Pieces will be on the program.

[California]

The complete schedule and dates for fall 2010, winter 2011, and spring 2011 are now on the NYCB web site:
http://www.nycballet...1/renewals.html

I'm impressed that they have posted the exact schedules for the entire year. This really helps people who need to plan travel to see them. I suppose some changes might be made down the road, but this is great news.

September 14 - October 10, 2010  
January 18 - February 27, 2011
May 3 - June 12, 2011

[Helene]

I'm surprised that NYCB has bundled all seasons together, when many other arts organizations have created "Mini" and "Make your own" subscriptions.  I recently became a subscriber to the Vancouver Symphony through a "Make your own" sub; otherwise, I wouldn't have subscribed, and I might very well have missed most of the concerts to which I'm now subscribed.

[sandik]

Helene, on May 26 2010, 12:13 AM, said:

I'm surprised that NYCB has bundled all seasons together, when many other arts organizations have created "Mini" and "Make your own" subscriptions.  I recently became a subscriber to the Vancouver Symphony through a "Make your own" sub; otherwise, I wouldn't have subscribed, and I might very well have missed most of the concerts to which I'm now subscribed.

The general trend in subscription sales is towards more flexibility, and to re-offer shorter packages as the season progresses.  Perhaps that will happen with NYCB -- it seems counter-intuitive to require people to sign up for the entire year in these times, but perhaps they have something else going with this.

[carbro]

This may be an experiment.  I don't know this -- just guessing .  Subscribing for a year at a time seems like a huge commitment, even with the flexibility offered to subscribers.  They may yet offer mini-subs or season subs, but first want to lock in as many as they can for the three-season cycle.  Again, just a hypothesis.  If the three-season plan gets a bad response,  it may prove a one-shot trial balloon.

[ViolinConcerto]

Seems to me that they've been experimenting for the past few years.  Examples include block programming, Tues. and Wed. 7:30 p.m. performances, and I believe the do-it-yourself subscriptions.

They are really trying to attract younger audiences, and to make things easier for their "regulars." I know that I and many other old and oldish-faithfuls seem to react negatively to just about ANY change, but that's only human.  TO ME many of their test balloons seem either objectionable or futile, but I'm not a member of the new, young target group.  But whatever they do, my deep hope is that they are successful in the goal of reaching new audiences and retaining the old, as well as making new ballets and keeping the old as well.