Whelan to retire from NYCB Oct 18, 2014

Amour · August 17, 2014

I'm a subscriber and I already received my Wendy farewell tickets in the mail.

Where are you seated? I have a "create your own" subscription and only the 4the ring (at $100 a ticket!) was available. Luckily, I got seated in row B.

I have to say I have been having tremendous problems with my NYCB subscription this year. I placed the subscription 2 months ago and never got a confirmation. I kept being told " it's in the mail". I also never received my letter about Wendy's farewell! It's only because I demanded to speak to a supervisor (who was very responsive) that I got tickets to the farewell. I anticipate having problems getting my subscription tickets. I don't know what's up with them this season.

Drew · August 17, 2014

I'm a subscriber and I already received my Wendy farewell tickets in the mail.

Where are you seated? I have a "create your own" subscription and only the 4the ring (at $100 a ticket!) was available. Luckily, I got seated in row B.

I have to say I have been having tremendous problems with my NYCB subscription this year. I placed the subscription 2 months ago and never got a confirmation. I kept being told " it's in the mail". I also never received my letter about Wendy's farewell! It's only because I demanded to speak to a supervisor (who was very responsive) that I got tickets to the farewell. I anticipate having problems getting my subscription tickets. I don't know what's up with them this season.

I have a "create your own" subscription ordered in June and just received a letter offering tickets to the Whelan farewell this past week (ie after Abatt had already received her tickets). Since I won't be in NY for the Whelan farewell performance I haven't been focused on it or I would have been less than happy, but I was wondering about not having heard anything yet about my subscription seats. I telephoned Friday to ask and was told where the seats would be and that tickets would be printed and mailed this coming week. They had also given me pretty much the seats I had asked for, or what seemed to me reasonably close, so that although I had been worried, I am much less so now. Will still appreciate having the tickets in hand.

abatt · August 17, 2014

I have not received my subscription tickets yet either, even though I paid for them back in June. (I know my order was filled by looking at my credit card statement.) It's par for the course not to get a confirmation from them, and not to get your subscription tickets until late August/early Sept. I don't even bother calling anymore to ask where the tickets are because I usually get the old "my dog ate my homework" kind of frustrating response. I'd rather not hear it again.

The people who ordered create your own did not get to priority for seating, which is why you got your letters after other people. Top priority went to big wig donors, next was guild members, next was people who ordered regular, full subscriptions, and last was the create your own subscribers, I believe.

The Whelan seating was a fiasco. My order form had three price choices, with the highest being $134 (plus handling fee and facility fee). What I ended up with was tickets that cost $167 per ticket. I was never contacted by anyone to ask if I was willing to go into the higher price category. Nor was there any choice on the order form which asked if you would be willing to go into a higher price level if your price point is sold out. My tickets are in the last row of the first ring, in the center. This better be a damn good program considering the price. Too bad they had to turn Wendy's retirement into a little money making profit scheme, thereby diminishing the event.

Drew · August 18, 2014

The people who ordered create your own did not get to priority for seating, which is why you got your letters after other people. Top priority went to big wig donors, next was guild members, next was people who ordered regular, full subscriptions, and last was the create your own subscribers, I believe.

Ahh...this makes sense to me (more or less). I am hoping to see Whelan for my own "farewell" a little earlier in season.

Amour · August 26, 2014

The Whelan seating was a fiasco. My order form had three price choices, with the highest being $134 (plus handling fee and facility fee). What I ended up with was tickets that cost $167 per ticket. I was never contacted by anyone to ask if I was willing to go into the higher price category. Nor was there anon the order form which asked if you would be willing to go into a higher price level if your price point is sold out. My tickets are in the last row of the first ring, in the center. This better be a damn good program considering the price. Too bad they had to turn Wendy's retirement into a little money making profit scheme, thereby diminishing the event.

That's really not too bad,abatt. I often sit in the first ring and without the discount, the tickets cost $150, so $167 doesn't seem so off the mark. But $100 for the 4th ring is definitely exploiting the viewer and turning this evening into a money profit scheme. We've never sat that far up (we're usually in orchestra or 1st ring). My husband is dreading it since our experience at the Royal Opera House Amphitheatre was miserable. But I want to be a part of this night si I'll settle for the seats I can.

Amour · August 26, 2014

The Whelan seating was a fiasco. My order form had three price choices, with the highest being $134 (plus handling fee and facility fee). What I ended up with was tickets that cost $167 per ticket. I was never contacted by anyone to ask if I was willing to go into the higher price category. Nor was there anon the order form which asked if you would be willing to go into a higher price level if your price point is sold out. My tickets are in the last row of the first ring, in the center. This better be a damn good program considering the price. Too bad they had to turn Wendy's retirement into a little money making profit scheme, thereby diminishing the event.

That's really not too bad,abatt. I often sit in the first ring and without the discount, the tickets cost $150, so $167 doesn't seem so off the mark. But $100 for the 4th ring is definitely exploiting the viewer and turning this evening into a money profit scheme. We've never sat that far up (we're usually in orchestra or 1st ring). My husband is dreading it since our experience at the Royal Opera House Amphitheatre was miserable. But I want to be a part of this night si I'll settle for the seats I can.

Just want to clarify that I have a "create your own" subscription.

BTW, it's Aug.25 and my subscriber tickets have still not come, despite being paid for. If they don't come by next week it's another call to the supervisor.

abatt · August 26, 2014

My subscription tickets have not arrived yet either, and it's a regular subscription (not create your own) that was fully paid for back in June. They field these angry calls from subscribers every week and they have a scripted answer as to why the tickets have not been sent out. (How many of you have heard the malfunctioned printer script?) I believe the real answer is that they are simply understaffed and/or not operated efficiently.

NYCB is the only organization I'm aware of that: (1) sends subscription tickets out well after the box office has opened up for public sales and (2) does not give subscribers a priority exchange/purchase week ahead of ticket sales to the general public. The fact that subscription tixs are discounted is nice but not a strong argument to cut NYCB some slack, since Carnegie and the Met both discount subscription tixs and also manage to give their subscribers benefits of sending out sub. tixs well before the box office opens and giving priority purchase/exchange week to subscribers..

Now that they have moved to this new system of opening up sales for the entire season in August with a Sept start date for the fall season, they need to adjust their business model. They need to announce their new season earlier, and they need to sell and FILL the subcription orders earlier. No stats available, but I wonder if they have lost subscribers in the higher priced areas.

California · August 26, 2014

The Koch theater is one of the few remaining major venues in the U.S. that does not use the print-your-own ticketing system. Even the Guggenheim's Works and Process series has switched to a system of letting you pick your own seat and then print your own ticket. I assume there is a significant start-up/transition cost, but surely it would pay for itself eventually in reduced costs for postage and staffing, not to mention happier customers! At least Koch finally started letting you pick your own seat (at least at a certain point after subscription sales).

Let me add: Colorado Ballet sends out tickets for everything (including subscriptions and special events) as print-your-own PDF attachments to e-mail. The systems exist to do this and they work well. I wonder how long it will be before the Koch ticket office wakes up to this.

Edited August 26, 2014 by California

Drew · August 26, 2014

I subscribed during the early summer for the first time this year--in the past I would buy a cluster of seats for a particular weekend when the box office went on sale, though typically enough performances to get "subscriber" rates on the "Create your own" model. The tickets have usually been very good.

Right now, I still don't have my tickets; I was told on the phone what seats I WILL be sent, and some are a bit better than I have gotten waiting until later, so I will be happy enough if they arrive soon.

That said, I am reconsidering for next year/season as to whether I wouldn't rather give up on the subscribe 'ahead of box office' model and just wait until box office opens and pick my seats directly.

lmspear · August 26, 2014

Do they offer subscribers the option of having their tickets held at the box office to be picked up at the window before each performance. This method makes exchanges incredibly easy since you don't have to physically return your tickets. It also simplifies giving your tickets to someone else, since you can instruct the box office that they will be picked up by the recipient at will call and you don't have to arrange a physical meeting to hand off the tickets or worry about the mail service failing

Amour · August 27, 2014

Do they offer subscribers the option of having their tickets held at the box office to be picked up at the window before each performance. This method makes exchanges incredibly easy since you don't have to physically return your tickets. It also simplifies giving your tickets to someone else, since you can instruct the box office that they will be picked up by the recipient at will call and you don't have to arrange a physical meeting to hand off the tickets or worry about the mail service failing

I don't know but if they're so disorganized they can't send out the tickets, I wouldn't trust them to hold your season tickets.

Amour · August 27, 2014

NYCB is the only organization I'm aware of that: (1) sends subscription tickets out well after the box office has opened up for public sales and (2) does not give subscribers a priority exchange/purchase week ahead of ticket sales to the general public. The fact that subscription tixs are discounted is nice but not a strong argument to cut NYCB some slack, since Carnegie and the Met both discount subscription tixs and also manage to give their subscribers benefits of sending out sub. tixs well before the box office opens and giving priority purchase/exchange week to subscribers..

I do have to give props to NYCB box office for a few things, despite some clear drawbacks. One is that not only do they NOT have dynamic pricing (unlike ABT) but if you decide on extra performances in addition to your subscription you get 15% off the seat's full price. The other is that you can call the box office to request an extra performance and you are not charged the typical $10 service charge per ticket, only the $3 facility fee. That makes it incredibly easy for tose of us who do not enjoying schlepping to the box office to avoid service charges (like I have to do with ABT). In fact, the other day I ordered 6 extra tickets over the phone and, because I'm a subscriber, not only saved on the cost of the seat but avoided $60 in service charge fees. I assume subscribers can avoid the fees and get the discount if they order over the internet as well just by putting in your subscription ID.

Barbara · August 27, 2014

However, I purchased a 3-ticket create-your-own series and was disappointed to learn that I would be charged full box office price when I added 2 tickets for friends to join me at one of the performances. I suppose if I had purchased a larger subscription this wouldn't be the case. Oh, and I also have not received my tickets.

Amour · August 27, 2014

However, I purchased a 3-ticket create-your-own series and was disappointed to learn that I would be charged full box office price when I added 2 tickets for friends to join me at one of the performances. I suppose if I had purchased a larger subscription this wouldn't be the case. Oh, and I also have not received my tickets.

I think to get the full benefits of a subscription you have to order at least 6 performances.

Amour · August 27, 2014

However, I purchased a 3-ticket create-your-own series and was disappointed to learn that I would be charged full box office price when I added 2 tickets for friends to join me at one of the performances. I suppose if I had purchased a larger subscription this wouldn't be the case. Oh, and I also have not received my tickets.

I think to get the full benefits of a subscription you have to order at least 6 performances.

Just wanted to add I just received tickets for 3 performances I added on to my subscription but have still not received my subscription tickets!

Dale · September 15, 2014

NYCB just sent out an email saying there is a limited amount of tickets going on sale for the retirement program at noon today (Monday, 9/14).

canbelto · September 15, 2014

Bought my tickets. Logged on at noon sharp, and only Row K fourth ring seats left. $94 per seat.

art076 · September 15, 2014

If anyone was not able to grab a ticket, I ended up with an extra - would be great if another balletomane could use it! ($69) Send me a direct message.

EDITED (9/25): ticket claimed!

abatt · September 23, 2014

Wendy will premiere a new ballet on her farewell!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/ratmansky-and-wheeldon-to-collaborate-on-city-ballet-work/?ref=arts

sandik · September 23, 2014

A very sweet twist.

abatt · September 23, 2014

She is a very intelligent and unique artist. Not many you can say that about. Feeling sentimental about her departure already.

abatt · October 3, 2014

Wonderful article in today's NY Times regardng Whelan's career, featuring an interview with Whelan. I'm sure it will be in today's links, but here it is:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/arts/dance/wendy-whelan-says-farewell-to-city-ballet.html?ref=dance