I have a confession to make...
I've never been a theater subscriber. Never had a season subscription. I've been a subscriptions manager and an avid patron but never a subscriber. Why? I guess I always felt that being a subscriber meant that I would be locked-in. Trapped. Though as a subscriptions manager I assured patrons that they could always swap tickets for another performance as was our policy, I still felt that becoming a subscriber I would be signing some piece of freedom away. I have benefited from friends with subscriptions, but never committed on my own.
Being a free-spirited theatre-goer has its perks, but as I'm embracing structure in my life in other ways I'm starting to see the benefits in being a subscriber. So I sat down and started to make a list. A pro-subscriber list, if you will. Or the Top 5 reasons I might actually become a subscriber...
1. SAVE MONEY ON THE BEST SEATS
Season Subscriptions can be
discounted anywhere from 10-50%. Sure, you could get a half-price
ticket via HotTix or Goldstar, but you don't always get the best seats.
As a subscriber, you do. Not to mention, being a subscriber takes a lot
of the effort out of bargain hunting. In one transaction you get an
entire season of discounted tickets for the best seats. That's
convenience.
2. NEVER MISS A SHOW
This is a big one. Ever
miss a show because you dragged your feet only for the show to sell
out? Unexpectedly? Well, I have. And I just kick myself and vow it will
never happen again... until it does. Because, let's face it, life always
gets in the way. You don't need to be Oprah to get a seat to the hottest show in town if you're a subscriber.
3. PERKS
Who
doesn't love perks? Perks for Season Subscribers range from discounts
at wonderful area restaurants to invitations to special events, sneak peeks and
behind-the-scenes access. Who likes buy one get one free appetizers? I
do. And let's face it, nothing says you're special like complimentary
guacamole. In this economy, everything counts.
4. DATE A THEATRE
You
want to really get to know a new theatre? Become a subscriber. Does
that seem counterintuitive? Why would you buy a whole season for a
theatre you've never experienced? Because you can't judge a company
from one show alone. Why not see them across a whole season to get to
really know them. It's called dating. You can date a theater by being a
subscriber.
5. THE GIFT DRAWER. It's your mom's birthday. You
completely forgot about it. You don't have a gift and have no time or
money to get one. But, wait. You have your season subscription to
Victory Gardens. Already paid. Gift, done. Mom happy. Crisis averted.
What mom doesn't love getting theater tickets as a gift? Name one.
-Lifeline Theatre provides Subscriber-Only Sneak Peek Event for upcoming "Treasure Island" - The Lifeline Blog
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Tags: @talkedabout, Arts, Theatre
Chris Jones' blog
6. See shows that you wouldn't normally see. I've been a Broadway In Chicago subscriber for about 5 years now and there have been a handful of shows that I had no interest in seeing but because they were part of the season I went to see them - and LOVED THEM! Golda's Balcony comes to mind.
That's another good one!
7. Counter-intuitive again, but oftentimes I have a list of shows I *have* to go, and end up missing them because I am better at procrastination than time management. My subscription night(s) are on my calendar and get planned for. Extraneous nights at the theatre may or may not ever happen.