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The Staggered Price Schedule

I've noticed an unfortunate trend lately when it comes to Rhode Island theater. More and more people seem to be waiting until the last weekend to see a show. The past two shows I worked on had to turn people away at the final performances when other weekends had plenty of seats available. Procrastination not only cost people the opportunity to see some fantastic theater, but it cost the theaters much-needed revenue.

So what's the solution?

You can't send people back in time to see a show. You also can't change the mentality of an entire state.

I suppose you could do fewer performances, but then you'd inevitably hear people complaining that they don't have enough chances to see your show.

I'm convinced that if I ran a production for an entire year, I'd still have people calling me to tell me they have to miss it, but oh, if only I were doing one more weekend.

I've come to the decision that the only way to make reserving tickets early or showing up to performances early in the run was to reward those who do.

So I've come up with a staggered price schedule for "Imaginary Friends," my next production.

If you reserve tickets during the first weekend for any performance during the run, you will pay $10. Likewise, if you buy tickets for any of the shows during the first weekend, the cost will be $10.

If you reserve tickets during the second weekend for any of the performances, or buy at the door during the second weekend, the cost will be $15 General Admission and $12 for Students and Seniors.

Anyone reserving in the third week, or buying at the door, will pay $20 General Admission, and $15 for Students/Seniors.

Just to be clear, the only people who wind up paying the most are the ones who wait until the third weekend to reserve tickets or buy at the door.

If you reserve a ticket during the first week for the last performance, you're still only paying $10.

You don't have to pay when you make a reservation--you're just setting aside a seat. So, all I'm asking you to do is reserve so that if the third weekend does fill up, we're able to let people know sooner rather than later.

I'm sure there are going to be some people who say their lives are crazy and hectic, and that things come up. That's fair. But when you're going to the doctor's, dentist's, or a nice restaurant, you have to plan in advance. If you don't, you pay for it.

Why should theater be any different?

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