By P.C. Clark~
So, here I am. I’ve decided to get up off my lovely leather couch, leaving my home-theatre- blue- ray-surround-sound-ultimate-movie-theatre-experience behind. I’ve decided I need to leave my comfortable home and venture out into the “actual” world and risk bumping into “actual” people and see an “actual” theatre piece.
I’ve done my research. I read a review on LATheatreReview.com that made me think, “I might like this show”. I checked the theatre listings and discovered where the little 99 seat jewel box theatre is. I go to the website listed and try to make a reservation. They want a credit card. I just want to make a reservation and pay cash at the door. ( I have a thing about not using my card on line any more than I absolutely have to. Besides, there is almost always a service charge to use the credit card to reserve a seat.) I close the browser. I pick up my cell phone which, miraculously, has a signal in my house for once, and I dial the theatre. I listen through a recorded message that must rival the 1001 Arabian Nights tale for length and finally leave a message making a reservation for the show.
Later that same day I get a call from the little theatre confirming that I called and could they please have a credit card number to confirm the reservation. I explain to the lovely young voice on the phone that I will pay when I arrive and pick up my ticket. The lovely young voice explains that, well, they can put my name on the reservation list, but my seat won’t be guaranteed. I thank the now less than lovely and less than young voice and hang up.
I return to my comfortable leather couch to watch Pyscho Beach Party and think, why would I want to support the “actual” fools that run that theatre.
![[title of show] at the Celebration Theatre](http://www.latheatrereview.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/1500_NpAdvHover.jpg)
Yes, we require a credit card to reserve seats, but I know it wasn’t our theatre that P.C. Clarke was considering, because: 1) we do not charge a service fee for phone orders, and 2) our voice mail message allows you to “bypass this message and go straight to the box office.” But it’s too bad it wasn’t our theatre, because he probably would have been greeted at the curb, passengers (especially elderly passengers) would have been assisted out of the vehicle, after which he would have been pleasantly directed to nearby free parking. After an enthralling first act, in a comfortable non-leather seat in a location he could have pre-selected, he could have purchased a beverage or snack for only $1. And so on.
What’s the name of your theater, Jennifer? Hell, it would be worth the price of admission just to be greeted at the curb!
Santa Monica’s Morgan-Wixson Theatre, Pico @ 27th Street
http://www.SantaMonicaMusicals.com
We don’t require a credit card for reservations! We only take cash and checks at the door at the moment, so there’s no reason to ever pay a service fee either.
Though other theatres ask for the number or for a fee because they want to make sure you’ll show up once you’ve reserved. Many people don’t feel like they need to show up or courteously canceling if they’ve made a free reservation. Which may lead to a house that’s “sold out” but only half the people show up. That’s a challenge we’re currently dealing with.
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Why aren’t small theaters using a Paypal option? Cheaper for the merchant than credit cards, more secure for the patron.
Carny - that is a very good suggestion! Setting up a PayPal account is quite easy and using it is also. Let’s hope some of them see it here and make the change.