Hello Staple Center,
I’d like to see a game tonight. Save me a seat and I will pay you cash when I get there.

etc, etc, etc…

We all know what the outcome would be.
So, lovely young voice , you did the right thing!
Lovely leather couch person, give a small theater a break and go see a play. Your couch and flat screen TV will thank you for it. And heck, you might have a really great time!

Sincerely,
Jan Michael Alejandro

We do not take advance reservations (or sell tickets) over the phone. We sell advance tickets through our website only. (For one thing, we’re a teeny tiny little theatre company and we couldn’t possibly have someone manning a telephone reservation line.)

We use a PayPal payment system, where people can use either a credit/debit card or a check. Our advance sale tickets are at a discount (usually $5) below what we charge at the door.

We also offer a limited number of discount tickets through Goldstar and LA Stage Tix. (While these are available to the public, we steer our friends over there if they truly cannot afford a full-price advance ticket.)

Here’s why we don’t take reservations without an actual ticket purchase. We’ve found that a not insubstantial number of people will make a reservation, then not bother to show. It’s nice that you want to attend our show, but it’s important to us that you also make the financial commitment to attend.

That way, we know ahead of time what the house is looking like, and how many comp tickets we will have available for the performance. And if we are close to selling out, we know exactly how many walk-ups we can accommodate well before curtain because we don’t have to deal with “no-shows” who hold an unpaid reservation.

You can’t make reservations for shows at the Ahmanson, Pantages, etc. without actually purchasing the tickets. We’re not sure why we should be expected to operate in any different manner.

Unlike many of the larger theatres, however, we also have a policy that if someone cannot make the show for which they have purchased tickets, we bend over backwards to get them into another show. We think it’s only fair.

I’m sorry, P.C. Clark, if this arrangement is not to your liking. You’re always welcome to try your luck at the door if you don’t want to make an advance commitment to attend our show over and above merely expressing an intention to do so.

If you use your credit or debit card for other purchases, you should not have a problem using it for ticket purchases.

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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