Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Broadway Ticket Buying Never Felt so Good

Todd Freeman and his band of Broadway middlemen are turning Broadway ticket selling into an art.
Todd Freeman is the man that basically does just about
everything he can to keep our small company running smoothly, in the Broadway ticketing business in New York City. He's been our leader at Applause Theater Service for many years with his excellent insight on Broadway theater as well as his uncanny knack for helping thousands of people that want to attend one of the many terrific Broadway Shows. You can often get a chance to read one of the many stories he tells from customers that write back to him on the Applause Ticket News blog. His "Customers talk back with Todd" segment makes for an interesting read if you have a few minutes. Particularly because they are real life customer service experiences.

Todd created a special section with restaurant suggestions for those that need a hand with finding an appropriate place to dine before the theater. He has lived in New York City for a long time and knows a ton of great places to have just about any kind of cuisine you might desire. If you have a chance, you might want to call Todd when planning your next trip to Broadway. He can assist with the best seats for the best prices and even set you up with superb restaurant selections

Todd has been instrumental in promoting Applause's Below Face Value ticket deals on Broadway for months now. Under his guidance this has been a real winner for Broadway ticket sales and for our company as well. Right now there are nearly 20 or so top Broadway Shows that Todd and his team of local ticket experts can secure for you at greatly reduced prices. And the seating selection is just as good as if you were to pay "full price". Todd says "why pay full price for something when you don't have to"? Also "why not take the money you save buying tickets and put it toward a memorable dining experience"?

Applause (NY State license # 71AP1001029) has been selling tickets to Broadway for over 21 years now. Much has changed of course, like in most industries. Still the combination of great prices along with superb customer service performed by Todd and his band of Broadway "middlemen", keep Applause several steps ahead of the competition.

Todd is rewriting the definition of the word "middlemen". Often middlemen are sort of like a "go between" on a commodity transaction of sorts. Todd's Broadway middlemen are the new kind of "necessary" middlemen. Anyone can figure out a way to get tickets. But my guess is that hardly anyone can actually take the time to research all of Broadway's vast inventory of tickets to many shows, come up with the best seats for the best prices, and then find you a perfect place to take your loved ones to dinner in New York City.

Todd and his crew at Applause can be reached in New York City at 212-307-7050 or toll free at 800-451-9930 seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone aka The Broadway Ticket Man
Applause Theater Service
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
Follow us at www.twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: APPLAUSE

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Posted by Broadway Ticket Man @ 3:52 PM

Friday, December 26, 2008

Applause Theatre Service Stays Busy 24/7 and The Key is S-E-R-V-I-C-E


Does anyone care about service anymore?

It seems like everywhere you go these days, so many people are complaining about the
economy. I think its important to remember that we have had a pretty good "run" for over 10 years now on Broadway. So if there is a slight downward trend in visitors coming to New York City, should those of us in the ticket selling business in New York get nervous? Or should we just settle in that our new reality might be that consumers all over the world are feeling the "pinch". Will consumers stop consuming? Will people that love going to live entertainment events like Broadway, all of a sudden stop going to shows? Hardly unlikely my friends. People just need to find a source they can truly trust to provide great service and fair prices. Have you ever heard of Applause Theatre Service in New York City?

If your like me and are somewhat of a news junkie, you, too, will soon get tired of all the little soundbites on the news showing that retailers are heavily discounting their goods and services. It seems obvious to me that many of these merchants simply "jack up the price" of their goods then put up lots of gigantic SALE SIGNAGE that says things like 50 % off. Some even have the nerve to tell us they'll give 80 % off or how about the BUY ONE GET ONE FREE signs we see so much of lately at our local shopping malls? Does anyone really believe these are "real discounts"?

Let me jump to the chase regarding Broadway ticket prices in New York as I have been in this industry for over 30 years now. Broadway Shows simply do not know how to "price" their shows. For instance, why should a show that has a cast of 15 actors and a medium size orchestra price their seats the same as a show that has a cast of 40 and a very large orchestra? The overhead regarding these shows must be different so why does the smaller show charge the same prices as the larger show? In my mind its simply because Broadway Shows have established a baseline for what they need to average on each ticket sold to make a profit. Still many Broadway Shows that need a hand to fill up their theaters, use the same "mall type" discounts.

In my experience as a small business owner, I am for profit also but if a show has lower overhead than another one, why not pass on the savings to people that might want to buy tickets for the "smaller to produce" show? It just makes sense to me. The smaller show might even stay in business longer. Wouldn't that make sense to you?

Anyway my friends, our little company Applause has access to just about any seat for just about any Broadway Show these days. Applause Theatre Service's savvy knowledge of a Broadway Shows availability coupled with computer access directly to every major ticket source one could think of, are just a few reasons why our little ticket service holds up in "good times and in bad".

We treat people well, offer the best personal ticket selling service second to none in the country (in my expert opinion) and always follow-up to make sure our customers have had a good time. If you simply ask someone that uses our service how they are treated both before and after we provide our service, you will know what I'm speaking of.

It comes down to service. That's service with a capital S-E-R-V-I-C-E. Everywhere you go, you get lots of those "bargain" shoppers" like I mentioned earlier in my blog. We have many customers that like good ticket deals as well. If you are on a budget and are flexible where you can sit, you may want to check out our Broadway Insider's ticket deals. We usually offer some very good seating options and often can save consumers $40-55.00 off our usual retail prices. Yes we make somewhat less than a full price sale but we are sensitive to the needs of theatre-goers today. And many will not go to the theatre if quoted the "extremely high" prices of dozens of ticket companies that have sprung up throughout the country. These guys may have sprung up over the years but as I study my own small little business in this ever changing industry, I clearly see "price gouging" all over the place. This is due to the greed of many I'm sure. If prices would only be rolled back in the way in which we are watching the housing industry start to lower their prices, the Broadway Theatre probably wouldn't be chasing away "future theatre-goers" like they are doing now.

Ask some of your kids in their twenties and maybe a bit older if they would spend upwards of $150 to $400 for a ticket to a Broadway show and even though many have never been introduced to the magical experience of seeing live Broadway Theater, it seems to me that exorbitant prices will keep them from ever really embracing live Broadway theater. So our Applause Broadway ticket experts simply ask a few questions about where our customer might want to sit, offer different seating suggestions and prices along with our knowledge of each and every theatre in New York City. When we have given the customer all the pertinent information they will need and answer every question they have, we either make a sale or not. Either way Applause's ticket experts know that making a purchase for Broadway tickets is not always an easy one.

Whether we make a sale or not, we like to think the person that called us was given "excellent service". Does anyone ever really think consumers require this excellent service I just spoke of? Of course we all know they do but it seems like everybody that has a job to sell something puts much to much emphasis on "making a sale", not on the customer.

When I went to college and took all sorts of retail management classes, great emphasis was placed on the S-E-R-V-I-C-E aspect of selling, not necessarily making the sale. Applause Theatre Service answers lots of questions about lots of ticketing related things. Many times we simply don't wind up making a sale but suggest a restaurant or two. Either way we are in it for the S-E-R-V-I-C-E we provide to everyone that calls Applause Theatre Service in New York.

We feel if we can S-E-R-V-E well, the business will come as well in time. Consumers need to T-R-U-S-T. I love the Broadway ticket business but I don't like the way in which many in our business treat the very consumer prospects that call upon them to provide much needed guidance about Broadway, ticket prices and seating options.

So what I see is the possibility of a somewhat downward trend of people buying Broadway tickets from "high priced" ticket sellers. Although I am concerned in many ways just like the local shopping mall merchants I see with the big DISCOUNT SALE SIGNAGE on the news, at the end of the day, it seems like no one talks about providing great customer service anymore.

If your plans include the possibility of seeing a Broadway Show or two, we hope you'll be able to call on our team at Applause Theatre Service in New York City. There is never any pressure to buy, although we might ask you if you'd like to join our daily growing "mailing list". Simply put, you give us your name and address and every month we send you a little postcard to remind you of the great service you experienced the first time you contacted us.

You may not buy the first time. You may not even buy the second or third time but that's OK. People deserve to have their trust earned by anyone of us in sales, especially in Broadway ticket sales.

Our hope is that whenever you, a friend, a co-worker or relative is thinking abut Broadway Theatre, that you will let us hear from you. We often say we offer the theatre-going public "the best seats for the best shows at the best prices". It all adds up to the B-E-S-T B-R-O-A-D-W-A-Y T-I-C-K-E-T S-E-R-V-I-C-E you'll ever get. Applause Theatre Service that is.

Some of Broadway's most popular shows are Wicked, Jersey Boys, Billy Elliot, Shrek The Musical and over 20 others. See a show, Have some fun, Call Applause today.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theatre Service
311 west 43rd street, suite 601
New York, NY 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 1-800-451-9930
www.applause-tickets.com

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Posted by Broadway Ticket Man @ 5:53 PM

Friday, May 16, 2008

Applause for Consumers-Pay Less for The Best Broadway Seats in the House


Just have a look around the Internet friends as you search web site after web site looking for Broadway tickets and ask yourself just one question. How much time have I spent and still why have I not been able to make a purchase for the seats I need at the price I want to pay. Why does this happen?

I think the answer is that the greatest thing about the Internet may also be the reason why people search and search and still don't get to purchase the very goods and services they really covet. Unfortunately the Internet gives us thousands of possibilities without necessarily leading us to the very best selection to find exactly what you want.

I am sure the Internet guru's will be working on how to give consumers the most specific answers to the question "how can I purchase the best Broadway tickets at the best price along with fast and friendly service? But in the meantime here's a tip for you.

Simply go to www.google.com and type in www.applause-tickets.com. When you see all the show logos along with a picture of our friendly Broadway ticket experts, you should feel comfortable in knowing that you have found the only source you'll need when shopping for the best Broadway Show tickets in New York City.

There is no pressure to make a purchase at Applause. We will answer any question that you may have and even hold tickets for you overnight should you need to make airline and/or hotel reservations.

Why go through the hassle of spending so much time searching for tickets only to be more confused than ever? Simply give a call to the friendly Broadway experts at Applause Theatre Service, right in the heart of New York City at 212-307-7050 or toll free at 1-800-451-9930 seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Satisfaction guaranteed.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theatre Service
311 west 43rd street, suite 601
NY, NY 10036

local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 1-800-451-9930
www.applause-tickets.com

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Posted by Broadway Ticket Man @ 12:34 AM

Friday, February 29, 2008

You Can Trust The Broadway Ticket Experts At Applause in New York City


I like to read about business. In fact "business" has been kind of like a hobby for me since we started our own "personal theatre ticket service", Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service Inc. http://www.applause-tickets.com/ over 21 years ago with my friend and partner Bill Stolting. Bill and I have shared lots of great times together over the years, both personal and business.

We were sitting around Bill's office several times over the past few months or so, just talking about how the "ticket business" has changed. Indeed it has. We used to sit and take phone orders never really imagining there would be an Internet one day that could "send us the business". We used to "hand write" our customer ticket requests on an index size work order and then manually carry out all the business functions we needed to make sure the customer received their tickets and then finally bill out a credit card so we could get paid. It seemed like the phone call was easy and fast and the process took much longer. This sort of reminds me of my mom saying "it seems to take quite a while to make dinner yet a much shorter time to consume the meal".

Although Bill and I were fortunate enough to have our small ticket company automated a few years back we have been thinking about some things that we could tell consumers that separates us from the hundreds of other ticket companies. Can you believe there are hundreds of mostly small mom and pop like companies that provide a theater ticket service to companies and consumers alike?

So what's the biggest difference when contacting Applause Theatre Service in New York City? It's not really just the "ticket" right? Everyone sells tickets, everyone provides a service. Some services are really good and some are not right?

At Applause Theatre Service, one of the things we think we do "the best" and that no one other service can in our expert opinion, is really quite simple when you think about it. We would agree that we have tickets and many others do also, some dates and shows are little better seating or maybe not quite as good as the seating that we have. More or less, we can get tickets to Broadway Shows www.applause-tickets.com/broadway.asp and "the competition" can as well.

The three things we kept thinking about when Bill and I chatted these last few months about "the Applause difference", have nothing to do with tickets. It has to do with:

1. Amazing People-we feel our staff is truly the best, thinking all about what it is the customer is looking for, their needs and feelings. Have a peek at our team http://www.applause-tickets.com/ . Our friendly group of Broadway Experts wants to fulfill customer needs, not just "make a sale". We feel the greatest compliment you could possibly give us after we provide our service is a "referral" of a family member, friend or maybe even a co-worker.

2. Great Service-sure I would say our service is "the best", so would everyone else right? Still if you contact us by phone, email, chat line, whichever method one is comfortable with, we have confidence that people will be able to "see the difference" between Applause and "the other guys".

3. Trust-this little word "trust" is what I keep reading in all those business books I mentioned I have read in the past year or two. Of course the only way consumers and corporate ticket buyers would really know if they can "trust" Applause or any other ticket company is quite simple. Just pickup the phone and give us a call in New York on our toll free line at 800-451-9930 or locally at 212-307-7050. Experience our brand of customer service first hand and you'll see what I mean.

Bill and I don't have visions of becoming the biggest ticket company in the world, we simply want to keep moving forward in our work lives and keep our small company http://www.applause-tickets.com/ running smoothly for the long term. Since tickets are really just a commodity, the consumer today can simply click on dozens of web sites and shop around for the best price right? And even after doing all this "clicking and price shopping", will they get the best deal, service and advice when making a purchase? The customer should know during the phone conversation if they can "trust" the company they are doing business with.

Did you ever walk into a store that was a mom and pop business and wonder how they still exist with all the large big box discount retailers out there? My guess is that maybe they offer the same 3 items above to their customers, AMAZING PEOPLE, GREAT SERVICE and TRUST.

Why take a chance? Talk with our people. Let us help you find the best tickets for any Broadway Show. And let us give you the service you should expect when making a Broadway Show purchase.

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Posted by Broadway Ticket Man @ 9:58 AM

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Need Broadway Tickets? Check Out Applause Theatre Service in New York City


There are hundreds of places to go to buy Broadway Show tickets. But how will you know that you get the best possible seats for the money you will spend?

You could search the internet. You could go to Google and search for keywords like "broadway tickets" or maybe specific shows that you want to see like "Wicked" or "Jersey Boys" or "The Little Mermaid", one of this years newest popular musicals. But then you will get so many answers that you may become more confused than ever and not place an order with anyone for the tickets you seek out.

There may be hundreds of choices of companies to look at when shopping but why take chances? Why not contact a Broadway ticket service that is friendly and an expert at finding the best seats at the best prices for the shows you want to see? You may want to contact a local expert in New York City's theatre district called Applause Theatre Service. The Applause staff prides themselves on providing "the very best personal ticket shopping service" in the business for Broadway Shows.

Have a look at the Applause team. They love to talk with prospective customers. There is no pressure to buy, just good old fashioned and friendly personal service. The way things ought to be, right?

The Applause staff of Broadway experts provide the information you need to make purchase decisions. They also provide great knowledge about where you may want to have dinner before the theatre. Have a look at Todd's Favorite Dining Spots. Our very own theatre district resident and Applause Vice President Todd Freeman has taken the time to make a list of some great dining establishments you may want to grab a bite at either before or after the theatre. Whether you buy tickets or not, give us a call 7 days a week at 212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930. We are happy to help you find the best seats and choose some really nice dining places as well.

The Applause team hopes to hear from you as well. If family, friends and co-workers may be in need of a "trustworthy" Broadway ticket service, we would greatly appreciate any referrals you can send us. In fact, if they write to rich@applause-tickets.com (that's the boss by the way), Rich will get in touch with you personally and help with any questions you may have when making your plans.

We hope we can be of service to you whenever your plans include seeing a Broadway show. The difference in service is significant, see for yourself when you get a chance.

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Posted by Broadway Ticket Man @ 2:48 PM