Roll the Dice, Draw a Card
October 1, 2024 6:36 AM Subscribe
A conversation sparked a memory that I don't know if my memory made this up, or if the internet just isn't structured to search for this subject, but it has to do with ticket prices for off-off-off-etc-broadway plays and shows.
Google only wants to show me where to buy tickets, because it is a slave to capitalism and no longer sage of wisdom, so I could not concoct a search term to get me the results I'm looking for.
I am looking for links to actual sources, even anecdotes, regarding something I remember from the 80s-90s:
I could have sworn there was a common technique for pricing tickets at very-off-off-broadway shows which involved either rolling dice, or drawing a card, and the result was what you paid for your admission to the play.
This added an avant garde feel to attending these alternative theater spaces, but also gave the ticket seller some leeway in that if a customer only had five bucks on them a card could be forced, or "bad roll, try again" until they got a number they could afford.
Like I said, I'm looking for actual documentation of this, but I'm also happy with anecdotes of your own experience, given I know there's a lot of 20th-century-theater-people here at Metafilter.
(It is also entirely possible that I'm making this up, or remembering it wrong, so if you know what I'm pulling parts from that helps too).
Thanks much!
Google only wants to show me where to buy tickets, because it is a slave to capitalism and no longer sage of wisdom, so I could not concoct a search term to get me the results I'm looking for.
I am looking for links to actual sources, even anecdotes, regarding something I remember from the 80s-90s:
I could have sworn there was a common technique for pricing tickets at very-off-off-broadway shows which involved either rolling dice, or drawing a card, and the result was what you paid for your admission to the play.
This added an avant garde feel to attending these alternative theater spaces, but also gave the ticket seller some leeway in that if a customer only had five bucks on them a card could be forced, or "bad roll, try again" until they got a number they could afford.
Like I said, I'm looking for actual documentation of this, but I'm also happy with anecdotes of your own experience, given I know there's a lot of 20th-century-theater-people here at Metafilter.
(It is also entirely possible that I'm making this up, or remembering it wrong, so if you know what I'm pulling parts from that helps too).
Thanks much!
I remember this, too.
In New York, I believe they did this at the TKTS booth in Times Square. It was only some shows, I think. But they did have a randomized discount.
posted by yellowcandy at 8:09 AM on October 1 [1 favorite]
In New York, I believe they did this at the TKTS booth in Times Square. It was only some shows, I think. But they did have a randomized discount.
posted by yellowcandy at 8:09 AM on October 1 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Here's documentation of the practice with the Neo-Futurists: As always, people who take the risk are rewarded with our usual low ticket price of $9 plus the roll of a six-sided die ($10-15).
...Actually, here are the Neo-Futurists SF doing it today!
posted by peppercorn at 12:05 PM on October 1 [3 favorites]
...Actually, here are the Neo-Futurists SF doing it today!
posted by peppercorn at 12:05 PM on October 1 [3 favorites]
Hit up r/Broadway with this question.
posted by drossdragon at 11:34 AM on October 2
posted by drossdragon at 11:34 AM on October 2
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posted by Daily Alice at 6:44 AM on October 1 [8 favorites]