Bag ‘higher’ seats at theatre through the use of easy reserving technique | Theatre | Entertainment | EUROtoday

January marks a busy time for theatre ticket bookings, but business insiders warn it is also when theatregoers are most liable to disappointment. With reward vouchers burning holes in pockets and discount hunters on the prowl, many rush into purchases they’d usually keep away from throughout different months.

Ben Jackson, founding father of SeatPlan, a reserving platform providing real seat-view pictures to assist clients discover optimum theatre seats, identifies the first January pitfall as prioritising pace over high quality of expertise.

He defined: “In January, people are focused on snapping something up quickly. They see a low price and rush to book, often without checking whether the seat actually offers a good view or whether better options are available for a little more.”

January bookings differ markedly from December’s rigorously deliberate festive outings. Post-Christmas gross sales and reward vouchers generate synthetic stress to e-book instantly, regardless of no real time constraints.

“Lots of people receive vouchers and feel like they’re ‘burning a hole in their pocket’,” added Ben. “That urgency can lead to booking the first available date or the cheapest seat, rather than comparing options.”

What errors do folks make?

Audiences incessantly find yourself with obstructed sightlines, cramped seating or second-choice productions, purely as a result of availability trumped desire. What ought to folks do?

“There’s usually a good sale window in February that can be worth waiting for,” he defined. “You often have more flexibility, both in terms of price and seat choice.”

January, Ben says, can be when many individuals might begin wanting by means of new theatre guides and reserving there after which for the yr forward or use Christmas reward vouchers to e-book one thing to sit up for after the festive interval.

“That can lead to people booking quickly rather than strategically,” he famous. Ben burdened that, the place attainable, ready can repay.

“Personally, I like to wait until a show has opened and reviews are out,” he stated. “It gives you a much clearer idea of what you’re booking, and you often have more flexibility around seats and prices.”

For big-name productions, holding off could make an actual distinction. “With shows like Paddington, the earliest dates tend to sell very fast,” he defined. “If you look a little further ahead, say April or May, you’ll usually find a much better range of seats.”

He additionally suggests holding an open thoughts past the most important titles. “For the same budget, you might end up with a restricted seat at a blockbuster, or a genuinely great seat at a newer or less-hyped show. January can actually be a good time to explore those alternatives.”

One test that avoids prompt remorse

According to Ben, there’s one easy behavior that may stop most January reserving regrets. Always test what the seat view appears like earlier than confirming.

“Two seats at the same price can offer completely different experiences,” he says. “Looking at real seat-view photos or even comparing seats within the same price band can make the difference between a great night out and a disappointing one.”

His rule of thumb? “Take a moment to compare seat views and prices before booking, that’s usually where the real value shows up.”