Hi all,
I'm looking for some specific information on how you handle waiting lists. Keeping the list is not really the question - I know you can either do the unpaid order route or use an excel spreadsheet - what I'm really looking for is how you go about contacting the patrons. Do you call and leave a message if they don't answer? How long do you hold their place in line before moving on to the next person?
Any guidance would be most appreciated! Thanks.
Lesley Chaney
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
At the Huntington when a performance is sold out we will begin an advanced wait list with the expectation we may eventually go into Standby seating. The patron is sold into the Standby GA performance and charged a "wait list deposit" which is refunded if the patron does not get to see the performance (but not if they don't show up that evening for the wait list). If something opens up prior to the show we will automatically upgrade them into requested seats and charge the card which is on account due to the deposit payment.
2 Hours before, we stop upgrading in advance and handle all inquiries at the box office. If we cannot accomodate people, they are already in the Standby house, so depending on if they are interested in Standby we can either print their ticket for them or return the deposit for them. The deposit and Standby price are the same, so no further payment is needed.
We find this to be very successful, especially as we have an almost constant queue of people that we can sell into a sold out performance as seats become available.
Feel free to e-mail if you have any questions on specifics: dmartin@huntingtontheatre.bu.edu