[gafftaper]

Just want to point out that the high school I used to teach at had one of the poorest student populations in the state with around 60% of the students being on wellfare. I charged $5 a ticket for most shows, tickets sold well and I never heard anyone complain. One time in the nearly 5 years I was there I had two actors privately ask for more comps as their families couldn't afford to come (no problem). For "recital" sorts of performances I always had a concession stand and a donation box and I would make $200-$300 in a night in a house that held 110 people. If I could make that sort of money in such a poor neighborhood you can too.

Also do Shakespeare!! It's free of royalties and always draws a large crowd. If you can put it in a setting that keeps production costs down you can make a killing off of old Bill Shakes.

How much does it cost to attend other activities on campus? Dances? Concerts? Sports events? I pay about $350 each for season tickets to the local university football team. When I go to one of the big theaters in town I expect to pay $35-$40. If it's a traveling Broadway show I expect to pay $75+. Taking the family to the baseball game... there goes $50... if we sit in the cheap seats and eat at a hot dog stand outside the park. If we sit in good seats and eat in the stadium, it's $150+. How much is the cover charge to get into your favorite club? I'm starting to beat this point in the ground a little too far. The point is your audience pays money for tickets to events all the time. As long as you keep the price reasonable and put on a good show, they will still come. If you have more money to reinvest in your production values and advertising then even more will come.

We currently charge $5-$7 for student tickets depending on the show costs and location of the performance. A non-student ticket for a musical at the rented proscenium theater down the street is $10.