Himself.
In response to questions posted by a redbankrgreen reader earlier this week, management at Count Basie Theatre Foundation, which is organizing Bruce Springsteen’s solo acoustic show May 7, sent us the following this morning.
About 1,000 seats are being auctioned off by the Red Bank venue at a minimum $1,000 each. The process started last night and continues until noon, April 2.
What seat locations are being set aside for Count Basie sponsors?
Tickets for sponsors are located in the center orchestra through row R and in the first rows of the loge.
What prices are Count Basie sponsors paying for tickets?
The prices for the sponsorship tickets range from $5,000 to $15,000 per seat.
What seat locations are being set aside for Count Basie staffers?
There are no seats set aside for Count Basie Theatre staff.
What price are Count Basie staffers paying for their tickets?
The Count Basie Theatre staff can purchase tickets at the same price as the general public.
What seat locations are being raffled off?
A pair of front-row seats is being raffled off.
How many seats are being raffled off?
There will be one raffle winner and the prize is a pair (2) tickets to the show.
Why is a $1,000 floor being set? Does Count Basie think that a true auction would set a lower minimum price?
This show is a fundraiser for the Count Basie Theatre. It is also a very unique show. Therefore the minumum bid was set at $1,000.
If Count Basie is forcing Springsteen fans to bid against each other to maximize profits, why are approximately 30 percent of the seats not subject to the auction?
The seats are available to sponsors of the event.
Great information, and I hope it puts to rest all the knucklehead comments posted here.
Did they clarify who is playing? The E Street Band or is this an acoustic set?
Ok, got it.
Sorry, "Fan." Apparently people who want to know what they're paying $1000 for are knuckleheads and are not allowed to ask questions. Good news for you is that as of this morning the $1000 bidders are still in the building.
thank you to Count Basie managemnent for responding to the questions.
The question about "staff" getting tickets was triggered by an article in the Star Ledger which stated that sponsers and staff were getting tickets.
I enjoy going to the Basie and wish them well with their fundraising efforts.
I just wish that the minimum price was lower as $2000 for a pair potentially in the balcony is out of my price range in for charity. I know we are far removed from seeing Bruce at the Basie in 1975 for a couple of dollars. I just didn't know we were so far removed from the $100 - $200 that was charged for a benefit that Bruce did a couple of years ago in theatre in Mass.
While I agree that a auction is the best way to maximize revenues, I don't agree with setting a floor (reserve) price in this instance. On Ebay or at Sotherby's, a floor price allows the user to cancel the auction if the price is too low. Which is fine. Then the seller just takes the item back and waits for a better day. In this case, what does Basie do if the floor is too high and the tickets go unsold ?