Indiana’s Evansville Philharmonic has announced that its subscription base grew by more than 7 percent during the 2010-11 season, the first time in a decade that the orchestra had seen an increase in season ticket-holders. Overall ticket sales increased 20 percent over the previous season. The announcement follows the orchestra’s decision last spring to overhaul its ticket prices, lowering prices for its concerts at Evansville’s Victory Theatre so that 70 percent of seats sell for $25 or less. Evansville also added a program called club2030 for ticket-buyers between ages 18 and 39, who can purchase best available seats for $10. Ticket revenue decreased by 7 percent, an outcome the orchestra said it had anticipated; however, additional positive indicators were a 15 percent increase in the number of season ticket-holders who became donors and an increase of 12 percent in donations to the orchestra’s annual fundraising campaign, primarily from individuals. “I believe that the successful orchestras of the twenty-first century will be perceived not as a luxury item, but a basic commodity to be enjoyed by all,” said Executive Glenn Roberts. To learn more about the Evansville Philharmonic and other orchestras that are lowering ticket prices, read the November-December 2010 issue of Symphony.
Posted June 3, 2011
