Buying symphony tickets is such a pain in the ass no matter where you go. The price of tickets can vary so widely, anywhere from ten bucks to hundreds of dollars.
A lot of factors plays into the price of a symphony ticket. It’s said that back in the day, it was more important to be seen at the symphony than to actually see the symphony. That’s why some theatres in Europe have boxes and seats where you can’t even see the stage.
Nowadays, we’re more sophisticated though, right? Ehh, maybe. Obviously, everyone who goes to the symphony today wants to hear the music. That’s important. How well the music will reach your ears will play a factor in your ticket price. But what seems to play an even bigger part in the cost of the ticket is how well you can see the orchestra. Otherwise, why would a ticket in the very front row on the ground cost $50 and the one in the back balcony cost $20? The sound in that front row is going to be terribly unbalanced. But hey, you’ll get a good look at the flailing conductor and first violinists!
If you’re like me, you’re not really wondering what the “best” seat is (as determined by the market and the illusions of value to people today), you’re wondering what the best value seat is.
Google doesn’t always have the answer to this question. So I experimented at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta and discovered what the best value seat is for the price.