Anatomy of a ticket

La Traviata The Metropolitan Opera

Also see:  The New York Yankees  |  The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art  |  Figurines @ Mercury Lounge  |  The Nutcracker @ New York City Ballet  |  Jump @ Union Square Theatre

On its last reported results, the annual statement for 2004–05, the Met’s average ticket price was $107. Ticket sales account for only 39.6% of the opera’s revenues. Of its total expenses:

	32.2% went to performers’ fees
	20.3% was eaten up by employee benefits, like medical and dental plans (lots of tonsil specialists, we reckon)
	18.3% went to the people who make sure those performers don’t get hit by a piece of falling scenery: the stage support folks
	8.9% went to fund staff and building salaries
	8% went to “other” costs—we’re guessing lots of helmets with horns
	3.9% went to advertising and promotion, and communications
	3.3% went to professional and presentation fees
	3.1% took care of annual maintenance costs: electricity, cleaning and other costs related to the house
	2% paid for the travel expenses for artists and conductors