Advice on selling Playbills?

[Mandi Moo]

My boss has a few boxes of Playbills that he wants me to sell on eBay. They're all from the 80's and 90's and generally in good condition. Should I group them into lots or sell them individually? Will anybody actually want a mint condition Starlight Express Playbill?

[sgv123]

I suggest selling them in large lots. I have never had luck selling them individually.

[Luv2goToShows]

Use the search engine on eBay for the Playbills you have, first enter for current auctions and then click on the completed auctions. That way you get a general idea if that Playbill will sell and what the going price is. You can also see what the Lots are getting. Good luck.

[Mandi Moo]

Also, there are probably close to 100 Showbills from the Met Opera and Radio City (Christmas, Bette Midler, Liza, etc.) from the 90's. I can't find any on eBay...is there market for these?

[Dave13]

Unless there is something special about the the Playbill ie autograph or Opening Night Playbill, I doubt there is much of a market for them.

I keep mine just to have a memento of the shows that I have seen in the past, but I don't think I would have an interest in a show I never attended.

[Anakela]

Unless there is something special about the the Playbill ie autograph or Opening Night Playbill, I doubt there is much of a market for them.

You'd be surprised - for example a cursory glance through the completed items section of eBay tells me that all you have to do is slap a Lea Michele in your header and you can sell any of her unsigned, regular Spring Awakening, Les Mis or Ragtime Playbills for ~$20/each. (Enough to make me consider listing one of my Atlantic Theater Company SA Playbills.)

For the OP: is your boss selling these because he needs the money and thinks his collection is super valuable, or is he selling them to be rid of them? Because if it's the second might it be easier to just do something like donate the whole lot to one of the BC/EFA tables for sale at the Flea Market, and take the tax write-off, instead?

[Xman8]

check your message box Mandi Moo

[sgv123]

I just sold 2 big lots on Ebay (30 and 60) the last 3 days. There were some opening nights, but other than that nothing special.

[Luv2goToShows]

Also, there are probably close to 100 Showbills from the Met Opera and Radio City (Christmas, Bette Midler, Liza, etc.) from the 90's. I can't find any on eBay...is there market for these?


Hard to tell, there are collectors but it could be hit or miss on eBay. There is are Radio City concert programs listed for Bette. (1993 & 2004) When searching on eBay you may need to enter the artists name and venue to see what pops up. I did not see any for the completed listings which only go back 30 days.

[BwayBoundJoe]

I'm selling some playbills, in case anyone is interested.
My ebay Store