I'm thinking about getting an annual subscription at Staatstheater München, but prices have really gone up. My girlfriend says I should just buy individual tickets instead and stay flexible. What do you do - is the subscription still worth it or are single tickets almost as expensive now?
Depends on how often you actually go - if you want to see theater at least 4-5 times a year, the subscription usually pays off because you end up paying less per individual show. The real problem is: a lot of people buy a subscription with good intentions, then only go 2-3 times and regret it afterwards. Your girlfriend has a point about flexibility, but if you can honestly say you regularly feel like going to theater, I'd compare the prices directly at the state theater - with the Munich houses a subscription is often cheaper than you'd think 🎭
I wouldn't just assume the percentage savings from a subscription are still as crazy as they used to be. Theaters have raised their prices across the board, and the discount is shrinking. But here's what I think matters: look at which shows in the program actually appeal to you - not just "watch whatever because I've already paid for it." That's the classic subscription trap. Some people end up going to stuff they'd never book individually because they've "already spent the money anyway."
Your girlfriend has a point about flexibility. Though - and a lot of people don't realize this - when you buy individual tickets, you often end up paying ticket fees, processing fees, and all that. The final amount adds up faster than you'd think. With a subscription you typically don't get that. What I'd personally do: over the next two months, deliberately pick out 4-5 shows you actually want, check the individual prices (including all fees!), add them up, and compare that to the subscription price. Then you know for sure whether it makes sense for you - not in theory, but concrete numbers.
For me personally, the subscription paid off because it got me to go much more regularly - without that financial commitment, I probably would've stayed home more often. So the psychological component counts too, not just the pure price advantage.
To your actual question: The thing is, you really have to do the math for your personal program. Look at which plays interest you, google the individual ticket prices, and compare them with the subscription price. For Munich, it'll probably be the case that a subscription makes sense if you really go 5-6 times a year - but I can't say for sure whether the difference is still as significant as it used to be. The theaters have definitely raised their prices across the board.
One more tip: Some theaters offer tiered subscriptions or have special deals for certain seasons. It's worth checking out the Staatstheater website or calling them - the people there can tell you exactly how much you'd save. Your girlfriend's right that flexibility has value, but if you notice you want to go regularly anyway, you're throwing money away if you always buy individual tickets.
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