Anyone Have An Extra Ticket?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:18am

I hate these people. I mean I REEEEEALLY cant stand them. I was in a mood tonight and told the man there were plenty of seats for sale at the box office if he wanted to see the show. He ignored me and went on to other people but came back and asked me again to which I got maybe a little too irritated and called him a leech and told him that nobody was going to give him free theater tickets and if he wanted to see the show he could pay just like every other F'ing person waiting in line to get in.

Maybe I overreacted but its been 15 years of seeing these same 5 people 2-3 times a week doing this and I just hate em.
Updated On: 3/29/11 at 12:18 AM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:27am

I've actually never seen them. Do they actually get a free ticket? The only way I'd give them a free ticket is if I had received it for free.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:29am

I always thought those people were wanting to pay for an extra ticket, maybe less. I never assumed they wanted a freebie.

My guess if that it must work at times or they wouldn't keep doing it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:29am

I don't think I have ever once gone to the theater and not seen someone asking this.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:30am

And no, they want them for free.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:56am

Told the guy tonight at Baby, its You, that it did not sell out & was even available at TKTS for 50% off, he just really and still hung around, I said aloud, guess he is hoping for a freebie.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 1:01am

Jordan- My friends and I call them the vultures and have nicknames for almost all of them. Yes the are horrible and unfortunately they have a high success rate as I often see them entering the theater.

The are relentless in their pursuit and truly nothing will phase them. I have said things to them before too, but mostly I try to ignore them when they approach.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 1:05am

They're also all known to frequent invited dress rehearsals in hopes of getting in. I don't think I've ever been to one and not seen them outside.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 1:12am

Correct- they flock to the invited dress and the first few previews assuming they'll have an easier chance of getting in then.

I've never been to a first preview without running into one of them.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 7:25am

They are vile and disgusting. They seem to be in attendance at every show I see, either a preview or regular performance.

[D2]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 7:56am

Do you know their screen names?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 8:09am

So, are these the exact same people at every theater at every show? A traveling gypsy family of theater lovers? Or, is it just some random gal from the Corner?
Updated On: 3/29/11 at 08:09 AM

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 8:10am

Deet, if you give me free tickets for a any show I will tell you their BWW names.

[D2]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 8:17am

At the opening night of THE PRODUCERS, there was this little old lady in a turquoise raincoat haunting everyone on 44th Street for an extra ticket.

Somehow, she got into the lobby of the St. James, and as we were walking down the red carpet into the theater she reached out and tugged my sleeve.

"Oh please, please, please, do you have an extra ticket? Or would you give me yours?"

My reply was succinct. And loud.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F*CK*NG MIND!?!"

Jordan, you can quote me.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 10:39am

Ugh, yes. I always seem to run into the ones who play dumb about rush as an excuse to hang around.
"So you wait here for tickets?"
"Yup. Standing room. The line is probably too long now. You'll have to try again tomorrow."
*moves down the line 5 people*
"So you wait here for tickets?"
And yet they're still hanging around an hour later when the house opens.

Why can't the theatre staff deal with these people instead of carrying out body cavity searches for food and cameras?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 10:56am

I love this thread! I have no idea who these people are but they are a theatrical tradition as endearing as the Gypsy Robe. I know that anytime I go to the first preview of a Roundabout production or the dress rehearsal of an Al Pacino play I'm certain to see them loitering like zombies out front, and that gives me comfort.

They've been around forever too. Years ago there was this one guy who used to somehow work his way into all the shows on 44th Street. He told me he'd seen KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN 32 times. He'd always be in front with his sign asking for extra tickets and then when I'd see him in the theatre he'd always be asleep in his seat.

A friend of mine said the other night he saw some at SISTER ACT and then thought they'd actually worked their way onto the stage for Chester Gregory's big number in Act 1.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 10:57am

Life is hard for people with mental illnesses like OCD.

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 11:04am

It's the one old-ish man I always see.

I can't understand how they ever get in, but I see he does about a quarter of the times I see him. Perhaps I'm just an awful, selfish person, but if I had a spare ticket that I or my friends had already paid for, and I couldn't find anyone outside to pay ANYTHING for it--even just $20--and I had absolutely no one I knew to whom I could give it, I would rather have an extra spare seat next to me for my bag and coat rather than hand it over to a pesty stranger outside.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 11:21am

I always see them outside of City Center begging for extra tickets with their little handwritten cardboard signs.

[thismyshow]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 11:25am

i would hope no one on this board has ever given these old farts a ticket at their age they should more then be able to buy there own ticket

[GatorNY]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 11:33am

Once, I actually did have an extra ticket, and I gave it to a lady who I now call Final Performance Fanny. She's been outside of every final performance I've been to.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 11:38am

I've seen these foul creatures at final dress rehearsals many times, and seen them sneak in with the crowd. They're sub-human; even if you were to sit them down over a cup of tea and patiently explain to them the grotesque nature of this habit, they would be as incapable of understanding your words as a dog would be. Perhaps less so.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:02pm

I don't go to many previews and my trips into the city have been cut back due to rising costs. That's probably why I have no recollection of these people.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:12pm

I've got to weigh in. The only time I've ever done such a thing was for the opening night for the revival of Ragtime.

I went to the box office several times in hopes they'd be selling tickets, but alas, it was by invite only. The night of the opening I stood out front (in a suit and tie no less) to scope out my chances of getting an extra ticket. These vultures (so to speak), were out in full force and it killed me at how absolutely aggressive they were. Most of them succeeded in getting tickets, but I would not lower myself to their tactics. Needless to say, I never got in. I also saw the guy who was the stagedoor attendant give a ticket to one of these people. I was absolutely perplexed!!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/29/11 at 12:16pm

Ah, vultures. I used to know some.
I'm out of the 'free ticket' business.

And, I agree with Calvin, if I end up with an extra ticket, after exhausting all avenues of finding friends/family to enjoy it, or return it to the box office as a donation, I'd rather have the empty seat next to me.

Updated On: 3/29/11 at 12:16 PM