Posted: 9/12/15 at 1:41pm
Can anyone explain how the tables are organized? Does each show have a table or each theater? Are there tables from other organizations such as Lincoln Center, The Public Theater, Roundabout etc?
Posted: 9/12/15 at 1:42pm
Here's the map from last year to give you an idea. http://www.broadwaycares.org/document.doc?id=159
Posted: 9/12/15 at 1:53pm
Thank you! That was very helpful. I'll keep my eye out for this years map!
Posted: 9/15/15 at 11:36am
http://broadwaycares.org/fleamarket2015autograph#faq
First round of names announced.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 3:47pm
I've never been to this event before, but just reading that "How do the Autograph Table and Photo Booth Work?" FAQ has given me a headache. This sounds really unnecessarily complicated.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 3:49pm
No sh!t. And they find new ways every year to make it even more unnecessarily complicated once you get there.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:02pm
Busy day this will be.
At the same time, from 42nd to 47th street will be a French festival. We will be at the French Festival as my wife is a francophile.
There will be all things French there.Hollande may even be there. Whoopee
Updated On: 9/15/15 at 04:02 PM
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:03pm
Please refrain from french kissing your wife in front of all of us, though.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:18pm
Jordan you made me laugh! It is very true......it is a big cluster f if you want to try to get a photo with someone. If not enough people request someone they don't get pulled. But you don't know that unless you stand there for the majority of the time waiting to see if they will. Not to take away from the volunteers, because it must be frustrating, but there has to be a better system or place to hold people. It is just one big mass of people waiting near a roped off area, while people are trying to smash through you to get to the other streets.
Updated On: 9/15/15 at 04:18 PM
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:20pm
We stopped going years ago because of this madhouse.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:27pm
Mr Roxy said: "We stopped going years ago because of this madhouse."
You bitch enough about paying to see a show. I can't imagine you ponying up to get Chita Rivera to sign something.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:31pm
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:32pm
My problem with those tables still is that you can wait an hour in the line, pay your money and get up there and the person you paid and wanted to see gets yanked to the photo booth and is gone for the entire time. People always say "stop complaining! It's for charity!" which is true, but it's also a bait and switch for charity when you give money for something specific and are then told you can't have it. Last year with Bernadette Peters, I wouldn't leave until I got her to sign what I had waited over an hour for and they begrudgingly took me over to the photo booth where she was so sweet and signed our stuff. But it's just ridiculous. Plus last year they tried to change how many things you could get signed once you got up to the table, which was total bullsh*t.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:35pm
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:56pm
I did the autograph table in 2009 & 2012. Oddly, 2009 was okay despite it being inside. Unless maybe that helped it. It was on the 2nd floor of the Roseland Ballroom away from everything else. I also don't recall having to line up insanely early. 2012, I almost thought I wasn't going to get in. I can't decide if I am interested or not in any lineups so far. But, if the wait is going to be horrible, I will probably just want to shop.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 4:57pm
While I would never discourage people to not donate to charity, with all of the nonsensical rules and bait and switch stuff they pull here I would just donate the $20 and not bother and just stage door these people when they're in a show (most of them are). Almost every single person I saw listed will usually gladly sign autographs and take a picture with you for FREE any other of the 365 days a year.
Posted: 9/15/15 at 7:16pm
I've only done the autograph table once, in 2011. I was in line for about 45 minutes, but I got who I wanted to sign what I wanted. Maybe it's good that I had no pre-conceptions!
Updated On: 9/15/15 at 07:16 PM
Posted: 9/15/15 at 10:01pm
Just wondering how the photo booth exactly works? Is it just a quick picture and that's it or do you have time to talk to the actor? Is it taken on your phone/camera or do the volunteers take it and you get it later? Curious if it's worth it for me...
Posted: 9/15/15 at 11:00pm
Chita Rivera.
I'm there.
Posted: 9/16/15 at 10:00am
The photos are taken on your own phone/camera by one of the volunteers. Whether you have time to chat with the person is really dependent on how long their line is. It would not be much more than a hello, I loved you in xyz regardless, because even if that person doesn't have a long line, they will be trying to move on to the next person. But I always say it's worth it to get a really nice photo and have the money go towards charity.
I wonder if it future years, there might be some kind of online sign-up for photos. You would still pay in person (so if you change your mind or the celeb you wanted to see cancels last minute, you didn't lay anything out) but at least it would be a way to gauge who are the most popular asks. Other than the Broadway A-listers and the crossover movie/TV stars, I imagine it's difficult to predict who the most popular people will be per hour.
Updated On: 9/16/15 at 10:00 AM
Posted: 9/16/15 at 10:04am
So, if I don't care about getting stuff signed and don't want pictures with people... just how cheap might Hedwig merch be? Is it usually just the same merch, or might they have other things from the show, like special things they made for the cast to attend events, or whatever... I suppose if I'm free I might as well pop down, but so far it seems like I'd just walk around and not spend that much $$$. Does BC/EFA ever unload signed posters there any cheaper?
Maybe I'll see about booking a matinee and hooking this onto it...
Posted: 9/16/15 at 10:23am
Posted: 9/16/15 at 10:24am
Keep in mind that this is a flea market. A few things are set prices but everything else is negotiable.
Posted: 9/16/15 at 10:37am
I'm not much of a haggler and I know it's all for charity ... but do they expect people to negotiate?
I have another commitment and can really only go from like 10-11 AM. Good selection I'm guessing but also higher prices.
I also saw a map posted from last year and I've been keeping an eye on the BCEFA website for this year's. Does anyone know if it will be published online prior to the event?
Posted: 9/16/15 at 10:45am
Well I'm Jewish so haggling is in my blood. And I always negotiate when I'm there.
