Broadway Flea Market- Page 3

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 6:02pm

As you can see it took up the entire width of my trunk and the length of my trunk and backseat.

Updated On: 9/19/09 at 06:02 PM

[ashley0139]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 6:08pm

I usually spend about $100 at the flea market. It's funny because I know exactly what I bought two years ago. I bought a few bigger, more exciting items. I have no idea what I bought last year as I bought a lot more little stuff and nothing too exciting.

[mikem]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 6:11pm

In response to an earlier question, I don't think that most tables for currently-running shows sell the merchandise that's available in the theater (although they might sell some signed versions of some of them). So if you are looking for a T-shirt/magnet/program/etc, I'm not sure you'll be able to get one.

A closed show will sometimes have their regular merchandise available (at a different show's table), often for very cheap.

In terms of the tax deduction, you have to be a little bit careful about it if you are buying something that is commercially available. If you make a donation to a charity, and they give you an incentive (free tickets, for example), I believe you have to subtract the fair market value of those tickets from your donation when reporting to the IRS. If the charity is giving you something that is not commercially available (such as a marquee/walk-on/etc), then the fair market value is harder to determine and you could potentially argue that it is zero (the marquee would go into the trash otherwise), allowing you to take the full tax deduction.

And if the donation is more than $250, you need a letter from the charity even if you have a receipt.

(I am not a tax lawyer or an accountant, so someone who is should feel free to correct anything I just said!)

Updated On: 9/19/09 at 06:11 PM

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 6:20pm

Eris0303, how much do those posters normally sell for?

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 6:47pm

Found this info on the On-Line auctions for the Flea Market on the 27th at Shubert Alley, there are live auctions and silent auctions, you can check out some of the items they are offering.

https://www.cmarket.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?auctionId=92629420

http://www.BroadwayCares.org/events/auction.cfm

Their current ebay offerings:

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Broadway-Cares-Online-Auctions__W0QQ_armrsZ1


Celebrity table:

http://67.59.184.251/events/CelebrityTable2009.cfm

I am not seeing any one from Hair on the schedule : (

****Sorry if this was posted already.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 7:01pm

Chita, it totally depends on the show, the year, the poster, and its size. Mine was about a quarter of what I expected it would go for, which I'm grateful for because I was able to afford it. But I remember that year thinking, oh, well, even if they have this, it's going to go for at least $100, since I had seen some upwards of that in the past. But it varies, I wouldn't say there's a "usual" price for them.

[Myhusband1024]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 7:55pm

Do most of the tables of closed shows sell props form the show? Does anyone know if RENT is going to have a table?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 8:12pm

I paid $50 for Max and someone else bought Taylor Hicks for the same amount. Laura's went for $5. They had several offers for Max throughout the day but couldn't sell him because I bought him first thing.

[Soliantu]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 8:19pm

wow, thats a bargain for the marquee pictures, i paid $250 for one once.

[Soliantu]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 8:24pm

btw Eris, how did you go about claiming the receipts as a donation for taxes. I tried a few years ago, but couldnt because the receipt at that time didnt say BCEFA at all on it, unless they do now. Did you have to do anything special to prove it? I was thinking of having them mark and sign at when giving the receipt.. but I dont know.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 8:28pm

I cannot remember now but I'm pretty sure I had something that said "BCEFA". I think they had a stamp but I just cannot remember.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 11:21pm

"Do most of the tables of closed shows sell props form the show? Does anyone know if RENT is going to have a table?"

No. Only recently closed shows which even then is rare. Not shows that closed more than a year ago.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 11:53pm

RENT had a table last year and didn't even have much then so I would say it's very likely they won't have anything.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 11:59pm

Well, Rent closed only a few weeks prior to last year's flea market. So having a table wasn't so strange.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 12:58am

I have a shirt that says "Eris" on the back and am considering wearing it. But, last year I had an issue with someone I was hoping to avoid.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:31am

"The question was about getting UP at 5 not arriving at 5. Haha."

I DO have to get up at 5am if I want to get there by 10am. I live 4hrs away...lol.

[NDR]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:27pm

Question: If I get there at the beginning of the day and buy some stuff, will I need to hang around all day if I am not interested in the autograph tables or the photo booth? Just wondering if I should book tickets for shows that day.
Thanks for your advice!

[bwaygirl211]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:35pm

^ you can leave whenever you want. if you want to try a lotto or a rush that day, i would suggest buying stuff earlier though. for the photo booth, you don't need to go to the celebrity table if you just want a picture with someone, do you?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:39pm

Also, on a lot of the stuff, the prices come down as the day goes on. The last hour is basically "name your own price" for whatever is left.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:40pm

The question was about getting UP at 5 not arriving at 5. Haha.

Well then she should have given some indication of how long it takes her to get to the city when she asked. If I got up at 5:00, I'd be there by 5:30.

No, you don't need to go through the table line if you want a photo. It's often a little bit chaotic, but there's a separate place to go for the photo booth, and they'll bring people over from the table in shifts so people can get photos with them.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 4:43pm

I just have one more question. I understand that this event gets crowded, which I wouldn't doubt at all. However, does there end up being a mob in the alley like what happened at Broadway Barks? That became extremely difficult to walk through because everyone was waiting for the action on the stage.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 4:44pm

I've only been to Broadway Barks once, but I've never experienced crowds at the Flea Market like the ones at Barks.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 4:56pm

No, because at Broadway Barks, the activity is mostly centralized right in Shubert Alley, especially when the performer presentations happen. At the Flea Market, the majority of the activity is on 44th Street, so the crowds get spread out more. Until the auction, there's not nearly as much going in the Alley. There are only a few booths; traffic general moves fairly smoothly through there, but it does get crazy for the auction, and if people are watching the photo booth, which is by Junior's.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 5:17pm

That's good. I hate trying to manuever through crowds like that. I don't even need to see the auction anyway because I know I will not be able to afford anything from it. I still need to decide if the celebrity tables are worth it or not.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 5:24pm

As of right now there's a 40% chance of rain for Sunday.