Do you meet interesting people if you go to shows alone?- Page 2

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 11:41am

Don't normally go alone. But, in NYC with my wife who was there on business.

Sat next to a guy who owns a jazz club in London. Another, recent MT graduate, checking out Violet before heading north to work summer stock in Maine. Sat next to a nice retired couple from FL, who gave me a tip that Beautiful still had rush tickets available...and another couple from a small town in my home state that, where the wife was an english teacher and directed the high school musicals.

[EMeraldNYC2]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 11:50am

As an out of town visitor, I've loved all my experiences chatting with people while in SRO/rush lines and at stage doors. Coming from a place with people with very little interest in theatre, it's refreshing to talk to other true Broadway fans and hear about their experiences.

Recently at the If/Then stage door, I met a young couple while exiting the theatre that loved the show and wanted a picture of "Elsa" for their daughter. We stuck out the craziness together and were able to tell the performers how much we appreciated their work while snapping some pics. We didn't keep in touch after texting each other pictures later that night, but it was definitely a lot of fun for the night.

**From my experience, people who go alone are much more well behaved in New York than regionally. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a touring production while next to someone who feels the need to sing along or make comments by themselves. I've never had this problem in NYC. Updated On: 7/1/14 at 11:50 AM

[mikem]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 11:54am

I don't think I've ever sat next to someone there by themselves who has acted inappropriately during a show. It's probably a combination of not having anyone to talk to, and being a real theatre fan (and maybe a bit introverted) if you go by yourself, but people who go by themselves have been very well-behaved in my book.

[phantomcrazy14]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 12:13pm

I think for me, while I am an introvert generally, it's more that when it go to a show alone it's because I want to experience the whole thing alone. I don't want to care if the people around me like it, I want it to be a reflective moment for me in the theatre.
Whenever I do talk with people, I find I like talking to people just getting involved with theatre or if they are unfamiliar with it. That instills the old sense of theatre when it was new to me. I HATE when I'm in rush lines, and fellow college students talk to me. I find most college students who I talk to are very competitive comparing my school to theirs and like to act like know-it-alls.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 12:30pm

"...every time I go to a show alone, I seem to make a 2-hour friend. It's annoying more often than not."

Personally, I can't imagine sitting next to The Growl and not becoming his 2-hour friend.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 12:37pm

I've had all sorts of experiences. Just depends on the mood of the show and whatnot. I've met a fellow BWW member who was sitting next to me.... and then we did the dirty. So that happened.

I've seen shows at 54 Below, and it's always interesting to see celebs who come alone. I remember Martha Plimpton sitting there with her glass of wine reading a book waiting for the show to start.

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 12:58pm

It's a mixed bag. Sometimes I chat with and engage my neighbor in conversation if I pick up that they are also there alone, sometimes not. I usually end up in conversations with tourists who are debating what other shows to see, so I try and get a sense of what they are looking for, and help them find something they might like. But I'm more often popping into an aisle seat at 7:58, halfway to the restroom when the intermission lights come up, etc., so I don't make it that easy.

But the night is no better and no worse if I do or don't talk to someone, whatever happens is fine.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 12:59pm

I went to Kinky Boots alone, and a gentlemen from Arkansas sat next to me. He immediately started a conversation with me, telling me his wife was back at the hotel sick, and insisted he go alone to Kinky Boots. He then struck up a conversation with the gentlemen next to him, put his hand on his knee, and left with him...

Good times.

Updated On: 7/1/14 at 12:59 PM

[StephanCasey]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:01pm

' "...every time I go to a show alone, I seem to make a 2-hour friend. It's annoying more often than not."

Personally, I can't imagine sitting next to The Growl and not becoming his 2-hour friend. '

Couldn't agree more. People who don't want to be bothered just attract people to bother them. (by being their "friends")

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:05pm

I enjoy going to the theatre alone. Especially if it is a drama. I like to be able to focus on it and think about it. The same with some musicals.

I do, however enjoy meeting people at the theater. I have met some really nice people. Have gotten book reccommendations and even went out for drinks with a guy I met at the intermission for Caroline or Change. ( just to talk amd hang out.) I have met people from all over the world and had some great conversations.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:18pm

I've never had a bad time talking to people in SRO/rush lines but I'm a huge people person. I never start a conversation because I don't want to bother people but after the conversation has started, I've always had a great time.

Last Thursday I did SRO for Hedwig. I got there at 7:45AM and was the fourth in line. In front of me were a mother and daughter and then a girl alone from Canada. Then behind me were two people from Florida. We all actually got incredibly close and had a blast. Talked the entire time, played charades and really got to know each other. Then I won lotto and brought with me a 17 year old who reminded me a lot of myself because he wasn't able to get a ticket while my friend I was with still kept the SRO ticket and got another single person into the line. The next day the girl from Canada saw Heathers with us and we've been texting ever since and made plans to meet up in September to see a show or two. We all have added people on Facebook/Instagram and have kept in contact so far. I had a blast in that line, it was the highlight of my trip.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:26pm

I don't know about all of you, but I tend to meet people like StephanCasey if I make the mistake of attending a show on my own...

[BobbyBubbi]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:33pm

If not just for the financial burden, I always tend to see shows alone unless it's something really special. But you're never really alone because nine times out of ten you run into friends in the audience you've done a show or two with.

[brdway411]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:40pm

depends on my mood. I work with people all day long, so sometimes I just want to be left alone (and have no problem telling people that). Other times I can be a real chatty Kathy before the show. I love to give tourists tips on what to see, where to eat, general NYC insiders stuff. Over the years I have also met some really cool people that I still chat with on Facebook to this day. When they come to town I will help them with obtaining rush tickets, or be an extra person if they are trying a lottery. It's fun. Although, I have met some total wackadoodles.

[StephanCasey]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:41pm

@Liza's Headband -Hey. You can't blame a guy for being enthusiastic

No one crushes my spirit ^^)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:43pm

I spend my intermission running around to the stage door to see what actors come out and smoke.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:48pm

I use one of those old people's headsets. It sends the message that I'm not interested in knowing that you saw Audra when she did 110 in the Shade.

I remember years ago when I attended the Encores production of Babes in Arms. The old crone I was seated next to became chatty at intermission. She told me how she had the piano score of the show and was great at playing My Funny Valentine. She really misinterpreted my "I couldn't give a f*ck" look. And that's the last I took my grandmother to the theater.

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 1:58pm

^^^ LOL

[tazber]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 2:06pm

I spend my intermission running around to the stage door to see what actors come out and smoke.

LOL Goth.

Who else remembers "The Little Mermaid cast caught smoking" meltdown thread?

Good times.

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 2:17pm

Depends on my mood. Can be interesting, though. At 'Mothers and Sons' the woman alone next to me actually lives not far from me in Florida. Who knew?
On another trip, I chatted with a few women at 'Pippin', then saw them a day later at 'Kinky Boots.'
Kinda fun.

[brdway411]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 2:25pm

one of my favorite things that happens while I am waiting on a rush line. People will come up and ask "what show you are waiting to see"?. I am sitting under the freaking marquee, for crying out loud. So I will tell them the name of another show just to mess with their heads.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 2:32pm

I did standing room for Hedwig alone, and the woman who I had to endure in front of me in line makes me not want to rush a show ever again. If there were any tickets left that day I may have just paid full price to salvage the bit of sanity that I must have lost during that exchange.

[StephanCasey]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 2:46pm

I'm dying at what Goth wrote :') That's the best kind of humor

[StephanCasey]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 2:48pm

Updated On: 7/1/14 at 02:48 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 7/1/14 at 3:27pm

I've sometimes chatted with people on rush lines or at the stage door, and I once had a lovely conversation with another American at intermission of War Horse in London. But I generally avoid talking to strangers at shows if I'm there alone. I'm a huge introvert so not having someone to chat with doesn't really bother me.