Does Where You Sit Matter? — Page 2

And, just for clarification, there are 300 seats in the Helen Hayes.

Couldn't tell if this was supposed to be a joke or not- the Helen Hayes has slightly under 600 seats. As configured for Xanadu, the Helen Hayes has 596 seats.

I think most of us on this board are seat snobs or at least try to be. Why would you sit in back if you could sit closer. When I was younger I would get the cheap seats them move at intermission. Now I'm older and can get the better seat's to start with. So for the big tour houses never more than 13 rows back, my season tix are 4th row just off center. I like to see them sweat. The regional theaters are not that big here. As long as I'm in the center or near there I'm good. I hate being off to the side.

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It depends on what I'm seeing and where. I'm less likely to be picky when it's an extravaganza like Phantom or Wicked. I like to sit closer when the shows are intimate.

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Where you sit, for me, is crucial. I won't sit above the orchestra (unless I'm going to the opening and have no choice) or under the overhang of the Mezz. I also don't like to be more than two seats off the aisle, and preferably within the first five or six rows, though that's flexible depending on how far back the stage is and how high etc. I can't enjoy a show if I'm above the stage, and I have a really hard time if I'm far enough back where people coming in late/moving around can happen in front of me too much. I'm an extreme seating snob.

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I don't like to sit too far or too close. I got stuck in the first row, to the side and it was terrible. They removed an entire section, so I found myself always looking up and straining to see the other side of the stage. I couldn't trade seats because the play was booked unfortunately. I always choose the center or aisle if I must sit on a side because of what is available. I would skip it if I can't get a good seat.

After watching Jersey Boys tonight YES standing room then swtiching to open seats bad idea. you get a better view standing room if ur sitting next to a guy with a big head who keeps moving contstantly, changing his direction and women talking contstantly during the 2nd act...

i prefer *when there is empty seats* front row of the orchestra depending on the height of the stage. i am highly satisfied with student rush or lottery ticket seats. partial view orchestra but your in the front. its better than paying full price and plus the actors are righti in front you.

I am a seating snob too, but when I really want to see a show, and I can't afford it because of lack of discount (like Mary Poppins), I go for the cheapest.

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I like to sit in the orchestra, but when I'm offered discounted tickets, I will take whatever I can get...at least I'm seeing the show! I DO like sitting in the isle seats though...more legroom!

> Oh well I'm young!

since when do you have to be old to have eye/ear problems? that's a little self-absorbed ...

what you are here is not "young", it's "blessed"!

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I've grown to not really care where I sit because most of the times I sit in the balcony due to financial reasons. I would love to sit in the center orchestra every time I see a show, but my parents rarely pay for my ticket and I'm a poor high school student. Broadway in Chicago not having a student rush policy makes it worse. I just bring a pair of binoculars and I'm set. Also, since I see most shows in Chicago, I don't mind sitting in the balcony when I go see shows in New York because compared to New York, Chicago theatres are massive. Therefore, when I see a show in New York up in the balcony, it feels much closer than back at home.

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Whatever I am paying, and it is usually full price as I tend to buy way ahead of when I am going to see a production and I do not like tickets up in the gods and off to the edges, I always strive for what I consider to be the best seats of that price bracket, NOT what the ticketmaster/telecharge people recommend.

For instance, if I am paying top price, that is such a wide variety of seats, I will NOT sit at the extreme sides for that price as they rarely offer a good experience. Nor the furthest back of that price alloction ie) 20 odd rows back. If I am booking last minute then I will be more flexible.

If I am ringing up to get tickets rather than doing so over the net, I will get the person at the other end to go through systematically each set of available seats for that performance in the area I prefer, until I get my ideal seats - or until I decide that I am not going to see it that time if the availability is not great. After all, I am paying for tickets - oh and the ridiculous "service charge".

I am a seat snob NOW, but my philosophy used to be that just seeing the show was the most important thing, no matter where I sat. Then once I saw my first show in the first or second row it changed, that was when I realized what having a true theater experience could be like. Every since then, I am now very much a seat snob and have to be in the first five rows no matter what the cost.

Whenever this topic comes up, I like to remind people that Shakepeare wrote: "The play's the ting", not "The seat's the thing."

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