Flea Market 2011 Thread

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:06pm

I know we're still a few weeks away and we haven't even had a celeb list for the Autograph Table/Photo Booth yet but the excitement is starting to brew. I'm excited because I have a new "Straight Ally" shirt to wear for the day :)

I thought I'd start this thread not just for discussion of how much we're looking forward to it but for any "first timers" to ask any questions they might have. Or for any "vets" to share experiences and advice with first timers.

My biggest piece of advice for first timers is to budget yourself. Set a limit for yourself and try not to go over that. The last thing you need to is spend you train money home. I like to print out the celebrity list when it comes out and figure out who I want and how much I need for those people. Then, I just add some extra "shopping" money to that.
Broadway FLEA MARKET & GRAND AUCTION

[Anakela]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:12pm

For those who will be asking, yes you can use credit/debit cards at the tables. It's a little bit of a process, involving getting a receipt from the table for the item you want, taking that receipt to one of the ATM booths (there *is* more than one ATM booth), then taking that ATM booth receipt back to the table you bought from, to get your item. But yes you can use credit/debit cards.

If you're on Twitter use hashtag #bwayflea2011.

And if anyone finds one I'm in the market for a Wonderland Mad Batters jersey. :)

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:13pm

My advice is go early and try to look at all the tables before you buy anything, unless there is an item you MUST HAVE RIGHT AWAY. I am always upset at myself when I see an item I purchased a few tables away at a much cheaper price.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:21pm

I am always upset at myself when I see an item I purchased a few tables away at a much cheaper price.

Yeah, if it's something really special or something there's only one of get it. Otherwise wait. In the last hour or so stuff gets really cheap. Two years ago I got a "Don't be a Butthead" shirt from Marvelous Wonderettes for $1 and they put it in a cloth "Playbill" bag. And last year some tables would stuff extra things in my bag like magnets and buttons for free.

[theatrefreak0109]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:25pm

this will be my frist time going and i am so excited! i do have a few questions one how much do signed windowcards from running shows go for(i really wanna get a signed anything goes windowcard) and how much do you usually donate for the autograph table?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:29pm

The windowcards vary from show to show - I'd say expect to pay about $50 or so.

The autograph table is $25 for the whole table (two autographs per celeb)

The photo booth is $10 per picture unless you request more than one celeb or they have a special package. If you request more than one person it's $40 unless someone else offers more. I typically try to get at least one "couple" each year. Two years ago they were offering Gavin Creel and Will Swenson together for $40 but one person said "I'll pay $50" so it became $50 for everyone. You can use your own camera in the photo booth but they do have a camera there also.

Updated On: 9/7/11 at 02:29 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:35pm

Oh and definitely, if you live in the city/are staying in the city, try and do two laps if you are able to. Last year I went during the 9am setup hour to check things out, shopped for a bit, dropped stuff off at home and came back in the afternoon for a 5/6pm freebies lap (so many magnets, windowcards, calendars, Spamalot chapsticks...) It also helps if you're getting windowcards framed, to be able to just bring them in the afternoon, instead of carrying around all day.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:51pm

Anakela- I've thought of doing that. I've done the "early shift", where you pretty much get the pick of the crop, and the "late shift", the last hour-or-so where you get whatever's left, but it's all cheap (and sometimes free!). I did the "late shift" last year (I got there around 3), and the ticket raffle was long gone. 2 years ago, I did the "early shift" (was there at opening- partially to it being at Hammerstein) and got free show tickets, but I paid a lot more for far less things than last year. I guess going at the beginning, taking a break for lunch, and then coming back is the way to go. Thoughts?

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:56pm

1 - Bring your own shopping bags, even if you wind up buying one or several canvas show bags.

2 - Bring lots of small bills. The vendors will SO appreciate it!

[sorano916]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 2:59pm

Last year was my first time going and I took in a matinee (Idiot) and an evening show (BBAJ). I'm debating on seeing a show this year. Idiot's a short show so I was still able to wander around afterwards. If I do see a show, which would be better: a matinee or an evening?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 3:02pm

I would say an evening show would be better. Personally, once I'm there I don't leave. I browse or hang out near the photo booth. Last year I saw Beth Malone at the Triad that evening.

[Anakela]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 3:08pm

Anakela- I've thought of doing that. I've done the "early shift", where you pretty much get the pick of the crop, and the "late shift", the last hour-or-so where you get whatever's left, but it's all cheap (and sometimes free!). I did the "late shift" last year (I got there around 3), and the ticket raffle was long gone. 2 years ago, I did the "early shift" (was there at opening- partially to it being at Hammerstein) and got free show tickets, but I paid a lot more for far less things than last year. I guess going at the beginning, taking a break for lunch, and then coming back is the way to go. Thoughts?

I have a real intense dislike of crowds (I know, so flea market is the perfect place for me, right? :)), and also I'm not really into the autograph/picture tables and usually skip them outright, so if that's all you're in for this system probably won't work for you, but... I found that going from about 9am-12noonish (oh, and for first timers: contrary to the 10am start time, tables will totally sell you stuff before then if they're set up and ready) let me do a lot of looking, a little bit of shopping, and a couple of the roulette wheel and ticket picking rounds. Then go home, take a break for lunch, etc. and avoid the huge pre-matinee crowds. Return at 4/5pmish, drop off window cards to be framed, do a couple of freebies/cheapies tours of tables, and your day is done (also a tip for first timers: most tables are well packed up and gone before the 7pm end time.)

Bumping a 'best finds' thread from last year's flea market for the first timers, so you can get an idea of prices, merch, etc: (also, I just looked up my posts from last year, and apparently I was playing ticket picking during my afternoon round too, so it's not over that early)


Best finds at the Flea Market? Updated On: 9/7/11 at 03:08 PM

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 5:17pm

so $50 is a very good budget? It's my first time going and I'm getting ready :)

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 5:17pm

so $50 is a very good budget? It's my first time going and I'm getting ready :)

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 5:24pm

Showchoirguy: check your private messages.

[michellek45]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 5:51pm

Does the flea market have stuff from Off-Broadway shows as well? This is my first time going, and I'm really excited to see what's there.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 6:03pm

Going again this year, bringing a virgin and her parents, they're doing whatever they're gonna do, we'll hang at theflea market, and then we're all seeing Follies.

So excited!

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 6:05pm

I was reading the website and it says that "this is an exciting day for broadway and off-broadway". So I would suspect so :)

[rougeduck]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 6:07pm

I hope they have the foam hands from BBAJ!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 6:09pm

so $50 is a very good budget? It's my first time going and I'm getting ready :)

Haha...I usually bring a few hundred dollars.

[Anakela]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 6:10pm

Broadway, off-Broadway, regional... plus a lot of random tchotchke - tv dvd box sets, 'as seen on tv' infomercial items, etc. - will be found at some tables too.

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 6:13pm

If anyone finds a copy of HIGH by Matthew Lombardo, could they please purchase it on my behalf and I'll reimburse them.

[craig238]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 5:34am

So nice of everyone to tell everyone else to get there early !!

[amoni2]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 6:48am

Broadway, Off-Broadway and PaperMill Playhouse even has a table. Lots of tables also have actual flea market finds like choctchkes, CD's, DVD's and even food. The coolest thing this year is the tables are going to be at the walking mall right on Broadway, but be prepared for more crowds. They are actually getting late announcing the celebrity signing/ photo booth, always fun. Through the celeb table, I've been able to get many actors signatures on my movie collection such as Vanessa Redgrave signed "Julia" DVD, her Oscar winning role as well as Ian McKellen and the lovely Lynn Redgrave on "Gods & Monsters", and my friend got Ian to sign "Lord Of The Rings", and that would never have happened without this amazing event.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 11:04am

I can't wait to go this year. I don't know what I hope to find, except for maybe a couple of playbills, which I'm not sure if 1 exists or when it would have been from. Last year at the end of the day I got a toaster from the Billy Elliot table for $5. It was my random purchase of the day.