Going to Shows Alone?

I’ve been curious about this for a while now and am really interested in your input. I’m going to need a long intro. Sorry. My last four trips to nyc have been alone. I’m still getting used to it. There certainly are advantages. Not sure if they outweigh the disadvantages. I have inferred in the various threads here that there are more than a few of you who do this, too. Also interesting to me was that at two of the three shows I went to see on my recent trip the people on both sides of me were also alone. I talked to two of them. One woman actually prefers to go alone. Says her friends can be too judgmental about the show and ruin the experience for her. How many of you go alone intentionally? What are your thoughts about going alone? Would you really prefer to go with someone to share the experience with?
Along those lines I have thought it would be fun to meet some of you when I go up. Fun to get together after a show to talk about it. We talk all the time here why not talk face to face? And yet I've never heard of any of you doing this. How would it go over here if I had suggested something like that? Would you consider it or not? Why? I have many more thoughts but this is already too long. I’ll contribute to the discussion. Your turn.

Updated On: 10/28/14 at 08:19 PM

I, too, often go alone. It bothers me not at all, but I also enjoy going with others...it just seems like our schedules rarely match up.

The only thing I truly miss by attending alone is the immediate discussion afterwards. I like the independence of being in the city - going where I choose, eating where on want, etc.

There are people here that have met up, but I have no idea how often.

---

I'm bi, I like it both ways.

---

I travel to NY once or twice a year by myself, and see a bunch of shows alone. Next week, November 5th to the 9th, I'll be in town seeing 6 shows.

It really doesn't bother me, as others have said. Yes, it would be great to have someone in my life who loves theater and film as much as I do, and want to spend as much time as I do watching them. But, I am fine being by myself where I can be alone with my thoughts.

I go to New York 3 to 5 times a year for theater trips, and I usually see about 6 shows each trip. I do try and ask people go see shows with me. However, it is very difficult. I prefer to buy my tickets in advance, which means I have to find someone who is willing to fork over at least 80 to 100 bucks (if the seats are even discounted), and commit to a date and time weeks, sometimes months in advance. Most people prefer to say "let's just meet for a drink after the show". Often when I find another person who's open to the idea of theater, they want to see either the newest, hottest thing, or they want to see something I've seen too often (Wicked, Lion King, etc).
Going alone lets me plan my trip the way I want. It lets me relax in my hotel til a few minutes before showtime. It lets me decide when and where I want to eat, and which bars I want to go to or not go to. Sure, I can meet friends before and after. And sure, it is fun to talk about the show during intermission and afterwards. But that's what this board is for lol.

I do a mix, but honestly i like going alone better because my friends can ruin the experience sometimes. On the other hand, it can be amazing with friends. It really depends on the show

---

I also see shows both ways, with friends and alone. I like going alone because as another poster also said, you can do what you and go where you want. You don't have to compromise. I also don't usually eat if I am alone or if I do I eat cheaply. I also see shows on the cheap, either tdf, tkts, discounts, lotteries or SRO. I also see shows sometimes on the spur of the moment. A lot of times your schedules don't match up either. I like going with others too, but it is just sometimes more practical to go solo. If I go solo then I might meet friends before or after for a drink or a meal.

It's rare that I have a theatre-going companion. Very few people I know are willing to spend that kind of money (even with discounts).

Then, too, I have a fairly extensive theatrical favorites list and occasionally stop by the stage door afterwards to say hi. I'm local and there are a good number of people with whom I'm already acquainted enough to chat. Some people feel uncomfortable doing this.

Finally, on my last trip to England, circumstances dictated I go alone. And I discovered I love it that way. When you travel with a companion, you talk to that companion. When you travel alone, you talk to everyone. It's a far more immersive experience that way.

Alone. Toujours seul!


I Travel Alone

Updated On: 10/28/14 at 11:17 PM

I go alone all the time. Much easier than trying to coordinate with someone else, and I can give the show my full attention. Heck, I go to baseball games alone, too!

Since my main theater buddy (AdamGreer) has moved away, I see most shows alone. Although, it was an adjustment, I've gotten used to it. Friends are always shocked that I do it alone, but it doesn't bother me. It's sometimes nice to sit there, relax, and not wonder about what your friends think of the show. Theater is a cathartic experience for me, and sometimes that is best experienced alone.

Updated On: 10/28/14 at 11:53 PM

I go all the time... and yes it is easier to get good seats that way! i've always had good experiences when the box office will actually try harder to get me better seats

the only thing i hate is having no on to talk to at intermission... i'm not really good at striking up conversations with strangers

that and the voyage back home.. no one to talk to about what I just saw

I recently finished an M. A. in Dramatic Lit (Theory and Structure of the Dramatic Text) with an emphasis on the classics and how they've influenced our civilization through time. As such, I needed to see a lot of theatre for projects I was working on. I absolutely love going alone. I can thoroughly involve myself in the viewing of the work at hand (getting a single seat is usually effortless) and therefore usually feel much more involved with the work on stage.

I highly recommend doing some research online before you see a play. JSTOR has tons of great articles, but even a quick WIKI search on the playwright can be very informative and engaging. Enjoy, OP!!

---