How many people prefer going solo? I barely enjoy a show with friends as much as I do alone.
See nearly everything by myself, and my trips to London and New York are always Solo
I don't think it's that I like it more...but I certainly don't mind it. Going alone this weekend, as a matter if fact.
I definitely prefer to go see something with someone, but I have seen plenty by myself. Sometimes due to no one else having much of an interest in the show in question or just because. Sometimes it's nice, but I definitely miss the intermission chat or the post show discussion with a friend.
Featured Actor Joined: 6/7/15
that's my life. None of my friends like musicals so I always go see them by myself....
I very much enjoy seeing a show by myself. It's easier to get a single ticket as well. The part I don't like is not having that post show conversation that discusses the show's details. That's one reason that I follow this board. I will occasionally attend with my mate or other friends but they don't share my passion so my preference is to go solo.
I go alone to most shows that I see. I love it. I really enjoy being able to take in the performance and develop my own opinions about it, and it's nice to have some "me" time as well.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/5/04
Most of the time. And when I go through TDF, I usually get house seats-4th row center for American In Paris, 8th row center for Fiddler, 12th row center The King And I, 4th row center for Sylvia..... If you need to talk to somebody, the person(s) sitting next to you are usually friendly.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
What do your seat locations have to do with the topic at hand?
I assume they meant going alone gets you better seats - which is absolutely true.
Understudy Joined: 6/25/08
I always go alone, I much prefer it, always get a better seat when buying one ticket. You can't talk during the show anyway.
I prefer going alone as well. You are in the moment more. However, I did wish I had someone to dissect the story with a few times. I wish I had seen Fun Home in particular with someone else.
I generally want to see more shoes than my friends do, even though a few are into theatre, so I have no problem at all going alone.
When I want to see a show, I'm going to see it no matter what. And I don't like like having to coordinate plans, argue over what seats, how much people want to spend. When I'm solo I can just buy and go. I agree that sometimes I miss that post show discussion and I certainly don't mins having company. If I see a show alone and love it, I can tell my friends and we'll go back again together.
I have only gone to one show alone and it was while I was on a business trip to NYC. I would rather go with someone but still enjoyed the show. I talked about the show later that evening when I called my wife to say goodnight, this was done before cell phones - lol.
I think we discuss this in depth several times a year. I mostly go alone these days, but you get used to it, and I agree it's easier to get better seats when alone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/16
Going alone tends to be easier.
My wife and I don't share the same tastes.
Needing a babysitter also gets in the way of going together.
I don't mind either way. If I am paying to see something, I usually go alone. But if I am offered comps, I will almost always share the opportunity and invite someone.
For me it comes down to at times liking very much to go to the theatre spontaneously. I often feel like going to a show on very short notice. That of course makes going alone a lot simpler. It doesn't mean I don't enjoy planning ahead as well. And when I prefer going with others.
It's all good.
Yeah, I'm fine either way, not sure if I have a preference. Sometimes I'll wish I saw a show alone (like with Hamilton ... I saw it with my mom, and I could tell she was hating it, so I spent the first act feeling guilty for taking her to see it ... luckily she left at intermission), other times I'll go alone and wish I had someone to share it with. But there is something exciting about going alone.
Interesting point about going with someone and having it be odd if they don't like it. If I have seen a show alone, I do love going back and bringing someone along who I know will love it too!
I'm an out-of-towner and while I can usually wrangle my friend I'm staying with into seeing a few shows with me, I tend to go to most by myself. I usually set it up so that I'm meeting with friends before/after the show, but I have had many a date night completely by myself!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
When I go to New York to spend a few days seeing shows, it is next to impossible to find someone who can
1. 100% commit to a date and time weeks in advance
2. Research and consider shows and agree to see a particular show
3.Have the money to spend on a show
4. Have the ability to pay me back the night of the show.
5. Show enough interest in theater to do this more than once a year at most.
So for those reasons, I go alone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
i like this thread
thought i was the odd one out on this preference...
definitely prefer going alone for
1) much better seats
2) i tend to enjoy it more than my partner or friends
3) I sometimes visit with cast after at stage door
4) There is something about just being able to fully commit to the experience without having to be concerned about entertaining whoever you are with
5) its fun to talk to others at the theatre which im more likely to do when i go alone
I don't mind going alone and do quite often. I'd prefer someone to come along with me but not at the price of having to agree on what we're seeing or where we're sitting. Thankfully, the friends with whom I've traveled to the city the see shows have no problem splitting off to attend what interests them. It's fun to meet up again afterwards and to discuss what we each saw.
I discovered the beauty of going solo to see a show back in 1994. Though I was coming into NYC every year since I was a little kid in the 1970s, I always went with someone or a small group to see shows on Broadway.
In 1994 the friends I was with on this particular trip had NO interest in seeing shows so I didn't let that bummer my trip. Vanessa Williams was in KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, the Victor Garber/Bebe Neuwirth revival of DAMN YANKEES, the original cast of Disney's BEAUTY & THE BEAST and the Rosie O'Donnell revival of GREASE! were piping hot and I couldn't miss these.
The first treat was the vast selection of front center orchestra seats I had to pick from. The second treat was not having to deal with friends bitching or the endless "oh my God, wasn't she/he in this and isn't that the girl/guy who was in that movie?" questions every time an actor appeared on stage. I for once was able to immerse myself 125% into the show and it quickly became a tradition that to this day friends know I hate going to see shows with others so they know it's a privilege if I ask someone to join me. The rare few times.
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