Hilarious Moments on the TKTS Line

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:40am

I was seeing THE VERTICAL HOUR this past Saturday and I had a ticket to something that I wanted to get rid of so I was patrolling the TKTS line and seeing if anyone was interested.

This was possibly the best conversation of my life:

Me: Hi, are you here seeing what's offered or are you trying to get tickets to something in particular.
Random teenage girl: Yea we're trying to get WICKED.
Me: Oh, well they don't sell WICKED here.
Random teenage girl: Yes they do. They sell tickets to all shows here.
Me: Only shows that aren't sold out. WICKED is sold out into next year.
Random teenage girl: No, you must be mistaken.
Me: If you insist. Good luck.

I love when tourists wait on TKTS for the most in-demand shows. Good times.

Updated On: 11/27/06 at 09:40 AM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:45am

Don't we have "Hilarious Comments Overheard By Tourists and Audience Members" for this?

That was funny though!

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:58am

I think this should be its own separate thread because it's so specific to a location and a particular experience.

I was buying tickets to Slava's Snowshow at TKTS this past Wednesday, and the person next to me also couldn't understand why there were no Wicked tickets. Sigh...

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 10:13am

It's because people think they are entitled to get half price tickets to anything they want, if they stand in that line.

[Justin D]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 2:00pm

Honestly i still dont know why anyone would stand in that line when there is always NO LINE AT ALL at their other branch, pluss the other branch sells matanee tickets the day before, which is cool.
(Then again that was back in 2004, no clue if its still like that)

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 2:36pm

I remember when Nathan Lane & Matthew Broderick went back to the Producers and some in back of me said "this is the only place to get tickets for the Producers and they're half off. Isn't that amazing!" I wanted to turn around and tell her there's no chance in hell she'll get a ticket.

[*ClassicVintage*]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:36pm

"pluss the other branch sells matanee tickets the day before, which is cool.
(Then again that was back in 2004, no clue if its still like that) "

This is still true. Many people don't know about the Seaport TKTS, especially tourists. The tourists who do find out about it usually don't want to pay for a taxi and take that long of a ride down there. Thus- the Seaport TKTS is much better

[kasim]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:55pm

DAMNIT!!! There is ANOTHER TKTS LINE!!!

i spent an hour in the blistering cold last january for nothing!!!!!

.... grrrr ....


btw the wicked thing is funny ... hope thats NOT why they came to NYC.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 6:03pm

Some chinese tourist, who was obviously confused, went up and said "5 tickets to 'The Jersey Boys'" and the person working there burst out laughing.

[IAMWHATIAM]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 6:35pm

The Seaport TKTS is definitely less crowded, but it works slightly differently than the Times Square booth for matinees. I know from having messed up. The booth is open Monday - Saturday from 11-6 and Sunday from 11-3. You can only purchase tickets for Wednesday and Saturday matinees on Tuesday and Friday, respectively. Tickets for Sunday matinees are sold only Saturday from 11-4. On Sunday, you can only purchase tickets for Sunday evening shows.

[NJRae]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 7:19pm

So basically you have to either live in the city or be there fairly often b/c you have to purchase the tickets a day in advance? Where exactly is this booth? My sister lives by the seaport . . . maybe she should be getting our tickets there from now on!

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 8:04pm

A spoiled girl waiting on the TKTS last June likened the experience to "waiting for toilet paper in a tropical third world country." Not a traditional stupid tourist moment, but it made me chuckle when I heard it. Sometimes, especially on those hot and tourist-packed summer days, it isn't very far from the truth...

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:45pm

I just am continually amazed when there's a huge board that says what is on sale, yet they think the hottest shows on be there when they get to the window, like they know a special code or something.

[Shiksa Goddess2]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:55pm

What I want to know, is how they know TKTS even exists if they are so out of the theatre loop that they think they can get Wicked tickes super cheap and front row center?

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 10:02pm

They all know about it, they know it as the "two-fer".

I hate that phrase with a passion, lol.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 10:08pm

Everyone knows and refers to it as the two-fers. Why? 'Cause you can (usually) get two fer the price of one.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 10:10pm

I don't understand. I'm a New Yorker and I frequent TKTS but I have never once spent more than 10 or 15 minutes on line, at either location...

[Liverpool]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 10:23pm

wait, people call TKTS the two-fer?


i have never heard it refered to as that before.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 1:48am

A typical tourist might just be familiar with TKTS as getting half price tickets to any show and not notice the board with the prices on it - can it be missed? Also, not everyone knows Wicked and Jersey Boys are sold out shows, so I don't see anything that hilarious about someone asking for those hot-show tickets at TKTS.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 5:29am

Well, on first reading this thread, I also laughed and thought "My God, how stupid can people be". But thinking it over, I have to point out,that usually people on the tkts line are not as informed or passionate about Broadway like us, guys.
Because we care so much, we think that everyone else does, too. Very far from the truth !
Most visitors are told by all their friends "Oh, don't you dare go to NYC and not see a show, it's a lifetime experience". So they are doing theater, as part of the New York experience. It's natural that they are not informed how tkts works and ask for big shows they heard about, which are, of course, sold out.
And keep in mind that for uninformed people around the world, shows like Phantom and Chicago are still the big and difficult to get ones. So when they see these at the board, they naturally assume that everything is available there ! Trust me, only a handful of people here in Greece, and I suppose in many places around the world, have a clue about Wicked, Jersey Boys and Spamalot !
And then of course, there are the really stupid and rude ones...


Updated On: 11/28/06 at 05:29 AM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 5:39am

Actually Spamalot's a little easier to get since all the big names left for some reason.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 5:41am

I just used some big names for us here, that mean nothing for more people than we imagine

[AugustBurns2]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 1:36pm

Shhh!!!

Please don't spread the word about the Seaport TKTS location. When I visted New York (way back in 2002), this location was amazing with its short lines, next day matinee perfs. I would take the subway, taxis, tour bus line from Times Square and buy tickets for that night's show. Sometimes paid full price like Hairspray and Lion King, but got good deals on shows like Cabaret, 42nd Stret, Chicago (this was again in 2002).

But I agree with other comments above about the typical tourist, etc. I think it might be hard for some husbands/boyfriends to be dragged to a night on Broadway. I know my sister has her limits on musicals though she is a sport to go when she is forced to go.

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 1:43pm

Is it me, or have the lines at the Times Square TKTS been really short lately? I've bought tickets at the Seaport location many times, but I don't think the line there is any shorter than what I've seen in Times Square lately. Of course, getting the matinee tickets the day before at the Seaport is always a benefit, and I think they open earlier.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/28/06 at 1:43pm

I despise TKTS. It's great for tourists and families, but if you're living in the city, there are tons of better, cheaper, more convenient alternatives.