How bad (or good) are the seats on TDF, in general?

[Insider2]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 5:57pm

Are the TDF seats usually the leftovers, in the worst sections, or do they seat in best available?

I know that the trade-off for the very low price is that you have to take whatever they give you, so I've just been wondering what it is, exactly, that they usually give you. Or does it just vary from show to show?

Just wondering, and thanks.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 5:59pm

I've had some of everything. Some GREAT seats and some that weren't ideal. So far they've balanced out.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 6:10pm

I've had some great seats (33 VARIATIONS, in row J of the orchestra) and terrible ones (NOVEMBER, in the 2nd to last row of the mezzanine, seats that were the same price as the D price).

[kooky]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 6:13pm

Well, like everything else you'll have to take the good with the bad.
I have been in the orchestra and the balcony ... TDF is still the greatest as far
as I'm concerned.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 8:17pm

I only recently joined and have seen two shows with tickets from TDF (33 VARIATIONS; Row H in the Orch and THE AMERICAN PLAN; Row M in the Orch). I have tickets for REASONS TO BE PRETTY and ROCK OF AGES through TDF as well so let's hope the good seat streak continues.

I'm sure with shows generally doing so poorly, now is the time to take advantage of TDF. There's a lot of great shows up there and from what I hear, recently, the seats are generally great.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 8:51pm

I've been in the first row of the orchestra and the last row of the mezzanine. It really depends on the show, the performance, and how many tickets you need. I have found that generally, my seat location is much better if I am seeing the show alone. They tend to plug singles into the middle of a row, whereas pairs are a little tougher to fit in. Again, however, it's really all at the whim of the box office worker who assigns the TDF seats for that particular performance.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 12:45am

its completely random. ive tried to figure out some sort of pattern but really- its just random.

For shows that werent particularly sold out, Ive had pretty odd seat choices. August: Osage County sat me front row all the way to the left, not ideal. But the entire mezz was empty. Not sure what that was about. Other shows sat me smack in the middle of the orchestra or front mezz even though the theater seemed entirely crowded- I'm thinking of Curtains, Spring Awakening or November.

ie you NEVER know and its definitely worth it.

that said- anyone know where they are shoving TDF for Shrek?

[mikem]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 12:48am

Does it seem to matter when you get the tickets from TDF -- if you get them way in advance, do you get better seats (or worse seats)?

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 6:52am

mikem ~ I've not found it to. I've gotten them last minute from TDF and been second row, and I've gotten them weeks in advance and then been further back or in the mezz. Just depends on how the tickets get divided up and put in the envelopes.

I will say that if it SAYS the seats may be in the mezz or balcony they almost always are, so if you're going to fuss about that, skip them. :) (I think there was ONE exception I had ~ can't remember the show ~ but I had gotten a single ticket, so maybe there was one random weird seat that got given on orchestra level. Other than that, the mezz/balcony caveat has proven true.)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 6:56am

1. you really can't beat it for the price!

2. Shrek has had a few appearances...but not many.

3. They don't have tickets terribly far in advance...so just keep checking in.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 9:16am

Ole Chum, I used TDF for Shrek a couple of weeks ago (2/18 evening). I was in the rear mezz, row C, on the aisle (I was with a friend, so they were a pair of tickets). The seats were actually pretty good. Seeing "rear mezz" is deceiving...the front mezz at the Broadway isn't huge at all, so the rear mezz starts pretty low and goes back quite a bit. I had great sight lines and could see facial expression. I checked the box office prices and found out my tickets retail at $101.50 for the that performance, so at $31.50 (before fees, $37.50 after) I certainly got a bargain.

But as someone else says, Shrek isn't up too often it appears. When they are it is usually mid-week. The week I got TDF tickets they were up for both shows on Wed and Thurs night and made their appearance fairly close to those dates (I got them about five days before, I think).

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 10:10am

SHREK is up on TDF now.

There's a bunch of good shows up there this week (although I wouldn't exactly call SHREK good...).
Updated On: 3/4/09 at 10:10 AM

[jennamajig]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 10:20am

^^I was surprised by Shrek. I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. Sure, there are far better shows out there, but for what I paid on TDF, it was definitely worth it.

This is the time of year I wish I live in NYC and could take advantage of TDF like four times a week though. Lots of good stuff up there...I think I may need to take another trip down from Boston.

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:01am

I have to disagree with Jordangirl on one point: for Blithe Spirit, TDF said that all the seats would be in the balcony, and it turned out, from what I've heard, that they were all in the mezzanine, way better than what they've said they would be. It's a total crapshoot, but given prices these days, well worth it. It's a particularly good deal for off-Broadway, where almost every seat is decent...and I'd suggest even though it's not a certainty, that getting TDF tickets for a weeknight rather than a more crowded weekend performance, you might stand to get slightly better seats. It's definitely not first come, first serve on the ordering, they just divvy up stuff and hand you an envelope. If you ask if there's anything better once you open it, 90% of the time they'll look at you like you should appreciate just getting in the door for that price (and rightfully so) but once in a blue moon, they'll check and if there's something better that's not been sold, give you an upgrade!

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:20am

April Saul, I did not say ALWAYS, I said almost always. Yes, they may well be better, but if they say you're likely climbing steps, you're likely climbing steps. Don't get tickets stating "likely in the balcony" and EXPECT mezz or orchestra. If it happens, it's a bonus surprise.

[Insider2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 12:06pm

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. Very appreciated.