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How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?

How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?

musicaltheatrefan3 Profile Photo
musicaltheatrefan3
#1How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:07am

I make a decent amount, but I don't see more than about 9-10 shows a year on Broadway, because I simply can't afford it. I always see people who are like "oh, yeah so I went to see "..." for the 14th time but it was the first time I saw soandso and on the same day I saw ... for the 20th time". How do you do it?

Wanna Be A Foster Profile Photo
Wanna Be A Foster
#2re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:08am

Rush, lotto, comps.


"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

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orangeskittles
#2re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:09am

I thought you were going to bed.

I don't think anyone here actually pays full price.


Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how

heathurrr
#3re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:09am

TKTS, lottos, discount codes.


"As we all should probably have learned by now, to be a Stephen Sondheim fan is to have one's heart broken at regular intervals" - Frank Rich

Dearest, how can this be so? You were dead, you know. - Candide

Oh my god, this show has everything! Half naked guys and girl on girl action! - [title of show]

(My avatar? Why, yes! That is Laura Benanti making out with a chick!)

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StuckToTheStage
#4re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:09am

There are a ton of ways to get discount tickets.

The lotto, rush, and comps like Wanna Be A Foster said. Plus there are discount code sites like broadwaybox.com


"Maybe you could teach me how to LuPwn? No, that seems like something only a bitter delusional queen could enjoy." -JoeKv99 on the remarks of TooDarnHot

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millie_dillmount
#5re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:10am

I do rush and lotto or just buy the cheapest seats.


"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
Updated On: 6/5/08 at 12:10 AM

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givesmevoice
#6re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:10am

living in the area also helps, because it saves you a ton of money on travel and hotels. I know not everyone on the board lives in the area, but those who do can theoretically go to shows more often.


When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

Trekkie2
#7re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:11am

We sell our blood and organs.


"I think of avant-garde as downtown shows where you rub waffles and chocolate on yourself."- Hunter Bell

rewritemystory
#8re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:13am

Some of the time: I can't.
That's why I must give up other, less-essential things...Like food.

musicaltheatrefan3 Profile Photo
musicaltheatrefan3
#9re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:15am

Oh, ok. Got it. By the posts, it made it seem like everyone (well the majority) on here are millionaires or have millionaires single-handedly support them. My mistake. I have only used TKTS once, but I am going to use it more.

I booked:

The Music Man - 2001 - Broadway.com
Wicked - 2004 - Through a group trip
Boy from Oz - 2004 - Broadway.com
Wicked - 2004 - Ebay (they were good though)
The Lion King - 2004 - Day-of scalper (NEVER WILL I DO THAT AGAIN)
A Chorus Line - 2006 - Broadway.com
Mary Poppins - 2006 - Broadway.com
The Drowsy Chaperone - 2006 - Broadway.com
The Phantom of the Opera - 2006 - Broadway.com
Legally Blonde - 2008 - TKTS

I'm gonna use TKTS a lot more this year

LizzieCurry Profile Photo
LizzieCurry
#10re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:15am

Bananas.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/23/1042911490087.html


"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

JB Fan
#12re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:16am

I am very rich.

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jpbran
#13re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:17am

PS- Some people make more than you (or your parents).

millie_dillmount Profile Photo
millie_dillmount
#15re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:19am

No wonder you can't afford shows more often. You book through Broadway.com.


"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

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bythesword84
#16re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:20am

If you're really using Broadway.com you're completely out of your mind. What they charge on that site is ridiculous.


And hang on, when did you win the discus?

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LizzieCurry
#17re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:21am

Barnum was right...


"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

musicaltheatrefan3 Profile Photo
musicaltheatrefan3
#18re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:21am

Sorry, I just found out about alternatives to Broadway.com and scalpers about a year ago.

DrewBill
#19re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:21am

I usually pay full price. But I am fortunate enough (and thankful) to be able to afford it. But like you, I have often wondered the same thing. Broadway is expensive.

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luvcaroline
#20re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:29am

We saw 5 shows this weekend, and paid full price for only one (Gypsy). Incidentally, by some good fortune we were in the first 5 rows for every single show (something that I could get very used to....)
Updated On: 6/5/08 at 12:29 AM

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Marianne2
#21re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:31am

Be lucky that you can do that. Not all of us are fortunate enough to be able to even see 9-10 shows a year. Granted, I don't live in NYC, but I would kill to see more than 1 or 2 a year. Actually, I did not see my first show until last year either because it was a birthday present from my parents. I also got some tickets as a Christmas present this past year from 2 of my sisters. I paid for discounted with the last show I saw. And finally, in 3 weeks I will be sitting in one of the last 3 rows for 'In the Heights' because I don't want to risk not winning the lottery, and it's a safer bet. Plus, the tickets were only $30.


"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005 "You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy. Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates

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LizzieCurry
#23re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:04am

I didn't see a show on Broadway until last year...but I'm not turning that fact into a trophy of pity.


"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

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Eris0303
#22re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:52am

I've paid full price for a show once in my entire life and I nearly always get pretty decent seats. Thank heaven for Broadwaybox.com. If I lived in the city or closer to the city I'd do TKTS more but I really hate making the trip without already having a ticket. If, for some reason, I can't get one I just blew $20 on the trip to NYC.

"We sell our blood and organs"

Eggs, plasma. Whatever they're buying.


"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".

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wonderfulwizard11
#23re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:53am

I don't see many shows a year (normally one or two), but when I go, I buy the cheapest seats possible, if no discount code is available (or I'll use both if I can).


I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

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frontrowcentre2
#24re: How do you guys afford to see all of these shows?
Posted: 6/5/08 at 3:35am

IF you have a limited budget WHY would you see a show multiple times at the expense of everything else playing? That makes no sense to me.

Bear in mind that some people here claim to have seen shows multiple times that they have, in fact, never seen even once. Read some of theenchantedhunter's posts for an example of this. But do take advantage of discounts, papering services or befriend a theatre reviewer. They normally get a pair of comps for a show and sometimes cannot find anyone to use the 2nd seat: Sad but true.


Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

Updated On: 6/5/08 at 03:35 AM


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