Met Opera, OT-ish: is it hard to move to a better seat during intermissions?

[thtrbear]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 11:45pm

I seem to remember being stopped by an usher once at the door to the orchestra seats. Thanks for any responses!

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:55am

I've done it. The key, as with any seat-moving operation, is to act casual, and know EXACTLY where your going. I like to stick in the same section I'm in, or it gets too complicated. Scope out empty seats at the beginning of the show. Have back-up locations incase someone is running late. This method has only failed me once or twice, and usually because someone is running ridiculously late. If you get caught, my favorite method is glancing at my ticket and then realizing: "Crap! I'm in the wrong row. This is for 101 T, I thought it was 101 I! Sorry." And then scoot before the usher can escort you. But that's a back-up plan.

The Met has this amazing thing on their website that shows a potention ticket buyer every available seat in the house. Take a screen shot (on a mac, command/****/3) of that map with you. it's not foolproof, but it's immensely helpful.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:59am

I have done it a couple of times when I was in SRO for the orchestra. It is harder to do if your in the family circle standing room due to the fact that there is an usher there the entire time. They make it clear at least up there that standing room is standing room and your not allowed to move.

I have done it for Broadway shows before. Hell, I remember the first time I did lotto for Hair I kept looking at an empty seat in the first row right at the end on the left hand side. Considering that it was empty during act one, I moved there during intermission. But, the mindset of a lot of the ushers on Broadway is that they don't mind you moving so long as you do it at intermission.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 10:06am

The screenshot of the auditorium isn't exactly the best method to go by because just before curtain those seats are given to the performance manager to use at their discretion to handle seating problems and relocations.

Also, remember that audience members get locked out of the auditorium at the top of each act, so if you see an empty seat somewhere during the first act the person who has that seat could easily be watching the show in List Hall and will enter the auditorium during the first intermission. You wouldn't believe the number of people that end up in one of the TV lounges or List Hall each performance.

[thtrbear]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 6:20pm

Thanks guys for these thoughtful responses!

I'm still wondering though: do ushers tend to check tickets as people come back into the AUDITORIUM (not the building) after intermissions? And do they officially stop people from moving up "during intermissions" if the ushers are able?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 7:36pm

They are instructed to do so, but whether or not they actually do so is on an individual basis.

[NGeorgiaBwayFan]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 8:03pm

From my very limited experience at the Met, there seemed to be very few seats empty during the times I've been there, but I did notice last Monday night that several people who were leaving after the second intermission that were giving there tickets to people in the dress circle standing room which I thought that was pretty decent.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 8:18pm

I remember my voice teacher telling me how she would pay for a ticket either in the orchestra standing room or family circle standing room, then walk to the front and look at the orchestra pit acting like she never saw something like that before and using it as a way to find an open seat. And, JUST as the lights were going down, she would grab an empty orchestra seat.


NGeorgiaBwayFan, I had a similar situation to you awhile back. I went to see Boheme at The Met and there was an understudy on for Mimi. Apparently there were a couple of opera buffs who went to see the lead and were upset that she wasn't on. When I stepped outside for a smoke they gave me their tickets when I told them that I was in SRO. Despite telling him that I only needed one he said take two and give it to someone else who is standing.