PLEASE help me organize my show tickets for my trip !!!

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 8:32pm

Hi all ! I need a big favor and I know that I can count on you, guys ! Please be patient with me.
OK, as some of you know, I am finally coming again to NYC on April 4-20. What I need, is your help with how to get the best tickets for my shows !
I am a guy who plans ahead, but I ned your feedback ! I am already searching online on Ticketmaster and Telecharge, but I want YOUR opinion before booking !

Let me start! Keep in mind that there's gonna be two of us, so I need two tix for each show except WICKED and i am NOT interested for Premium tickets ! And I don't think Lotto and Rush are options, because of the time restraint and chance factor ! Also, I prefer Orchestra seats !

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN : Book now whatever places I can get or wait till few days before, so I can snatch leftover premium seats ? How safe is that, though ?

JERSEY BOYS : I think it's a given I should book now, right ?

THE LITTLE MERMAID : Well ?

WICKED : I will probably book now, but I only need ONE ticket, so it's definetely easier !

CATERED AFFAIR, CRY BABY, HAIRSPRAY, AVENUE Q, XANADU, RENT, CHORUS LINE, LEGALLY BLONDE : Wait for BroadwayBox offers, or maybe try tkts for some !

So, start posting, brothers and sisters. Every opinion counts !

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 9:24pm

All those options are viable...you should get tix now for the shows you most want to see, that are somewhat difficult (ie Jersey Boys, YF). As someone who has ushered for many decades, I can tell you that MOST shows are NOT that difficult to get, if your'e a little flexible. Don't believe ALL the HYPE, but if your time is limited and you KNOW you'll be disappointed if you don't score EXACTLY the tix you want, by all means visit Telecharge, etc. But the TKTS line is always there. Save some $$$$ on ridiculous service chgs. by being more flexible if you can. Good luck!

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 9:58pm

Thank you tiny ! 48 views so far and you are the ONLY ONE, who bothered to say something ! This board used to be A LOT more helpful in the past !

OK, wonderful and caring BWWers, forget I asked ! Sorry to bother your from your 96th post about the strike and whose side are you on and of course your trashing of the other side !

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:22pm

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN: If you show up at the box office three hours prior to curtain, you will most definitely be able to snatch up a pair of front center orchestra seats for $121.50 a piece.

JERSEY BOYS: Definitely buy them now. I'm not familiar with the exact sightlines far back in the August Wilson Orchestra, so maybe someone else can be more helpful location-wise, but I do know that once you reach a certain row in the Orchestra the set begins to be obstructed by the mezzanine overhang, so keep that in mind.

THE LITTLE MERMAID: It's hard to say at this point since we're still in previews. Hold out until next month to see what reviews look like and any impact they might have on sales.

WICKED: Since you only need one ticket, if you really want a great seat, you could definitely just wait and get a great single seat on the cancellation line on the day of the performance, and avoid all of those nasty Ticketmaster service charges for a seat that definitely won't be as good.

A CATERED AFFAIR, CRY-BABY, HAIRSPRAY, AVENUE Q, XANADU, RENT, A CHORUS LINE, LEGALLY BLONDE: Wait for BroadwayBox discount codes. You most definitely will be able to get discount seats from TKTS for HAIRSPRAY, AVENUE Q, XANADU, RENT, A CHORUS LINE, LEGALLY BLONDE, and most likely A CATERED AFFAIR.

But here is the main question you should be asking yourself:

How much time do you want to be spending on your trip trying to get tickets? All of this takes some work. It may be worth it for you to buy most of your tickets online in advance with BroadwayBox discount codes (for those that will have them) and pay the service charges, so all you will need to do on the day of the performance is show up at the theatre 30 minutes prior to curtain, and the rest of your time can be spent enjoying the city.

The whole ticket searching game can be frustrating and stressful, and at times disappointing. I would say, though, that if you know how to play the game, 95% of the time it works out in your favor, and you end up with great seats to the show you want to attend for a discounted price, but it's up to you regarding how much time you want to devote to the process.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. Feel free to PM me as well.

Best of luck planning your trip!

[jazzicat]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:41pm

Hey Greek no need to be hostile. I think the issue is that you said April. Most people on here are more than happy to help, but this is a holiday week and people are thinking of their families and turkey and who knows what the situation will be in April. No one is at that point right now. Book what you can now, but hold out to check the TKTs booth and broadway box. Or plan other aspects of your trip-- there are many non-theatre related threads about cool places to eat, shop and thrill-seek in nyc! Happy planning.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:44pm

I always seem to do well with Theatermania. I always get good seats. And on discount. I agree that you should order way ahead for Wicked and Jersey Boys. You said "well" after Little Mermaid. If you have any interest in seeing it, I say go ahead. I saw it here in Denver and enjoyed it.

[bkonbroadway]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:56pm

I agree with Foster...it all depends on how much time and money you are willing to spend on getting tickets. I have seen the majority of these shows for under $30, but I was able to be flexible with time. Are these the only shows you want to see between April 4th through 20th? I so, I think it is certainly doable to go without getting advanced tickets for most of them. If you are willing to hang around one day for a few hours and try the lotto for Wicked and if you don't win get cancellation tix, you may end up paying 1/4 of what you would have paid if you win. If you don't win and get cancellation tix, you still win b/c you didn't pay a service charge online. However, I know what it's like to KNOW you have tickets, instead of rushing around hoping you will get something. But sometimes my biggest dissapointments have turned into better experiences. I probably lost some kind of lotto the day I saw The Coram Boy and it was my last choice, but I ended up LOVING IT and it closed shortly after. Glad it worked out like that! And now I am rambling, but I simply couldn't not post b/c I didn't want to be another person to read your thread and left you hanging by not posting! I have a guilt complex, I think. Good luck!!

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:56pm

Your'e welcome. Also, I forgot (in my previous answer); TUESDAY, WED, THU night are much easier to get than weekends (generally speaking), and the best locations are usually on those performances. Also, if a show has an unusual perf. date, like MONDAY night, or SUNDAY EVENING, that's easier to score, also. Front mezzanine is actually sometimes, I think better than orch. for big musicals. Better panoramic view. But make sure you specify FRONT mezz. Always have at your disposal a NY Theater seating chart (Stubs), when ordering tix on-line or in person. I have been screamed at a million times by patrons who THOUGHT they had "good" seats, but were not paying attention when ordering. Remember to be ADAMANT, but NICE to TKTS personnel, Telecharge, Box Office people.
They will try to rush you, but it's YOUR hard earned $$$$, so have several different dates. shows and locations on a piece of paper, so you don't get flustered and upset, if the sellers are in a bad mood. Preparation, knowledge and FLEXIBILITY are very important. Good luck.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:04pm

You should make a chart with every show you want to see, and when tickets are available so you don't miss out on one show because you had tickets for another.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 6:13am

Thank you all for your help !!!

jazzicat, I wasn't hostile, just sad, because I know that BWWers can be really helpful and couldn't understand why not so in my case.

Foster, a big THANK YOU !!! Basically, my biggest concern was YF. The seats available right now are, naturally, way on the side, but if you think we'll be able to get great leftover premium seats, that's definetely worth it !

I will be very flexible, that's why I want to book early for only 2-3 shows now and I am looking for Tue to Thur for very popular shows. I can pay full price, but why not save some money if i can, through discounts and tkts ?

If lotto is not hard for RENT, AVENUE Q and HAIRSPRAY, I may try it.

And I definetely have lots of non-theater related plans ! It's my pal's first time in the city and I am eager to show him why it's the greatest place on earth for me !

Finally, what makes me optimistic about getting good tickets is that, I think, early April is not a very crowded time, tourist-wise, right ?

Updated On: 11/20/07 at 06:13 AM

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:34pm

bump

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 1:57pm

Expand your horizons - see a play.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 3:21pm

early to mid April is perfect. The weather is going to change and be nicer, most of the new shows will be previewing, it's BEFORE the Tony noms, and the huger tourist crowds are later in the spring and summer, however, now, the city seems an all year round tourist destination.
Don't FORGET work to WALK AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS LIESURELY, TO GET A FEEL FOR THE REAL CITY. iE: Chinatown, the West and East Village, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Astoria (great Greek Food), Chelsea (newish art nabe), Harlem, Central Park...

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 4:00pm

tiny, trust me, there's gonna be an awful lot of walking involved ! I have been to most of these great neighborhoods and places you mention , but it's a given, that I will show to my friend all the wonderful sights that New York has to offer !

And Marc, I love plays ! But, Athens has a thriving theater scene of about 80 theaters, that consists 90% of plays (classical, contemporary, modern, you name it) ! So, I prefer to see musicals when in NYC, because it's something that I can't see where I live, especially in that scale !

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 8:03am

OK, then I would say see "A Catered Affair" and, if it actually happens, "Gypsy" - Patti LuPone in this role should not be missed.