Pardon my complete and total ignorance...

[shpants]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 9:57pm

...but how exactly does TKTS work? I've always just bought my tickets ahead of time via the interweb (for fear of losing out completely) but have an upcoming trip to NYC and am wondering what I should know ahead of time!

Thanks!

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:06pm

You go wait on line and when you get to the window tell them what tickets you want and you get them for a discount.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:10pm

fairly simple really:

Any shows that have a certain number (or percentage) of unsold seats send them to the office for same day sales at a steep discount.

Problem 1: you can never be sure what shows are available from day to day or even performance to performance

Problem 2: you need to be willing to give up a pretty big hunk of time.

Basically you get in a line before the box office opens and wait. And wait. Bring a friend, something to read or just be willing to strike conversation up with fellow line neighbors. Once the line STARTS moving, it goes pretty quickly. By the time you get to the front of the line you should know what you will be asking for. (There are signs that tell you WHAT shows they have available for that performance.)

Expect to wait and dont expect customer service.

[shpants]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:11pm

hm. okay thanks.

As you may imagine, that didn't really provide me with much. Where is it? How long is the line up/wait usually? Is every show available to purchase?

Any advice/helpful hints would be appreciated. need not post sarcasm, thanks.

[shpants]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:13pm

Thank you dramamama. I posted at the same time and didnt get to read your reply. Thanks again!

[Marianne2]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:17pm

It is located in the center of Times Square, I believe at 46th or 47th street, I think. Someone else might be able to help with this better. You'll see a giant staircase there though, and it is right under that.

[heo1128]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:18pm

There are several TKTS locations, one in the heart of Times Square (giant red steps, you cant really miss it) and I know there's one in Brooklyn in the Brooklyn Bridge area, but I don't know where the other locations are.

Depending on where you live, you might also want to look in to a TDF National Membership (the same company that runs TKTS). If you're a "full time teacher, full time student, union members, retirees, civil service employees, staff members of not-for-profit organizations, performing arts professionals, members of the armed forces or clergy", and live more than 100 MI from NYC, you can get a TDF membership for $11 and get tickets to some shows for around $30.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:22pm

It's between Broadway and 7th Ave as they converge between 46th and 47th St., also known as Duffy Square.
Once you get to TIMES SQUARE you will find it.
All but the Huge hits, WEST SIDE STORY, JERSEY BOYS, WICKED usually appear during the week, the weekend can be slimmer pickens.

TDF is one of the best investments I have made, but I live here. Updated On: 4/13/09 at 10:22 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:26pm

There is also a booth downtown by the South Street Seaport. It opens earlier (11AM?) and sells matinee tickets a day early.

[karen24]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:34pm

I just wanted to add to this that I don't know if it's really necessary to get in line hours before it opens. The theaters send tickets over until close to curtain time, so it seems to me that you have just as much of a chance getting seats to a show closer to curtain time than hours before. For an 8:00 curtain I might get in line around 5 PM and then still have plenty of time to go to dinner before the show. Of course, during really busy holiday times you might want to get in line earlier.
Also, I don't think anyone mentioned that there is a lit-up sign there that is continuously updated with the available shows and how much of a discount is being offered. It's really good if you can arrive with several shows in mind that you'd like to see, so you can make a decision quickly once you get there and see what's available.

[singtopher]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:35pm

If you're not terribly picky about what you see, the line is usually pretty short around 5 or 6 pm. That way you don't have to wait forever. However at that point your options will be less abundant, and the seats may not be the best. Wicked, Jersey Boys, South Pacific, WSS, and Billy Elliott, and The Lion King are pretty much never available at TKTS (at least in Times Sq.) Mamma Mia, Phantom, Hair, In the Heights, and God of Carnage have been available sometimes, but more often than not (at least in the past couple weeks) they are not there.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:48pm

I agree. getting there later in the afternoon is fine.
But look at the electric signs for availability.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 12:27am

http://www.entertainment-link.com/tkts.asp for a table of recent shows they have had.