Physical tickets and stage door as of late

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 11:54pm

I'm curious if shows have the ability to print tickets once again. I'm wondering if the only option is digital or if there is someway for a physical ticket.

As well, have shows returned to any form of stage door and if so, are some more readily participating than others?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 12:02am

All theaters CAN print tickets, however some box offices will lie and say they can’t or act like it’s the absolute hardest most time consuming thing in the world for them to do. Just tell them it’s what you want and they’ll do it. 

[Phillyguy]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 12:50am

I was at the box office for Life of Pi yesterday and he asked if I wanted paper tix or email. I was a bit surprised since I didn’t even know that’s still an option. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 1:20am

A couple months at the Lyceum I told him I needed paper tickets because my friend might be late and I needed to give him one and we had this entire back and forth about not printing tickets and why can’t i just forward him a barcode and eventually I just told him in the time we’ve been arguing about this, he could have printed off tickets to every seat sold that evening so just give me the damn tickets I spent a couple hundred bucks on. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 7:14am

I buy most of my tickets through TDF and am always handed paper tickets at the box office. The one time I was given digital ticlets was when I won a digital lottery for THE MUSIC MAN.

[defenses]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 7:39am

I haven’t had an issue getting tickets printed at the box office. I usually tell them I’m having some sort of tech issue and can’t access my digital tickets. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 8:22am

Re: Physical Tickets

The only time I’m guaranteed a physical ticket is if I go through TDF or I do an in-person rush. If I purchase online (regular or digital lottery/rush), it’s digital tickets. When I buy at the box office, most theatres have asked me if I want either.

Re: Stage Door

Mileage may vary. A majority of the shows I’ve been to as of late seem to have it in some form or another. Actors have the option (as they always have) as to whether or not they want to sign. Some just dip out quickly and wave and others will stay and greet/sign quickly. In general, crowds do seem smaller with some notable exceptions (Take Me Out and Chicago with Jinkx Monsoon being two of them).

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 8:52am

NO one should be stage-dooring right now. Remember how Matt Doyle had covid? I'm not saying at ALL that's how he got it, but right now is cold and flu season AND Covid is still around. Stage dooring should not be a priority. I don't get why people want to wait outside only to see performers wave. Yes, some of them may be signing, but only because there are people out there who are completely disregarding the signs on the stagedoors that LITERALLY say performers won't be stopping. If you need something signed you can send a self addressed stamped envelope to the theater, and I promise you'll be okay without a selfie. Those waiting at the stage door think rules don't apply to them. I know I've most likely said this before, but come on. Stage dooring should not be your priority. 

 

RE: Paper tickets. Mobile tickets are one OPTION. If you rush on say, todaytix, you will not get paper tickets. If you win a lottery, you will not get paper tickets. If you go to the box office, maybe day of you will, but before that, I've had tickets emailed to me. It's truly not a big deal. Breathe y'all. :) 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 9:11am

hearthemsing22 said: "NO one should be stage-dooring right now. Remember how Matt Doyle had covid? I'm not saying at ALL that's how he got it, but right now is cold and flu season AND Covid is still around. Stage dooring should not be a priority. I don't get why people want to wait outside only to see performers wave. Yes, some of them may be signing, but only because there are people out there who are completely disregarding the signs on the stagedoors that LITERALLY say performers won't be stopping. If you need something signed you can send a self addressed stamped envelope to the theater, and I promise you'll be okay without a selfie. Those waiting at the stage door think rules don't apply to them. I know I've most likely said this before, but come on. Stage dooring should not be your priority.



RE: Paper tickets. Mobile tickets are one OPTION. If you rush on say, todaytix, you will not get paper tickets. If you win a lottery, you will not get paper tickets. If you go to the box office, maybe day of you will, but before that, I've had tickets emailed to me. It's truly not a big deal. Breathe y'all. :)"

“Breathe y’all?” Nobody is asking a life or death question, the OP was simply asking. Considering your long winded and, quite frankly, kind of rude post, maybe you should breathe. :) 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 9:25am

Good Lord. That was a screed and a half…

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 9:29am

n2nbaby said: "hearthemsing22 said: "NO one should be stage-dooring right now. Remember how Matt Doyle had covid? I'm not saying at ALL that's how he got it, but right now is cold and flu season AND Covid is still around. Stage dooring should not be a priority. I don't get why people want to wait outside only to see performers wave. Yes, some of them may be signing, but only because there are people out there who are completely disregarding the signs on the stagedoors that LITERALLY say performers won't be stopping. If you need something signed you can send a self addressed stamped envelope to the theater, and I promise you'll be okay without a selfie. Those waiting at the stage door think rules don't apply to them. I know I've most likely said this before, but come on. Stage dooring should not be your priority.



RE: Paper tickets. Mobile tickets are one OPTION. If you rush on say, todaytix, you will not get paper tickets. If you win a lottery, you will not get paper tickets. If you go to the box office, maybe day of you will, but before that, I've had tickets emailed to me. It's truly not a big deal. Breathe y'all. :)"

“Breathe y’all?” Nobody is asking a life or death question, the OP was simply asking. Considering your long winded and, quite frankly, kind of rude post, maybe you should breathe. :)"

Not rude. Just being honest and telling the OP what they should expect. That's all. :) Don't like my blunt and honest answer? Block me hun. That's all :)

Updated On: 2/10/23 at 09:29 AM

[veronicamae]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 11:55am

People asking about stage dooring is true catnip for hearthemsing22. They absolutely cannot resist having a soapbox moment about the choices people make and make it known that they will judge those people for their choices. lol

Anyway - for paper tickets, just go to the theater early - preferably mid-day when there's no show going on - and you'll get the least friction when requesting paper tickets. Some folks print them without issue, some are weirdly argumentative for being asked to do their job. Not sure why printing a few dozen tickets compared to a thousand every day is such a chore for that staff now, but alas.

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 12:32pm

All theatres will print out paper tickets.  SeatGeek and Ticketmaster seems to be automatically defaulting to digital entries, vs leaving tickets at Will Call or having them mailed out.  I don't own a cell phone, and most of the theatres were perfectly fine with printing out the tickets when I got to the box office the day of the performance.  Was there in May of last year, saw 18 shows and got my paper tickets for all of them.

When I was there in November, the guy at the window at Radio City for the Christmas Spectacular, wasn't very keen on printing up the ticket.  Had to get the supervisor, who gave me grief.  But, they ultimately printed it out.  No theatre will turn away a patron simply because they don't have a cell phone.

And, what if you forgot your phone, or the battery is low, or it's broken, or can't get a signal?  The box office would have to print it out.  

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 12:34pm

The absolute weirdest stage door experience I’ve seen, maybe ever, was randomly “& Juliet” a couple weeks ago. I was in the alleyway there with a friend just talking for a bit when the show got out. We noticed about half the cast coming out to sign and the others being very vocal about “I’m sorry we cant sign anything because of Covid” and then proceeding to just stand there hanging out shoulder to shoulder with people in a very crowded area there, but. It signing for people right there asking.
 

Now again, if they don’t want to sign then that’s absolutely their right but saying they can’t because it’s a health thing and then spending 10 mins around those people who are waiting (and I’m talking a good 10 cast members or so) was confusing to see. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 4:25pm

veronicamae said: "People asking about stage dooring is true catnip for hearthemsing22. They absolutely cannot resist having a soapbox moment about the choices people make and make it known that they will judge those people for their choices. lol
 

LOL I truly do not get why some people on these boards think because...they have been here longer? That they can be so incredibly rude about others voicing their opinions. You don't get a free pass to judge, or make comments like that. I have asked several times, that if you have a problem with me, block me. What is so difficult? It's not amusing to constantly berate me for what I say. I'm not saying I'm innocent, but my God enough already. 

 

Anyway - for paper tickets, just go to the theater early - preferably mid-day when there's no show going on - and you'll get the least friction when requesting paper tickets. Some folks print them without issue, some are weirdly argumentative for being asked to do their job. Not sure why printing a few dozen tickets compared to a thousand every day is such a chore for that staff now, but alas."

Yes, because staff has an endless amount of resources to print tickets. Is it a chore for people who are able to, to use their phones? I understand wanting physical tickets especially if two people are coming at separate times, but try to understand the box office staff and what they have to deal with already. What is so hard about empathy? 

This superiority complex some of you have needs to go away. You're not better than anyone else, you can't just say whatever you want. And just because I say this does not mean I need to get off the boards, so don't bother with that BS. 

Updated On: 2/10/23 at 04:25 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 5:09pm

hearthemsing22 said: "but try to understand the box office staff and what they have to deal with already. What is so hard about empathy?"

Having worked in a box office for years, I can state for a fact that reprinting a ticket someone purchased is by far one of the easiest and simplest things you can do at that job. It literally takes 4 seconds.

 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 5:51pm

hearthemsing22 said: "veronicamae said: "People asking about stage dooring is true catnip for hearthemsing22. They absolutely cannot resist having a soapbox moment about the choices people make and make it known that they will judge those people for their choices. lol


LOL I truly do not get why some people on these boards think because...they have been here longer? That they can be so incredibly rude about others voicing their opinions. You don't get a free pass to judge, or make comments like that. I have asked several times, that if you have a problem with me, block me. What is so difficult? It's not amusing to constantly berate me for what I say. I'm not saying I'm innocent, but my God enough already.



Anyway - for paper tickets, just go to the theater early - preferably mid-day when there's no show going on - and you'll get the least friction when requesting paper tickets. Some folks print them without issue, some are weirdly argumentative for being asked to do their job. Not sure why printing a few dozen tickets compared to a thousand every day is such a chore for that staff now, but alas."

Yes, because staff has an endless amount of resources to print tickets. Is it a chore for people who are able to, to use their phones? I understand wanting physical tickets especially if two people are coming at separate times, but try to understand the box office staff and what they have to deal with already. What is so hard about empathy?

This superiority complex some of you have needs to go away. You're not better than anyone else, you can't just say whatever you want. And just because I say this does not mean I need to get off the boards, so don't bother with that BS."

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 6:02pm

I have all of my Broadway tickets dating back to the mid 1990's stored in a baseball card folder thing, so I was quite worried when they stopped automatically giving papers tickets after the pandemic. I asked at every show I went to and most theaters just printed it without saying a word to me, but the Majestic and the Booth staff both acted as if it created piles of extra work for them. It was kind of funny though to watch them whine and throw a fit so much and then still take two seconds to print the ticket out. 

However, now I just print out the email with the ticket and cut out the ticket info and put that my ticket book. It doesn't look as attractive as the real ticket but I guess this is where the world is going and I've decided that my crusade is not going to be keeping paper tickets alive. 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 6:27pm

Reading thoughts on BWW and other internet sites is more welcoming when the author avoids using “YOU” in their sentence structure.

Instead of posting an attack of “You shouldn’t eat so much chocolate on Valentine’s Day,” it’s friendlier to write “lots of chocolate is eaten on Valentine’s Day.”

[kdogg36]

Posted: 2/11/23 at 10:18am

hearthemsing22 said: LOL I truly do not get why some people on these boards think because...they have been here longer? That they can be so incredibly rude about others voicing their opinions."

[...]

"You're not better than anyone else, you can't just say whatever you want."

As mostly a regular lurker these days, I don't think you're a bad person or poster, but you lack a bit of self-awareness about how you approach those you disagree with, as demonstrated by the contradictory quotations above. I would try not to be judgmental about what others write (unless it's extreme), and others will mostly do you the same favor. I've certainly been on all ends of that when I used to post more.

[veronicamae]

Posted: 2/11/23 at 10:53am

hearthemsing22 said: "LOL I truly do not get why some people on these boards think because...they have been here longer? That they can be so incredibly rude about others voicing their opinions. You don't get a free pass to judge, or make comments like that. I have asked several times, that if you have a problem with me, block me. What is so difficult? It's not amusing to constantly berate me for what I say. I'm not saying I'm innocent, but my God enough already."
 

You're just as rude about other people and their opinions.

hearthemsing22 said: "Yes, because staff has an endless amount of resources to print tickets. Is it a chore for people who are able to, to use their phones? I understand wanting physical tickets especially if two people are coming at separate times, but try to understand the box office staff and what they have to deal with already. What is so hard about empathy?

This superiority complex some of you have needs to go away. You're not better than anyone else, you can't just say whatever you want. And just because I say this does not mean I need to get off the boards, so don't bother with that BS."

What are you even talking about with this "they don't have endless resources to print tickets"? Please go into specific detail with first-hand knowledge of how box office staff spends their day and these resources to explain how printing tickets on-demand, which has always been part of their duties, is somehow infringing on their rights and lacking empathy.

Also, if you can say whatever you want about others, why can't we say whatever we want about you?

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 2/11/23 at 11:22am

hearthemsing22 derailing a perfectly acceptable thread, to get up on a soapbox about something?

Must be a day ending in Y.

[Lot666]

Posted: 2/12/23 at 12:03pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "hearthemsing22 derailing a perfectly acceptable thread, to get up on a soapbox about something?

Must be a day ending in Y."

Block User is your friend.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/12/23 at 7:11pm

I have worked in and have friends that currently work in box offices and their day is busier than you think. And you evidently do not know why "printing tickets on-demand" is not their only job and how and why that has changed now. It is not the person at the window's decision not to print you a ticket "on-demand". That comes from higher up. So if anyone has a problem with it, arguing with or being mad at the box office person isn't going to change things. It is what it is. So cut them some slack. If you get a printed ticket, good. If you are told no, then let it go and know that person is just doing their job. I asked a few of my friends after reading through this thread about it and they said they don't like having to tell people no, but there are evidently reasons behind it.

Regarding leaving digital tickets for someone who is late, I freaked out when I couldn't get back into a venue auditorium after a bathroom run because the tickets were on my date's phone. They finally let me in. When I told him he had me pull up the ticketing app and he used the share option. I have since used it to send a ticket to someone and it worked out just fine. And people have been sending people copies even before the shutdown when there wasn't as much of a push to go digital.

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/12/23 at 7:18pm

All of NYC is in the green zone right now, so low community spread of COVID. Stage door restrictions could be loosened a bit, for now.