Random and Spontaneous Trips to NYC- Page 2

[MotorTink]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 8:57am

What is "TDF" if you dont mind me asking?

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 11:33am

Theatre Development Fund.

Though I didn't know it was something you could be a member to. How does that work?

[ashley0139]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 11:47am

I live in Boston, and haven't done the spontaneous trip yet, but I may soon. I have done one planned trip in but we didn't have any tickets when we got there so we did that last minute.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:05pm

I live in South Florida (Miami), and do these last-minute "I'm bored of South Florida, let's fly to NYC this weekend" treks several times a year. Been doing so for over a decade, so it's the norm with me.

Knock on wood, but I've seen EVERY show I wanted to see -- sold-out or not. Cancellation tickets always can be had, just for the waiting. Never waited more than an hour and half, so I've been lucky. Never done the TKTS thing in my life and have tried 'rushing' on 4 accounts, with no luck.

Cancellation tickets have never failed me.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:44pm

My commute to the city is about 2.5 hours (90 minute drive, hour on the train) and I have done the spontaneous trip thing many times.

One Saturday morning last May, I asked my brother if he wanted to see RENT as a late birthday present, so I went on Ticketmaster and bought tickets for that evening's performance, and we left for the city around 3 PM.

Last spring, I used to do spontaneous trips to the city and go to TKTS. I always timed the commute so I would get there around 3 PM, when the booth opened for evening performances. I saw so many shows that way - Fiddler, Altar Boyz, RENT, La Cage - and I pinpoint that time period in my life as the beginning of my Broadway obsession.

I love spontaneous trips to the city! It's risky not planning anything - or planning last minute - but it's always exciting, rewarding, and worth every penny.

[liotte]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:54pm

With the exception of maybe 10 shows a year, I think all the shows I see in NYC are last minute, day off choices. Love rush and lottos and SRO, that's why I go to shows so often.

I buy tickets for rare things, like the first preview of Tarzan, first preview of Les Miz, and all the out of town shows I go to. And I buy tickets in advance for final shows, when someone in the cast is leaving or the show is ending.

[beachbum]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:26pm

Hey BrodyFosse123... aren't those jetblue and song (though that's no longer) flights out of south fl to NYC the best when you get tired of the south fl life! I can catch one of those flights and be in the city in about three hours!

[WickedRentEder]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 2:56pm

Honestly? Not really! I work in the city and live about 30 mins out so when I'm done w/ work, I just want to go home and I'm too lazy on the weekends to get up early. Besides, I rarely ever have the money for a show it seems. Maybe someday, but for now, no!

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:41pm

I WISH! Though I suppose living in the UK makes it a bit of a long shot. I've made quite a few random trips to the West End over the years and always managed to get to see good shows (though never through TKTS: maybe I'm too much of a snob)! Have even got some great last-minute seats through the ticket agencies without having to pay over-the-odds. You just have to be prepared to do the legwork / be patient.

Having said that, my next trip to NY is going to be based on trying my luck for cancellations / SRO / lotto for Avenue Q, The Colour Purple, A Chorus Line, Wicked, Spelling Bee and The Drowsy Chaperone. Wish me luck!

I really WISH they had lotteries in the West End.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:44pm

TIGGO, make sure to include Hairspray on your lotto list. Good luck on all counts!

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:59pm

SNLMedia: Thanks for the recommendation and the good wishes. I'll probably need to have a few shows in reserve just in case and Hairspray is actually one that I'm considering.

Cheers!

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 4:39pm

My situation seems to be closest to that of the original poster. I have a 30-40 minute Metro-North ride to the city--a trip I love to make when I have the time and money. I began making spontaneous theatre trips this summer when I was commuting to a course I was taking downtown. Armed with an unlimited train ticket for July, I was able to save my Saturdays for trying matinee rush/lotto.

Sad thing is, though, I rarely have time for that anymore--I've been swamped with work and haven't made such a trip since August. Since then I've been saving up a ton of money, so I'm hoping to get back into the "spontaneous theatre trip" game in earnest sometime soon.

[FeelingElectric]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 6:12pm

Yero, if you fit TDF's criteria you can join for $25 a year. It is an incredible deal that pays off with the first show you see.I am sorry I didn't join sooner.You can find out all the details here:

http://www.tdf.org/index_default.html

[lite2shine]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 6:35pm

I live in California so of course I cannot do a spontaneous trip to NYC - not now. BUT in 12 years my house will be paid off and the mortgage money will become spending money for me, then I will trip frequently to NYC, London, Europe, Asia, South America, etc. etc..

[liotte]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 6:37pm

Forget NYC, I should make a trip down to Florida!!

[beachbum]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 7:28pm

liotte... just hop a jet blue flight and you'll be here in a few hours, trade broadway for the beach!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 10:29pm

Yeppers, beachbum -- JetBlue is actually my carrier of choice, with the occasional Continental Airlines when I want to just do the basic 'first class' elusiveness which JetBlue doesn't offer, unfortunately.