Seeing a show during the flea market?

[Coraline]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 3:19pm

Hello all,

I just bought my bus ticket to NYC for the weekend of the flea market, and I have a question for those of you who have been before. If I wanted to see Billy Elliot that day at 3pm, would this really affect my Flea Market experience? I care more about just being there for the random things on sale than I do about seeing specific celebrities.

Any info is appreciated!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 3:23pm

In my experience, there tends to be a lull right around mid-afternoon, presumably because people are doing just that, going to see (and perform in) shows. That's a good time to go if you don't want to deal with the crowds, but the times with the most activity are early in the morning and in the late afternoon/evening when it's all winding down. So I feel like as long as you'll be able to be there for those blocks of time, it probably won't hurt your experience too much. Have fun!

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 3:38pm

I agree with what luvtheEmcee just said.

I've gone for the past two years, and I saw shows both times (GREASE in 2007 and XANADU in 2008.) Seeing a show didn't hinder my enjoyment of the flea market at all; in fact, I probably had more fun than I would have if I had just gone for the flea market. I'm thinking about seeing HAMLET this year.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 3:56pm

I usually end up going home for a while, or to sit in the park or something because it does get sort of boring in the afternoon; you've seen everything, but haven't yet hit the point where there's that mass price-dropping free-for-all. So seeing a show should be a nice break; I might do it myself this year.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 4:32pm

Yes, there's usually a bit of time in there where they're not adding much stuff anymore and you're hungry and tired of the crowds. I usually grab an extended lunch or go home and relax for a few minutes. I'd probably see a short show, though, because I hate being away for too long.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 5:42pm

Billy Elliot is a good choice, since the theater is very close to the flea market. I'm seeing "Next to Normal." And if you want the $36.50 seats of the rear mezzanine for that, I'd buy them as soon as possible because those are always gone first. I learned the hard way back in July that you can't get those the day before.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 5:48pm

Yeah, seeing a matinee is a good idea. This way you get to check out the flea market before and after your show. You can get to see everything beforehand, and then afterwards if you stick around while the flea market it ending, they give away a lot of things for basically nothing to try to get rid of everything.

Last year, my friend and I walked around the flea market for about an hour, then did the photobooth which took about an hour, and then we went out to lunch. Then we came back for one last walk-through before finally leaving the city.

[sgv123]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 6:03pm

I will be seeing the matinee of Next to Normal as well... $36.50 :)

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 8:41pm

I saw 2 shows last year during the flea market. Hairspray for the matinee and Legally Blonde for the evening. Had plenty of time to check out the stuff at the flea market and get something to eat before the evening show.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 9:14pm

There's really no way anyone could get through all 8 hours of the flea market wandering around, so taking an "intermission" at a Broadway show is a great idea. I'd do that if I didn't live just a few blocks away.

[rorygilmo52]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 9:40pm

I'm seeing Billy Elliot during the flea market, too.

[singer73192]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 10:30pm

I'm going to see Memphis through TDF. I'll just have to step inside from the flea market.

[Coraline]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 10:11am

I'm seeing Memphis the day before! Thanks to TDF :)