Seeing shows by yourself- Page 2

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 12:31pm

theaterdarling said: "couldn't help but comment and try to encourage you JudyDenmark to enjoy going to a movie alone."

Thank you for this! It's one of those things that I feel like I should do... and then laugh at myself for ever feeling weird about it in the first place. Maybe I'll venture out this weekend. I do live in NYC so there are more than enough options of theatres and showtimes. 

 

[Patty3]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 12:52pm

I usually go see plays myself. Most of my friends/family who like theater prefer musicals. Each season I usually send out a list of things I want to attend to friends and see who wants to join me. This year I am going to Beetlejuice (in DC), King Kong, and Kiss Me Kate with friends. I am going to Lifespan of a Fact, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Ferryman by myself.

A funny story - I'm a history buff and was excited when I heard about Hamilton at the Public but of course they were sold out. I played the lottery every day with no success. When the transfer to Broadway was happening I asked everyone I knew if they wanted to see it. No one was interested so I got a ticket and went by myself a month after they opened on Broadway. A few months later I had everyone who turned me down calling me to ask how I got tickets. There was no problem getting tickets when the Broadway run first went on sale - I had my choice of seats. I was glad I saw it when I did and didn't wait because no one wanted to go. Often when I go by myself I am seated next to someone else who is there alone. I've met some great people and had many interesting conversations.

Updated On: 9/14/18 at 12:52 PM

[irishgator1]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 1:00pm

Guess I'll be the odd (wo)man out and say I don't really like doing things, including shows, alone.  Maybe it's because I'm a twin and I always had someone around. I certainly don't think it's creepy, by any means, though. I'm quite shy and often find it awkward to make small talk with strangers.  When I travel to NYC for work, I see shows solo, but it's not my preference.  I like to cuss and discuss the show with my friends.  When I saw Sweeney Todd, I did the pie dinner and I was the only one at my table solo. A father-daughter pair was sitting right across from me and they barely acknowledged me. It was awkward.  I will say, though, that while I completely enjoy going with my husband, I often find myself worrying whether he's enjoying it, and in those cases, it would be much better going solo (or with my sister!).

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 1:48pm

I go alone to most everything, and I usually enjoy it. The best theatrical experience I ever had was seeing Einstein on the Beach in Los Angeles - it was a five hour train and bus ride down, the show was four and a half hours, and then I had to wait until two in the morning at Union Station for the bus back. It was like climbing a mountain by myself, totally exhausting and exhilirating and I can't possibly imagine having done that with someone else. Sometimes, the act of totally immersing yourself in your own experience is its own experience.

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 1:51pm

I almost always go by myself because it’s easier to get tickets on the fly, work out your timetable, eat, go to the stage door, etc. I don’t have to worry about the pacing of things because someone is slowing me down.

That being said, I’ve been organizing groups of my friends (we are a gay and trans men’s college fraternity and a lot of us live in the NY Metro area) to shows that we are commonly interested in.

The first time we did it was BOYS IN THE BAND and it was a raging success, so now we are slated to do TORCH SONG in February.

[ilysespieces]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 2:27pm

Count me in as another who sees shows by themselves the majority [if not all] of the time. I will see the odd show with others (my mom really wants to see Network so we're seeing that together, and I'm seeing Kiss Me Kate with a friend because we saw it together on a 6th grade trip and it felt right to see it together again) but I prefer to go alone.

 

In addition to the reasons others laid out, I enter a lot of lotteries and it's way easier to plan it around my own schedule and not have to worry about getting a date for the night. Especially because my husband really isn't a live theater fan.

[scripps]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 3:30pm

Given ticket prices today, even at a discounted or rush rate, it is a lot to ask a friend or family member if they would like to catch a show with me. I often go to the theatre alone and have been doing so for about 20 years now, as I have my priorities and understand that those I know have theirs. I will absolutely invite or treat friends and family to a show I know they will enjoy, but often I save movie going as something to do in pairs or a group.  I actually just went on a solo trip to Paris this spring and enjoyed myself greatly. I got to do everything I wanted to do and no one could say otherwise! It was quite liberating :) 

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 4:51pm

I never realized there were so many other people who love going to shows alone. I do it all the time. It's certainly nice to be able to discuss the performance with someone else after, but generally, the convenience of going solo is too good to resist. I control the date, the parking, the seats, etc. I just pop into the city, grab an inexpensive bite to eat, enjoy the show, and head home, singing as loud as I want in the car. 

[JBC3]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 6:33pm

I detest most of the human race so seeing shows by myself minimizes my direct exposure to them.

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 6:35pm

While I love seeing theater with friends and family, I go alone all the time. I can’t imagine missing what could be an amazing experience simply because no one else wants to join me. If I followed that, this past year alone I would have missed out on the experience of seeing Angels in America, Once On This Island, Sweeney Todd, My Fair Lady, The Boys in the Band, and Three Tall Women, not to mention Network while I was in London. And I’ve met people at the stage door or in the theater I may not have otherwise struck up a conversation with had I been with a group. It can be so much fun. I have a trip with friends to NYC planned for March and I’ll be there alone a few days before they arrive to take some shows in solo. I’m looking forward to it.

[NievesG]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 7:49pm

As much as I love going with friends and family, I have to agree with the sentiments of the majority of the posters on this board. The recent revival of AIA is an example. I got to see it twice (one alone and once with a friend) but some things are so intimate and personal that it helps to just be you and the work presented to you. I also work a fairly odd schedule so I don't have a typical weekend so I often go to shows mid-week which works better in terms of trains and general city traffic, especially for weekday matinees. The only thing I don't enjoy doing solo is a pre or post show meal but I'm sort of getting used to it and I have some places that I frequent now. 

I don't usually see shows twice alone, though, since I enjoy getting other opinions and experiencing it with someone who hasn't seen it. But sometimes, getting two tickets is hard especially with LincTix since I don't have any of my friend's membership information readily available. Happily, I've gotten to see MFL and The King and I, albeit solo.

[geoffreyC]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 7:55pm

I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird.  A matinee sure.  Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not.  

[ilysespieces]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 8:03pm

geoffreyC said: "I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird. A matinee sure. Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not."

So do you just not go out alone after 5pm? To use your word, that's a "weird" line to draw. 

[Glittergrrl]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 9:40pm

I go alone about half the time. I prefer to go with someone, but I kind of like going by myself too. The girls at work are always shocked when I go alone. I actually find it kind of empowering. I always get a bite before the show, because I like to eat. I sit at the bar. I’m just more comfortable at the bar.  I just realized I’ve never gotten a table alone at a sit down and order off the menu type place... maybe I’ll do that next time. It’s good to step out of your comfort zone.

[BOM]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 9:59pm

I love seeing shows by myself as much as I love seeing shows with friends and family. Chances are I make conversation with the people sitting next to me. I did however just see Dear Evan Hansen last Saturday night and the couple to the right of me were making fun of me. Not sure what that was about. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 10:22pm

I do most things alone including eating out, Broadway and off-Broadway and touring shows and international travel. Maybe it is because I grew up as an only child, but it just doesn’t bother me. I’m not against doing these things with others, but only if it enhances the experience. I just got back from another overnight trip to Tulsa (from OKC) to see Wicked solo (I saw it solo twice last Thursday as well - matinee and evening performance). But I’m taking one of my best friends up see Les Miserables next Sunday as a belated birthday present to her. I usually eat solo because I tend to decide to eat out at the last minute. And not everyone would want to see the same shows I do or could keep up with my schedule (I saw 9 shows during my 7-night trip in June) or would want to. Most of my early touring shows were with my parents when I was already an adult. Now that my dad is deceased and my mom has dementia and doesn’t even recall going to those shows, I cherish those memories. So I’m not asocial. I just don’t limit my choices in life due to being single.

Updated On: 9/14/18 at 10:22 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 10:36pm

BOM said: "I love seeing shows by myself as much as I love seeing shows with friends and family. Chances are I make conversation with the people sitting next to me. I did however just see Dear Evan Hansen last Saturday night and the couple to the right of me were making fun of me. Not sure what that was about."

I’m sorry you were mocked. That’s inexcusable. That says more about them as human beings and nothing about you except that you are probably awesome. 

That reminds me of an opposite story from my November NYC trip. While eating at the front table at E&E Griilhouse (how I miss that place - sad it closed) before I saw Hello, Dolly! I started chatting with a couple at the bar. When his wife went to the restroom, he told me he envied me for traveling to NYC alone. He said he loved his wife, but sometimes he would like to travel and just do what he wants to do. 

[geoffreyC]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 11:25pm

ilysespieces said: "geoffreyC said: "I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird. A matinee sure. Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not."

So do you just not go out alone after 5pm? To use your word, that's a "weird" line to draw."

I know.

[Lot666]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 2:03pm

geoffreyC said: "I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird. A matinee sure. Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not."

I don't mean this to be offensive, but your comments make you sound very insecure. What about being alone in public in the evening makes you so averse to it?

Updated On: 9/18/18 at 02:03 PM

[Helodfan]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 3:47pm

I travel to NYC often for work, so generally see shows by myself.  I much prefer it that way.  The problem is I have a husband who doesn't think we should do things separately.  I'd much rather prefer to go to the things I want to see by myself, and not waste money buying him a ticket when I know he won't enjoy it.  The problem is he doesn't like to do things by himself, so will either drag me to see something he wants, or he won't go at all.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 3:48pm

Lot666 said: "geoffreyC said: "I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird. A matinee sure. Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not."

I don't mean this to be offensive, but your comments make you sound very insecure. What about being alone in public in the evening makes you so averse to it?"

Although, I have no problem see an evening show by myself, I can kind of see what geoffreyC, means about dinner.  As I had stated, I can do about anything by myself, but I don't like eating by myself.  If it is a casual place or fast food it would not bother me, but a nicer place for dinner I just wouldn't, unless I had to.  I feel at a fancy dinner place, is the most obvious time people would judge you.  I say to myself that I don't care what people think, but in reality, to some degree, we all care.  Just don't get caught by me, talking about me, then I'll let you have it.

[geoffreyC]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 3:51pm

Lot666 said: "geoffreyC said: "I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird. A matinee sure. Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not."

I don't mean this to be offensive, but your comments make you sound very insecure. What about being alone in public in the evening makes you so averse to it?"

So when someone answers in a way that does not align totally with the majority of the comments, they must be weird or insecure?  I did not say being alone in public.  I specified a sit-down restaurant (not fast food) and the theater.  Believe me, they are not really that glad to see you by yourself at an upscale restaurant in the evening, for various reasons that I will not go into.  As for the theater, it is an odd and kind of sad feeling (to me) to be sitting by yourself amongst couples and groups out for an evening's entertainment.  As for your totally "inoffensive" comment, it is not insecurity but personal preference.  Try to understand this concept.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 4:06pm

Dining out doesn't bother me - nor does time of day.   I do, I admit, tip better when I'm alone - to try to make up a little bit for being a singleton.   

I don't really see the difference (theater or a meal) whether it's the afternoon or evening - but to each his own.  

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 4:30pm

One time I was alone and won the Mormon lotto, and pretty sure was the only person in the front row who hadn't won as a pair. I had the first seat in the aisle , and the guy next to me, there with one of his kids, chortled and said, "Ya leave yer husband at home? Ha!" I just gave him a Phylicia Rashad-style icy smile and said no.

[Br0adway]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 4:33pm

I’ve always done stuff by myself. Probably because I’m an only child and none of my family has same interests as me. I’m not going to miss out on things I want to see just because someone doesn’t want to see it too.

Going by myself allows me the freedom to eat where I want, buy front row orch seats, determine how long I want to stage door/if I want to stage door, when I get to the city, leave the city, and much more. I have two solo trips coming up at end of Sept and mid Oct and I’m looking forward to them!

Going with friends is great but sometimes I just don’t feel like hearing them complain about everything. When I go by myself, I can’t complain!