So how do you all get your tickets?

[John4763]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 10:01am

Now that we're not on the "Broadway.com" message board anymore, I think it's safe to ask this question.

What are the options for buying tickets? I think that Ticketmaster is really terrible. It seems like it's designed for the person who can only go on one date, and doesn't care where they sit.

Telecharge is better than Ticketmaster, but the additional "convenience" charges seem way too high.

And I've never had any luck at all with the discount sites like broadwaybox.com

Do all you theatre buffs out there generally pay full price? Do you use websites, or do you just show up at Tkts and take your chances?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 10:19am

I just purchased my tickets for "Wicked" on Ticketmaster and I can't believe how difficult it is to navigate. In order to deter electronic scalpers a buyer has to type in a word that pops up on the screen. I had trouble reading the word and it took me four attempts to get the word right (because it keeps changing if you miss it.) Additionally the performance that I picked did not give me a good seat so I had to go out and try again. In addition, I was charged $9.30 in service fees. I find Ticketmaster really difficult to navigate.

[Cadriel]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 10:27am

Rule #1: Discount codes. Google for "the frugal theatergoer" (link at the end of this post). Join the Playbill Online club and the Yahoo! group theatercodes. Joining any other discount clubs will just be redundant. Also check individual show websites. (This is how I've gotten $40 tickets to Rent three times running.)

Rule #2: Call Telecharge or Ticketmaster instead of buying online. You can generally be more picky about where you sit this way. You pay about $9 for either of these, so be sure you follow Rule #1.

Addendum to Rule #2: Buy tickets at the box office whenever possible. If you have long-term plans, buy tickets when you're seeing another show (charge cards will help to disperse the pain a bit). It also works pretty well if you show up less than an hour before curtain. Be sure you have printouts of your discount codes when you do this method.

Rule #3: Whenever possible, go to see a show on Tuesday. Without exception, Tuesday is the least attended evening for any given show, and you will get the best seats. Sundays are pretty good too. Don't go on Friday or Saturday evenings. Saturday matinee you have a decent shot for.

Rule #4: It probably seems weird and anti-social, but you get a lot better seats, a lot more easily, if you go by yourself.

Rule #5: Don't see a show that's doing above 95% at the box office. Shows that are doing well don't need to sell cheap tickets; they're filling up at full price. People make a lot of hubbub about stars and such, but frankly most people who make it into Broadway shows are damn good. Wait until later in an original cast's run when the crowds have cooled off if you must see an original cast.

Rule #6: Use holidays and other hot theatre times to revisit a long-running favorite. Go to see recent shows when Broadway is in the doldrums (hot parts of summer, cold parts of winter).

So yeah. The most I ever paid for a Broadway ticket was $65 for row E orchestra at Thoroughly Modern Millie. For the most part, I pay $45-$55 for good orchestra seats.

-Wayne
Frugal Theatergoer's Guide to Discount Tickets

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 10:45am

I usually buy them at the box office. I like to have an interaction face to face with someone. Mostly always had great seats.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 11:41am

I prefer buying directly from the box office as well. The people who work in them can tell when you are an "in-the-know" person, and will sometimes do some favors for you. I have gotten some pretty good seats at low prices by saying the right things.

But let me tell you, some people who work in box offices are just nasty. The Shubert Box Office comes to mind!

Telecharge is definitely best (as opposed to Ticketmaster) if you can't go to the box office directly. The website is great, and the people on the phone are very helpful.

[Hank]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 12:22pm

I just went to ticketmaster for Wicked tickets and was offered A6-8. I would rather sit a little further back and to the center, so, as it says on the tm site "if you don't like these seats click try again", which I did 3 times and each time got the same A6-8. It's allways best to buy at the box office, if you're close by, or maybe I'll just do it the old fashioned way, by telephone, which I hate to do because they pitch you with all kinds of offers for magazine subscriptions and stuff.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 12:45pm

Great tips Cadreil! I've paid more but usually for sold outs show & you're sooo right! singles are much easier to find as a good seat.

[CJR]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 1:18pm

I think the Shubert guys only got nasty during the whole 'Bernadette was out so we need to give everyone their money back' fiasco. They were always lovely when Chicago was there.... and actually, if you wanna talk nasty box office people, the guys at the Ambassador are ruuuuuude. lol

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 5:10pm

I have suggested to Rob that we have a special feature on this site for discount coupons. However, he's as busy as he is good-looking. All in time, I'm sure.

I usually get my seats by standing on the TKTS line. If there's a show I absolutely MUST see I buy them at the box office because I hate those service charges that are tacked on my TicketMaster. Broadway.Com was the worst. Did they add a 15% service charge?

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 5:22pm

There are many ways to ferret out discounts.I joined a few discount clubs and I go two to three times aweek. next time your at a Broadway show or especially Off-just talk to the person next to you and you may just learn a thing or two- that happened to me.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 5:48pm

I usually go by myself or with only one other person if it's a local production. Better seats, as someone said.

If I'm going out of town, it's cheapest to pair up or third up (if that's a phrase). Split the hotel bill and it all works out.

[lass]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 6:05pm

The last time I tried to use Ticketmaster I couldn't get the seats I wanted on a particular day so I changed to a different day. Imagine my dismay when I got tickets for the same show two nights in a row! Getting a refund was a nightmare. In addition, the site is down late at night when I'm more likely to be on line.

It'll be TKTS for me or have a friend get rush tickets from now on!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 6:08pm

Ticketmaster is SUCH a pain.
Telecharge is better
Box Office is the best.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 6:11pm

The whole less is better idea for ticket buying isn't necessarily true. I was checking out the ticket inventory for Gypsy this July, and everytime I put in 3 tickets rather than 2, I always got seats that were no less than 2 rows in front of the tickets for 2.