TDF worth getting?

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 6:59pm

I'm a full time student and wondering if getting TDF was worth getting. Any input would be great. Mostly where are the seats located and how much do discounted tickets cost? Thanks.

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:01pm

DO it! Best 25 bucks I've ever spent. I've saved hundreds of dollars.

[logan0215]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:02pm

Yes.

Most tickets are $20-30 and the membership is $27.

If you use it 5-6 times for the year its paid itself off and you have a guaranteed ticket rather than having to worry about Rush or Lotto. My tickets have never been bad. Spelling Bee I was on the side next to the orchestra 6th row, Year of Magical Thinking I was in the mid-Mezz.

Another TDF question:

Does it go a year from when you purchase? Mine expired at New Year's this year but I know for a fact I purchased it after that time.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:04pm

Yes, it's worth it, although unpredictable - you need to keep checking the site and be ready to have an open schedule (not really recommended for those who don't live in the area.)
Prices are usually low (depending on the show), and you don't find where your seats are until you get to the theater (it's like a Kinder egg surprise!)

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:05pm

It's definitely worth it. I've had orchestra level seats at Broadway shows before and with the prices of those, ONE show pays for the cost of it.

As for the whole ending thing...I don't know. Mine didn't end at the end of the calendar year. At least I was never charged for membership again and I'm still a member.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:06pm

Does it go a year from when you purchase? Mine expired at New Year's this year but I know for a fact I purchased it after that time.

Do they even check? I think it's been two years without a renewal for me and still works.

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:08pm

Mine will be a year in July.... I guess we will see!

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:09pm

I honestly forget when mine started. LOL. Maybe I should check that out.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:11pm

I know the requirements are a student or union member. What union? Is it just like equity members? Or can members of other artistic unions join too?

[logan0215]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:16pm

Do they even check?

I don't follow...

I'm unable to access the website as my membership expired.

[dave1606]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:16pm

what shows have been on TDF lately? just curious.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:22pm

Members of ANY union can join. I'm UFT (teachers' union) and that was accepted.

edit for typo. I CAN type...just not when I'm frozen.

Updated On: 2/29/08 at 07:22 PM

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:37pm

oh ok, Cause i wasn't sure if i would be able to. I really want to cause it seems like a great thing, but being AFTRA i wasn't sure.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:39pm

When I was joining, I was trying to decide if I should do educator (jumping through hoops to get the DoE id card), student for another year and then change, or union. I'd thought it was only entertainment unions based on what some people here had said, but I emailed them and asked and they said "Any union in any industry."

I LOVE it! :)

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:52pm

Awesome, I jsut joined. Now i need to make a copy of my AFTRA card and mail it to them. COOL. I'll DEF be using this.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:53pm

Yep! If you have a scanner, you can scan it and email it to them. :) They take them that way too...or they did.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:58pm

yeah i don't.


How are seats usually, especially for the broadway shows? are they decent or are they crapy side and rear seats with terrible views?

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 8:01pm

I got another question-- how far in advance can you get the ticket(s)?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 8:14pm

Personally, I don't think its worth it anymore.

Back when I became a member - eons ago - the tickets were cheap and the seats were great.

As the years moved on, the prices started to trickle upwards. Now, a ticket to a Broadway show costs roughly $40 (that includes their service charge), and the seats aren't very good.

My classic story - they sat me in the 3rd to last row of the Imperial for August: Osage County. $35. The row behind me, with the same sightline, was $25. Same with November. For $35, they stuck me in a row which normally cost $45.

Off-Broadway is usually better. For $25, I had a great seat for The Receptionist. But I had nearly the exact same seat when I saw The Receptionist with the papering organization I belong to. Updated On: 2/29/08 at 08:14 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 8:22pm

I've had center orchestra seats, side, but not really partial view seats, and decent mezz seats. I don't think I've ever had really crappy seats (granted I'm not really a seating snob). Usually if they know they're going to be balcony they say so.

As far as how far in advance, it really depends on the show.

Updated On: 2/29/08 at 08:22 PM

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 8:50pm

I had the subscription for one year. I used it once, and the seats were terrible. Did not choose to rejoin this year for obvious reasons. When I was a member, there were not that many good choices on there, it was mainly full of off-broadway stuff that I truly had zero interest in.

[logan0215]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 8:58pm

Well I'll put it like this:

I certainly don't have the money to buy full price tickets to basically any show.

It is also nice to have tickets to a show at some point in the future (as opposed to running your ass off to try and win SOME rush/lottery or take what TKTS has).

For this alone, it is nice to have TDF.

With my membership I saw Spelling Bee, Year of Magical Thinking, A Chorus Line and the Receptionist and was able to PLAN for these in advance rather than running around day of.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 10:17pm

With regards to the union thing...I'm a teacher, and all they asked for as documentation with me was a copy of my pay stub (I live in NJ and teach in a non-union charter school, for what it's worth). I never had to send any kind of card or anything.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 10:21pm

I am not renewing mt TDF membership when it expires this March.. I get cheap-o tickets like $20.00 on Roundabout & $27.00 on INH....I ended up seeing all the shows...I need to cut back on it...

J*

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 10:34pm

Ah to be young enough for hiptix. LOL. If only...

Updated On: 2/29/08 at 10:34 PM