TKTS Booth 101

[picturetaker9211]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:05pm

Hey everybody! I'm heading into the city tomorrow to hang out with a friend of mine, & we want to catch a show. We're thinking of going to the TKTS booth. Neither of us have been, so just wanted to know if anybody had any tips. Is later better than earlier, in terms of price? I've been reading old posts about the TKTS booth, & some people were saying that the later you go, the cheaper the ticket. I know the line is usually pretty long. What is the usual discount these days? We really want to see In The Heights, but I'm thinking that it's not going to be that discounted because of its popularity & Jordin Sparks. We're also probably not going to be the only people who really want to see it. Anyways, just wanted to learn about the booth & of any strategies/helpful tips. Thanks

[MeggilyWeggily08]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:09pm

Well, in order to help the shows make as much money as possible, they sell the most expensive seats available at the discount first. So in order to get the cheapest seat you should go as late as possibe!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:11pm

This has a list of shows that have been on the board in the past week, as well as the discounts.

http://www.entertainment-link.com/tkts.asp

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:18pm

If price is that big a factor you can ASK for their cheapest seat. It's not that the PRICE changes, just what seats are available.

[singtopher]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:20pm

I worked at TKTS for quite awhile, I have to say that it is always a crap shoot. That said, you should be just fine getting a 50% off ticket to In the Heights. Plan on paying around $65 per ticket.


ETA: To elaborate what Dramamama said, the tickets are generally released in blocks to TKTS by the box offices. The rule is they give you the best seats they have. Sometimes the person who is at the window will be nice and sell you the cheaper seats, if they have been released to TKTS.

Updated On: 8/23/10 at 10:20 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:40pm

I always go to the booth later (usually an hour before the show) because there's never a line.

[gotham girl]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:50pm

Is it still cash only?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 11:05pm

No...they started accepting credit cards.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 12:09pm

I echo showing up last minute. I don't get standing there for 2-3 hours waiting.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 12:13pm

I've always had the best luck at the last minute. I would usually check the board about 30 minutes to curtain and there would sometimes be shows listed that weren't available earlier. And no line!

[singtopher]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 12:17pm

You certainly can get a great deal later on in the day when there is no line. This is best when you're by yourself because the popular shows will get down to scattered single seats.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 12:39pm

Is it allowed for people to go to the theatre alone?

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 1:27pm

Tes, but we don't speak about it much....

[gotham girl]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 1:43pm

Dolly, i admit i was thinking the same thing.

i've never been to a show alone but i've been tempted lately since i'm having trouble convincing anyone i know to check out American Idiot with me. just thought it would feel kinda awkward.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 1:53pm

Going to a show alone is great.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 1:56pm

I love it too. Kind of fits into my traveling to NYC solo, changing my mind at a moment's notice, not worrying about stepping on other toes methodology.

And sometimes you get really lucky and the person you've never met before sitting next to you onstage at "Xanadu" becomes one of your very best friends...

[Steve2]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 1:57pm

If I waited for someone to go with me to do all the things I am interested in, I probably would do much of anything.

[gotham girl]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 3:25pm

good point, steve. ok, i might just have to try it already.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 3:32pm

I love going with other people, but also enjoy going alone, for all the reasons previously stated. You can change shows at the last minute, get better seats, find a new friend...I never understood the "stigma" of going alone. I do it all the time. Even when I go with a friend(s), we often sit in separate parts of the theater, because individually, we can get better seats than if we sat together. We aren't going to talking to each other during the show anyway. Who cares if we're sitting together?

GO for it, gotham girl. It's a highly respected tradition.

[JMPlayer6]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 4:28pm

I am not ashamed at all to admit that I go to the theatre alone. Not always, but often enough.

The fact of the matter is that, given a choice, I would rather not go alone. However, I love live theatre more than everyone I know put together. So it often boils down to two choices: (1) going alone to see something that I want to see or (2) not seeing it at all. I opt for #1.

I think that, if you are with someone, you tend not to notice those theatregoers who are there on their own. And if you are alone, you may or not not notice them, and vice versa. At the end of the day, who really cares and I've no concern about being noticed being alone---if anyone even does!

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 6:39pm

Add me to the list of people who like to go solo at the last minute. I usually show up at the booth about 7:40 and have never failed to find something I'm interested in seeing. I've been going to the theatre alone for 30+ years and, believe me, there's no stigma attached to it at all. Going with people is nice, but if nobody is interested, I think nothing of going by myself.

Now, since you asked...be a good TKTS-er and have you wallet handy when you get to the window. Nothing makes me crazy like people who act like it's a surprise when it comes time to pay and take forever to find their money.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 6:51pm

"The fact of the matter is that, given a choice, I would rather not go alone. However, I love live theatre more than everyone I know put together. So it often boils down to two choices: (1) going alone to see something that I want to see or (2) not seeing it at all. I opt for #1."

JMPlayer6, you defined perfectly why go to the theatre alone.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 6:51pm

Just seen that Addams was up on Saturday night! Hoping it is up again this week, can see it happening because of Lane being out.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/24/10 at 7:06pm

I go alone all the time and I love it.