What defines a Broadway tourist to a Broadway regular.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:00pm

Some people on the board live from Cal. to the U.K but they might not consider themselves a tourist.

The definition of broadway tourist to me,, well to be blunt, they see a show and that's it, over and done with, and moves on in life and could care less if it closes or whatever. OR They might have unrealistic expectations. and just because someone lives in NYC doesn't mean they are NOT Broadway tourists"

A regular to me would be someone who goes to those unpopular shows, plays, Benefit concerts, Gala's or the Tony's. Not really based how many shows you see but your intentions and such.

If one who lives in DC goes to NYC 6 times a year. Just for Shows, are they a regular?

If one who lives in NYC but only see 2 shows a year based on advertising hype, are they a" Broadway" tourist?

What is your opinions that make them a theater regular? or "just" a theater tourist?

Updated On: 10/21/08 at 09:00 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:04pm

I live in the tri-state area, but not in NY, and I don't really consider myself a tourist. I go to NYC on numerous occasions throughout the summer when I am home. I actually had an internship there the past two summers. I try to see as many shows as possible. So, I don't really consider myself a tourist. I've actually thought about this before too.

[NGD2225]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:05pm

I don't think tourist status should be decided on how many BROADWAY shows you've seen. I for one have only seen 2 BROADWAY shows but have seen numerous tours. If I would to go to the city to see shows I wouldn't call myself a Broadway tourist.
Updated On: 10/21/08 at 09:05 PM

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:06pm

I guess a BW tourist is one that sees a BW show as part of the NYC experience - the cruise, the museums and a bw show package. A regular who be one who is able to frequent BW shows (possibly living in NYC or taking annual trips in). Someone who actually knows about musicals but don't get to frequent BW, I think it merits a new category.

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:06pm

If you go to see a show like "Wicked" or a Disney show, and you don't really follow theatre, but you see a show like that anyway, then you're a tourist, IF you are visiting New York for the other attractions there. I don't think it's possible to live in NY and be considered a tourist. Also, the number of shows you see has nothing to do with it. If you live far away, you might only have the opportunity to go to New York once, and if you are a theatre fan, you will probably take advantage of that and see shows. Tourists are usually not major theatre-lovers, although they will see shows because they are "names" (Wicked, Disney shows, possibly Hairspray, anything based on a movie). Sorry that I didn't give a REAL definition, but that's what I came up with.

[Broadwaynerd101]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:07pm

I thought the title said terrorist at first.

Don't know why!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:11pm

Now me, I'm definitely a tourist--in fact, I've only been to New York one time in my short life so far. But I'm a big fan of Broadway,I'm always going to touring productions, my iTunes account has about four songs that AREN't from cast recordings, and one of the main reasons why I belong to this site is so I can stay current when it comes to what's going on in the real theatre world. So I wouldn't say a tourist is necessarily someone who "see[s] a show and that's it, over and done with, and moves on in life and could care less if it closes or whatever."

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:12pm

I wont call you a tourist schmerg.. you are too insidery and abreast with the world of MT :P

[sally1112]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:22pm

What if you go to NYC once a year for three days and see four or five shows? You stay in a cheap hotel so you can see an extra show, and you don't care if you see any other parts of the city, except for a gay bar or two after and before your shows?
Not that that is what I do or anything...

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:22pm

Depends. I live in New Jersey 12 miles away from the city and I don't consider myself a tourist. I am normally in the city an average of 2 or 3 times a month. But I think you familiarity with the shows plays into it. So if you are on Broadway Forums you are not really considered a tourist. Now I sometimes go to shows with my mom who does not know much about the shows but I don't consider her a tourist to Broadway.

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:24pm

I think knowledge of BW is a chief determinant

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:30pm

I'm like you Schmerg, I've only been to NYC once (for my graduation gift) and could only afford to see one show. I see the tours that I can but since I'm an 18-year old living in Texas trips to NYC can't happen often. But I don't consider myself a tourist either because I have a ton of recordings on my iTunes, I stay up to date on what's happening on Broadway, and look up as much as I can online about shows.

I wish I could afford to go and see BW shows all the time but I can't. =[

[bundy5000]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 9:30pm

Maybe throwing in Broadway newbie, or Broadway amateur .....
i guess we all have our own judgments.

Sometimes I am arrogant enough to think "I followed this show for a long time unlike all these tourists, and they don't know squat."

then again I myself might be a tourist. You can see picking up Sociology and Psychology classes, clearly is making my brain hurt.

[CMU_bway_lover]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 10:46pm

As a play on words...I go to NYC solely to see shows (visiting my sister is a pretense). In essence, I go to tour Broadway, so I am a Broadway Tourist.

I don't know you can really say that knowing a lot about b'way but not seeing shows can classify you as a regular. That is akin to saying you are a movie buff if you read a lot of movie reviews but don't see the movies. Reviews/ articles are all good and well, but is like watching a youtube video since you only get an impression of the performance and not all the subtleties from seeing it live. Tour shows are never the same as seeing it on Broadway since the staging is different (face it tour sets are always pared down) and tour casts, while having some excellent actors doesn't compare to seeing the 'A-team' cast. You can be a theater fan and still be not considered a Broadway regular, in my opinion.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 10:51pm

I've never even been to NYC to see a show, so I'm not even at the level of Broadway tourist.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 11:09pm

I think what makes someone a Broadway regular is, ironically, their ease and interest in exploring theatre not on Broadway. And I'm not talking about just Altar Boyz or Stomp or the Blue Man Group or something else that's been running forever.

Interest in shows at the Public, Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, MTC, St. Ann's Warehouse, or any of the hundreds of other non-profits in city shows you are interested in theatre and the theatre community itself rather than just a casual tourist picking out shows at TKTS. I think Broadway regulars can be from anywhere.

That plus the typical tourist signs: Subway confusion, hesitation crossing the street, freaking out when a celebrity walks by, eating anywhere in the Times Square area, etc.

[george95]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 11:10pm

I would say a Broadway tourist is anyone who must spend a night away from home in order to see a show on Broadway.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 11:36pm

A Broadway tourist has been defined...someone who sees a show to see a show. A Broadway regular is obviously someone who sees shows to see and be a part of the theatrical community.

And if you live outside the city, you eventually become more of a visitor to the city, rather than a tourist.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 10/21/08 at 11:52pm

Just out of curiousity, where would *I* fall? Now, I live in "Suburbia" NY, yet I'm in-and-out of the city with various projects, and so far this year, I've seen thirty-one shows...
Updated On: 10/21/08 at 11:52 PM

[CockeyedOptimist]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 1:02am

But isn't there a difference between a NYC tourist and a Broadway tourist? Some of your definitions fall more into the category of NY tourist (i.e. eating in Times Square--which I happen to do just because it's convenient and I'm not picky about my food, getting lost on the subway, not crossing, etc.). I'm from the Philly suburbs (about an hour and a half from NY) and go into ny at least once a month, and see a show pretty much every time I'm there...but I hardly consider myself a tourist (of either ny or broadway). I think a Broadway tourist is someone who isn't immersed in the theatre scene--whether in or out of New York--and only sees the big-name shows & knows little about them. Tourists are like the people who take pictures in Times Square or go to New York to see different sights there (and maybe even ride one of those annoying red bus tour things). Non-tourists would go into the theatre district just to see their show, ignoring all of that other stuff. It isn't so much knowledge of the city, but the purpose for actually being there, if that makes sense.

Updated On: 10/22/08 at 01:02 AM

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 1:05am

Have you been to the new TKTS booth?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 1:14am

Depending on things, I've gone through phases where I've seen up to 5 shows a week for 4 weeks in a row.

I just don't think there's a way to define it. A regular is someone who knows theater. A tourist "wants to see a musical when in New York".

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 7:31am

This thread could take a turn on Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a Redneck if . . ." So, I'll start . .

You might be a Broadway tourist if . . . your BWW name is BroadwayTourist.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 8:07am

I live in Harrisburg, PA. I go to NYC almost every weekend to see shows. I see Wicked ALOT,some Disney shows and other shows also. What would that make me? Other than CRAZY...lol.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 8:22am

I am 34 and have been into Broadway my whole life.

I go to NYC 2-3 times a year and stay for a week = or - depending. There isn't much in the Broadway community that escapes my knowledge.

I don't live there, but I frequent the City and have seen many many many shows. I don't consider myself a tourist, I'm a regular