Why Stand in Line if You Have a Ticket? — Page 2

I agree that the real problem is only having one or two people scanning tickets. If they only open the doors 25 minutes before and a show is popular, how in the world can it be expected to start on time?

^I believe 30min is mandated by the unions. Plus, 30min has been the tradition for years, and it never seemed to be a problem.

Personally, I like to get there 5-10 min before curtain. I don't like to sit and wait, and I don't like reading the playbill extensively before the show. I keep that for the subway ride home.

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This thread is silly. Just don't go on the line if it bothers you. Don't get to the theatre at half hour if it bothers you. The people groaning here seem to be the ones who go 5-10 minutes before the show anyway, so, I don't know, just point and laugh at the people who show up early if you think it's ludicrous.

~Steven

I personally like to get to the theatre 5 minutes before curtain. I just don't like sitting there waiting for it to start. I'm usually on an aisle seat or one in also so I don't bother people already sitting(plus I can make a quick getaway during the show if I have to use the restroom). If I'm in the middle of the row(which only happens if I win a lottery) I will get there earlier so I don't bother people that are already seated.

Most of the shows I see are close to being sold out or completely sold out and there is gonna be a line to stand in if there is say 1500 people going in and only 1 or 2 ticket takers. That line will last at least 20 minutes also especially if people don't have their tickets out and ready to scan.

That exact thing happened at Next to Normal last night. I showed up around 7:20 for a 7:30 show and there was a long line. The ticket taker at the door was yelling at people to have their tickets ready so they could get everyone through and seated before curtain.

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Most shows start 10 minutes late too, so it makes those who go there early even more angry. Live and let live-if it gives someone peace of mind to line up an hour before the show, I say go for it. Who knows, there may have been a point in their past where they were late for curtain and vowed to never let it happen again.

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I agree that the main reason for the line seems to be that there are so few ticket takers (and sometimes the house opens late, making the problem worse), so there is a bottleneck of people trying to get in and a resultant line. The reason the line didn't happen decades ago is because there were more ticket takers back then.

I would not be surprised if an awful lot of people get in line because 1) they want to use the restroom before the show -- this is probably a factor more than many people think, since there are few public restrooms in the area; 2) they want to get inside because they want to sit down (there is nowhere to sit outside most Broadway theatres); 3) they are used to the theaters "back home," which have a nice lobby area to hang out in, sometimes with tables and chairs; 4) they are excited about coming to a Broadway show and want to make sure they are on time and also want to gaze around the theater and take it all in.

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Updated On: 5/24/10 at 09:30 PM

I agree, there's really no problem here. I'd rather see people lined up early than rushing in late.

Most of the time I like to go in early. Go to the bathroom, get settled in, and share in the excitement with whoever I'm with as we anticipate the time when the show starts. If I'm by myself or depending on who else I'm with and what I do before the show, I might go in 5-10min. beforehand to avoid the line.

Updated On: 5/24/10 at 11:05 PM

I show up at X:58 for every show, walk right in, sit right down, and read the playbill at intermission (or on the subway ride home). I'm thankful all the tourists showed up 45 minutes early so that there is no line to get in right before curtain.

What's the problem?

I'm not arguing with that. But I will say that I don't get dressed up to go the theater. I go multiple times a week most weeks and just don't see the point to get all gussied up to go and sit in the dark for a few hours. If it's a special occasion it's always nice to do so but to go and see a random show, what I wear to work is just fine if I head over there afterwards.

Some people are not regular theatre goers, so they assume the theatres will be larger and probably assume they can wander about before the show only to realize the theatre is small. Also, I am able-bodied, but even so, sometimes finding the restroom can be a major hunt, often going up or downstairs, so for older patrons they may need the extra time. It must be a slow newsday for stories like this to be written.

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But as you said Yero, sometimes you grab a drink or browse a store. Half an hour to kill is not the same as the people who are lining up for the show as soon as lottery drawings have ended. I don't expect everyone (or anyone...) to be fascinated by the giant ads in Times Square, but if someone has over an hour to waste standing around, why not go for a walk, or sit at the tables in Times Square or go to one of the 50 Starbucks in the area and use their bathroom? Especially the parents with children, who are already so bored after an hour of standing in line that they won't sit down and shut up once the show starts.

I don't see this happening anywhere near as often at shows in previews or plays without celebrities as it does at Phantom, Mamma Mia and The Lion King. Regular theatregoers manage to get into theatres in an orderly fashion on time without standing around all night waiting for the doors to open.

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Updated On: 5/25/10 at 12:27 AM

I ditto everything Steven just said!

There's nothing wrong with wanting to get to the theatre early, and get inside early. But why do you have to line up to do that? Get there when you want, walk in when you want. I love milling about outside, but the lines have taken that away. Now, you either have to get there early and wait on line or get there at the last minute to avoid the line. I remember waiting in front of a theater for a friend about an hour before curtain, as that was our meeting place and we were going to get a cocktail at a nearby bar, and some tourist lady walked up to me and said "is this where the line starts?". No one else there, she just wanted to be at the front of the "line". I just told her "you're here early enough, you'll be the first one in, and you already have reserved seats." I've also seen situations where there is a huge line going in one door, but there is another open door that no one was using and you could just walk in. It made the people waiting on line look like a flock of fools.