should it only be STUDENT rush tickets?? — Page 2

I totally understand the using an expired id card. It's not really fair but whatever. This person is complaining that they can't see shows for cheap because they are not a student. If his/her id card doesn't work then she's kind of out of luck. I understand why she WANTS the ticket prices to be lower to people who are struggling but broadway is a luxury. You don't need broadway to live. If you're so strapped for cash that you can't spend 50 bucks at TKTS or TDF, get a part time job and save up for what you REALLY want to see. The producers have no responsibility to the public to provide cheap tickets. Student rush is generous.

I'll just say this carolynagirl. When you're out in the real world and experience what it's like to have true debt without mommy and daddy footing the bill. And have MORE expenses than you know what to do with. *I don't know if this describes you but I'm using it to make a point* You will have to basically give up your ability to see shows in NYC on any sort of a consistent basis. I think that if you have a student ID in any capacity you should be able to purchase a student rush ticket, unless otherwise noted with an age restriction at each particular box office.

The misconception that people who have their degree are rolling in the cash or even stable for the most part is completely ludicrous. Certain cases yes, but HARDLY all.

---

I agree with Rob. and, like jordangirl keeps saying so eloquently, there are students who are over 25. just because they're not undergraduates doesn't mean they have money, and they should still be included in the term "student".

I graduated from college in May with my BA. I promptly moved back home and waited with baited breath for my first loan statement to come. I've been looking for a job since about February and nothing permanent has come through. I worked through the summer and now have a temporary job...and am still looking. and am still making loan payments, credit card payments and paying for my monthly train passes. and yes, I use my expired student ID when I do student rush. I'm very lucky to be living at home, with at least some support from my parents; I couldn't imagine how bad things would be without them. money is tight, and will probably be tight for a lot of people for a while now.

---

This is why professional theatre isn't popular in lesser economically privileged areas of the country.

Personally, I think that rush should be available to all students *young and old*. If you really think about it, rush seats (not lotto) aren't really the best seats in the house to begin with (I still have a stiff neck to prove that.) The people who truly want the best seats are usually paying full price. And they're also usually the people who can afford to do so.

I live in West Virginia. Even with a full time job I struggle to make ends meet, so don't tell me how bad you have it. I am very sorry to hear about your parents, but if you really read my post, instead of getting very defensive, I said that the example I was using wasn't talking about you specifically, it was just a broad generalization to prove my point.

Should I just stop going to NYC all together and not enjoy the community that I love because I can't afford full-price tickets?

And also if you asked not to be patronized, putting "boo hoo" in your message you just happen to be doing the very same thing.

So on that note, YAY! Ageism!!!!!

---

Either/or. I mean if I had it my way I would say all shows should have a general rush. But I also know that this would be financial suicide for most shows. So if it has to be student rush I don't think it's fair to practice ageism by having it be under 25.

You reward those who are dedicated to the show or those who want to experience it.

Just my two cents.

---

I agree that it should be available to any student, but just because you want to experience a show or are dedicated to it, does not mean you are entitled to cheaper tickets. It is really hard for people who can not afford to constantly pay full price for tickets who have a desire to see shows but honestly, the economy sucks right now. Unfortunately people have to make choices about what is most important to them. I know people who couldn't even afford rush prices that were students and they ate Ramen for a week just so that they could see a show.

If it's limited it wouldn't be that bad but I personally would be really upset if I got to rush and saw a family of 10 standing on line in front of me or some business man or woman with an expensive purse, I'd be pretty annoyed.

It really is a double-edged sword either way for me.
Because on one hand, I can see where it's fair to have it be only undergrad students, like carolynagirl or others who work AND go to school. At the same time it is also unfair because you also have students who have mommy and daddy paying for everything and therefore, could afford the more expensive ticket.

But I think with general rush it makes things even across the board. Which it should be.

Just because I'm not blowing tens of thousand dollars to hear someone talk, have me write a bit, and get a piece of paper that says I'm better than the guy who works at the gas station (even though in todays marketplace even with a college degree that's where you'll be too) shouldn't mean I'm any less-inclined to want to see as many shows as possible.

---

First off let me apologize for belittling education. I do feel that it's important. However, I also feel that it's rather meaningless these days. Especially when you have people who go to school just to get the top dollar job and don't care about what they're doing.

"I can finally afford to see a Broadway show!"
-DRS


This points out what theatre is outside the NY/CT/NJ area: Rich-people's entertainment. Now while you and I (and I'm guessing a vast majority of people on this website, if not all) will whole-heartedly disagree with this idea, it's the way it's viewed in the small-town heartland.

At the same time, there are so many people who love theatre spread out all over the country who simply can't afford over a hundred dollars a ticket. People like me and my group of friends.

You wonder why the arts are being cut out of schools? Because they're not taken seriously.

You give a lower-middle class citizen the chance to see how positively theatre can influence a child by offering them general rush tickets, you will find a HUGE response to the American interest in the theatre. Not to mention box office receipts at the community, regional, touring, and Broadway level.

---

I think a lot of people here are forgetting or not realizing that "student rush" is a fairly new thing on Broadway. Since I can remember it was always just a "rush". You'd go to the box office the day of the performance, get in line with other people (young and old) who couldn't afford the normal price tickets and wait to see if you could get them. Sometimes there would be no rush that day, sometimes you'd get lucky. The whole phenomenon of making it strictly for students takes a lot of getting used to for a lot of people who have done this for more years than they can remember. I personally think it's unfair and my feeling like that does not have anything to do with a sense of "entitlement" (a word thrown around here far too much by people who think they sound bigger than they are when they use it) but it comes from a sense of history with theatre-going that simply no longer exists. Even shows that have the ability to offer standing room no longer do so on occasion, leaving people with even less options.

It is very true there are other ways of getting to see shows you want for less, be it TKTS which in itself is no longer a good deal, or TDF which is not available to everyone. Theatre which was once an art form open and inviting to everyone is now it's own exclusive club for either those who can afford the cheapest ticket price of around $80 for a majority of shows in town to the students who are lucky enough to be a student at this point in time when producers decided that's the way to go with the rush.

Either way, there are many MANY people who relied on a rush policy for so many years who are now left out in the dark. So, no. It is not fair.