How To Succeed in Seeing a Broadway Show (No. It's Not Hard. At All.)

        Hello, dear readers, and welcome to yet another blog post. Readers, when I often tell people I work on Broadway, I am often asked, "Oh. How do I get tickets to (Insert Show Title Here)?" At times, I am happily able to assist in doing so, mainly by offering a discount code for that person. Other times, however, I am only able to impart some info I know, especially with the show I shall refer to as the Fast-Selling Five: Aladdin, The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and, this season's newest entry, Hamilton. The thing is, even for these widely popular shows, there are ways to obtain tickets for shows directly from the shows themselves. I should know, I am one of the people who have helped countless patrons, as well as having been a patron, for many years.
       I start this common tutorial with a metaphor. Suppose you were going to buy a new car. Now, as you can imagine, that takes a lot of research. What type of car is best for you? Is that car affordable? What features make this car a perfect fit? Are there any local deals being offered by the local dealer? Upon gathering such info, you make a decision and go purchase that car from the dealer, hopefully. Same goes with a Broadway show. Presumably, before purchasing theater tickets, similar research is done. You want that best, official deal. Usually, that deal occurs at the box office, or online via Telecharge or Ticketmaster, or over the phone. But what happens if you cannot find that deal? What are you to do now? Believe it or not, the answer may be found in a couple of different places. Several of those answers often result in going to the same place.

1) Go to the official source (but maybe keep an eye open along the way)
         Going to the show web site often provides multiple answers to attending the show of your dreams. Two of these options can be rush tickets or a lottery. Many shows offer one, the other, or both. You can find more info right here. Depending on the show, you may not even have to leave your home to sign up for these tickets. Shows have been doing digital lotteries, where you enter online and are emailed or texted with the results. Another method of getting tickets at the theater is standing room, when if a show is sold out, spots are sold where patrons can stand and watch. Standing room, much like rush and lotteries, isn't something offered by all theaters, so check with the box office. Another way to get tickets for the box office are cancellation tickets. Much like dinner reservations, sometimes, patrons are unable to attend the show and must cancel their tickets for that evening. When the happens, in order to make some dough, the box office itself will resell those tickets at face value. Sure these seats could be in areas of the theater that are expensively priced, but there may be a chance that more affordable tickets are released. It certainly doesn't hurt to check. In fact, on your way to the theater, be on the lookout for street teams for Broadway shows. Often times street teams can be found in the Times Square area distributing flyers that contain discount codes to shows you want to see. Some may be in costume (i.e. women in black bowlers, tops, shorts, with red stockings passing out discounts to Chicago) or wearing show merchandise (i.e. people with show t-shirts, hats, jackets, and/or bags promoting shows such as The Phantom of the Opera or The King and I). These individuals will also be more than willing to provide information, just in case you are looking to see a show purely on impulse.

2) The Theater Development Fund's TKTS Booths (Yes. There's More Than One)
        Perhaps synonymous with discounts on Broadway, the TKTS booth has been providing theatergoers with tickets for over 40 years. The Times Square location, which sells tickets at a discount anywhere between 20% to 50% off its face value, constantly serves as a welcome haven to theatergoers from near and far who wish  to see a show on that same day. Its location is open every day with tickets for evening performances going on sale at 3pm, excluding Tuesdays when tickets are sold starting at 2, and for matinee performances at 10am, except Sundays when matinee tickets are sold beginning at 11am. However did you know that the Times Square location is not the only TKTS booth? Locations also exist at South Street Seaport (at the corner of Front & John Street) and in Downtown Brooklyn (1 MetroTech Center). These booths open a little earlier for evening performances, except the Brooklyn location which is closed Mondays and Sundays, at 11am and also enable theatergoers to purchase tickets for a show that has a matinee the next day. While it is extremely unlikely to purchase tickets for the aforementioned Fast-Selling Five. there are many shows, both Broadway and Off Broadway, that offer tickets. There is an added 4.50 fee, but that money goes to assisting TDF with its various initiatives to assist audience members. Now, the common conception is that these seats are only in the orchestra and front mezzanine.. However, this is not the whole story. Some shows may even offer seats in the more reasonably priced locations. While this is not the norm, it isn't incredibly unlikely either. It certainly doesn't hurt to go a check for a show at the TKTS booths. Also, there is a free app if you find yourself in a time crunch that puts the lists of what booth is offering what. Download it to our smartphone and/or tablet.

3) The Today Tix App
       New to the Broadway discounting scene the past two years, the Today Tix app enables smartphone and tablet users to legally obtain Broadway tickets as well. Having established a relationship with some shows, the app utilizes discount offers and serves as a personal shopper of sorts for the theatergoer, sending people to theaters to purchase tickets and then having them held by one of their concierge agents at the theater prior to the performance. The app offers also offers lotteries and, in a couple of cases, rush for certain shows. One caveat of using the Today Tix app is that, unlike the box office or TKTS, you do not know where your seat will be prior to purchase. Today Tix also alies a $10 fee per order. There is also a possibility that the theater is sold out of the ticket you require, though Today Tix states it will inform the customer if such a scenario occurs.

And Now A Word On Buying Tickets From Scalpers/Brokers
      Referring back to the car analogy, suppose you were on your way to buying that dream car when you come across an ad for that exact car you want. Some individual is selling his car, which they say is in mint condition and heck, they'll even offer you a deal. They may even tell you that the car just sold out at the lot and there is no way you can get your dream car except through them. Chances are you're still going to check with the dealer because if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. The same should go with purchasing third party tickets on Broadway. It is entirely possible that a scalper may have legit tickets and is offering you at a price that you may be willing to pay, but shouldn't you also check with the source? Tickets, especially recently on Broadway, have been found to be counterfeit, or drastically overcharged. You don't want to pay $65 for a ticket to a show and sit next to some person that only paid $29.  Or, such as the case with these people, not even get into the theater after shelling out hundreds of dollars. Scalpers come in all shapes in sizes. Sure it just may be one man offering you tickets to The Book of Mormon, but I have noticed a growing trend, especially in the Times Square area. Some individuals have been utilizing street teams, similar to the ones utilized by Broadway productions, to attract unsuspecting tourists to an office or storefront they may have with the promise of discounted deals. These street teams can usually be spotted wearing uniforms of some sort advertising their company and holding clipboards, likely with show logos on them. Often times, this may not be the case and tourists find themselves drastically overpaying. In fact, in a recent report by the New York State Attorney General's office, it was found that the scalping may be getting too out of hand You wouldn't buy your car on the say so of some person without at least checking with the source, so why would you pay for your Broadway tickets? The decision is yours, but please do the research. Chances are a simple online search can find the truth in regards to these organizations and what it is the show has to offer.

     All being said, I cannot encourage you enough to use this information and go experience the joy of live theater. As I've stated, anything is possible, it's just a matter of looking into it with the official source, that being the show, and take it from there. Hopefully sometime soon this blog will also be offering discount codes, so if you have a show you want to see, feel free to comment and I will personally look into it. Also, should you have any questions regarding anything I posted, or even didn't post, don't hesitate to use the Comments section as well. I look forward to seeing many of you guys seeing Broadway shows, That about does it for this post. Until the next time, this is Mike signing off, ghost light lighting on!