November 12, 2002

10:21 AM

Broadwaybox.comShare theater Discount Codes with fellow theater goers in New York. Great idea. So simple. So perfect. Everyone wins.
posted by Voyageman (11 comments total)

that's a killer idea - as someone who works in nyc, you're always looking for ways to afford things that are always overpriced, and this is definitely a good one. Obviously, until everyone starts purchasing their tickets at the discounted price, hehe. Someone will notice eventually, right?

Great post.
posted by djspicerack at 10:35 AM on November 12, 2002

That is so cool, Voyageman! Now all we need is to actually be somewhere in Manhattan, right? Still, I'd plump for Oklahoma - I can't get enough of Richard Rodgers, whether with Hart or Hammerstein.

I once was conned by a beautiful girl outside the Shubert who said her boyfriend had failed to turn up and would I mind seeing the show with her. So, like the idiot I am, I bought the ticket - full price of course.

She then disappeared - or went back to the TKTS office to get more half-price tickets with which to con other foreign suckers.

All the same, this scheme, though more rational, is less charming.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:39 AM on November 12, 2002

It looks like the producers limit the number of tickets for each discount code based on how old out they are each day. My guess is they will be thrilled if this becomes popular. There will be fewer empty seats. I'm spreading the word to my Broadway-loving friends. For me, $50 is still too much for a play or musical.
posted by neuroshred at 11:42 AM on November 12, 2002

Screw Oklahoma- what I want is an easier way to get tickets to Letterman.

And that's a very cute story, Miguel. Practically a fable on life in the big city.
posted by gsteff at 12:21 PM on November 12, 2002

My best friend was able to get first row seats for Letterman. When you stop by the theater to get them, they are constantly watching how you act. She is quite animated, and she later was told he "feeds" off the audience. He wants a lively, fun bunch in front. Remember that when you go for tickets.

This is better option for tickets than TKTS. BTW, did they ever come up with another place after the WTC came down to set up shop? Or is it still just the one in Times Square?
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 12:45 PM on November 12, 2002

Runs: the new booth is in South Street Seaport. I was there last Saturday and got through the line in about 20 minutes.
posted by boltman at 12:51 PM on November 12, 2002

"She is quite animated, and she later was told he "feeds" off the audience. He wants a lively, fun bunch in front. Remember that when you go for tickets."

Also, wear something bright.

And wave. A lot.

Then, let us know when "your" show will air so we can point at you and laugh.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:09 PM on November 12, 2002

Thank you, thank you, Voyageman!

And thank you, Runs - I was about to write that there was a temporary booth at Bowling Green. I hadn't heard yet that they'd moved. Color me no longer downtown, and out of touch.
posted by Songdog at 1:11 PM on November 12, 2002

Miguel's sad story reminded me of my own favorite concert ticket fiasco.

I went to go see Morrissey a couple of years ago with married friends of mine. We drove down together, but they had slightly better luck with Ticketbastard than I did and wound up a couple of rows ahead.

In the days before I met my wife, I frequently gambled, when purchasing concert tickets, that I would either have some semblance of social life by then, or that I would be able to get a date (I had pretty good musical taste and was downright obsessive about calling Tb at 10:00am onsale date). Even when I lost these bets, I usually had at least one friend that would go to see a show. But not this time.

So my friends went in and found their seats, and I was standing outside the State Theater on a cold, slushy night-before-Valentine's-Day, scanning passers-by for someone who might not have a ticket -- and whom I might actually want to sit next to for the next two hours. It took about two and a half minutes before I said "screw this, I'll eat the $35."

So I went inside and found my own seat. As luck would have it, the couple seated next to me had a single friend in similar straits. I was happy to give them my second seat so she could sit with them. She was old enough to be my... um... aunt, so that wasn't even a consideration, but we still had a great time. Through some quirk of the space-time continuum, a group of rockabilly-dressed kids in front of us got invited backstage, opening up four seats in the front row of our portion of the main floor (the State Theater's main floor is built in levels, like Kramer's living room). So we weren't quite front row, but we were still pretty close. And what promised to be depressing turned into a funky good time.

Oh, I should say something relevant: I wish the Radio City Xmas code worked for Detroit.
posted by britain at 2:13 PM on November 12, 2002

Miguel: I find it much more plausible and honorable to fall for that scam than, say, one like the speakers being sold out of a white van.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:50 PM on November 12, 2002

Thanks boltman and songdog!
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 12:01 PM on November 13, 2002