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Monday, October 06, 2008
Weekend in New York; Seeing the Show Without Breaking the Bank
NYTimes.com: "When the government fails to act, Weekend in New York must step into the void. There are plenty of ways to go to the theater — and even get great seats to Tony Award-winning Broadway shows — for under $50."
I have seen both Avenue Q and Hairspray though the lottery and stood in line for Wicked Lottery numerous times.It is a very fun way to gain tickets, because beyond the fact that you see the shows for much cheaper, you feel great that you won something. For Avenue Q, there are 8 sets of 2 tickets. When I went, approximately 60 people wanted them, so winning was AMAZING. I think it makes the plays even that much better because you feel special. That being said, I hope more people don't start trying it because the article was in the NY times. It used to be somewjhat of a secret, for true theatre groupies, now anyone could go....
This idea will never fully catch on with tourists because they are not going to risk a trip to New York on potentially not getting to see a show. Even living in south Jersey, I'm not going to risk the 20 dollar train ride with the possibility of not getting to see a show. There are other ways of getting cheap tickets to a show that I would prefer using, like finding discounts online. This article won't really change people's ways of getting to see theatre in the long run.
concerning the idea that "This idea will never fully catch on with tourists." If you don't win the lottery you can still get tickets to another show, its not too late.
whether or not these ideas for cheaper tickets are practical for many people, i think the spontaneity is exciting and aids in the idea of theatre as being a current discussion of the world around us. if going to the theatre has to be so planned and so difficult financially, it doesn't really seem like much of a current discussion.
I really like the idea of ticket lotteries because it brings theatre to those who otherwise might not be able to afford it. I do however agree with some of what has been said that it it sometimes impractical to count on tickets being "won", (I experienced this first hand this weekend with the Wicked lottery). I would love to see a similar system to what is used in the West End. There is a company which essentially sells 1/2 priced tickets. these are either from theaters which couldn't sell them or other sources. What is particularly nice about this is that it is a standardized and regulated system that pools from all theaters so you know you are not going to wind up with a dud ticket.
I really love the idea of winning cheap tickets to a fancy broadway show. Sadly, I have never had the change to play. Every time I go to New York it's with my family and the whole trip is perfectly planned. I agree with the idea of the lotto not catching on with tourists from my own experiences. My dad doesn't want to wait around, wasting time, and risk not getting the tickets. I think this is more aimed at college kids, and people who live in the city, verse real "tourists."
I know allot of people back in Toona that go to New York and never buy tickets before they get to the theatre. They use the lottery to see five or six shows in a weekend and pay next to nothing for it. It's really the best deal that you can get. Even if you don't end up winning, it's still dinner time in NY.
I think what's so important about this article is not just announcing the ways Broadway trys to make it affordable for everyone but broadcasting how cheap it can be to see a show. In a time when money is tight, what do you think is the first to be cut in a person's budget? The arts. The artcle is a unique way to keep the business strong and keep people coming to the show. Yes, it's an informative article, but mostly it's a great business action.
i've seen about 4 shows last spring thru TKTS. i mean, the reason i went to NY was to see shows, so i didn't mind missing out on doing other things. but if i was a tourist who had fixed schedule, it would have been more difficult to do so. since, i had to wait for the tickets from 2-3pm and it was too late to do anything.
This seems like a good win-win situation. Unsold seats get filled and people have access to more affordable tickets. It would be nice to see more people working on systems like this.
I'm glad that they are doing this because a lot of people wouldn't be able to see these shows if it weren't for the lottery. I was going to go this past weekend to enter the lottery for Wicked, but that idea fell through. Not only are the tickets a lot cheaper, but they're pretty good seats as well.
I went to the Wicked lottery in L.A. Even though we did not win, we still received discounted tickets to the show. I think that this is a great idea and even if you don't think you will win-try it! There is very little risk and the suspense when the names are called can be fun.
Though this obviously is a break through which could potentially make it easier for everyone to enjoy theatre, I think we should remember that the cost of transportation and accomodation also needs to be taken into consideration. Not everyone lives near a Mecca of good theatre (regional or otherwise)and therefore not everyone can just stroll into the theatre.
For me to buy a ticket to a show before getting to New York I have to really want to see it. I have done the raffle and TKTS a number of times. It’s the only way to see a Broadway show in my opinion; otherwise it’s not worth the cost. The only problem is that it’s really disappointing when you don’t get tickets at all. One time I won tickets to see Wicked in a raffle and some mother bought them off me for three times what I paid for them. Then I went to TKTS and got tickets to another show and still turned a profit. Good times.
I have seen Wicked through a similar process and felt really lucky to have been included. I think that making theatre readily available for everyone is a fantastic idea which can be educational and rewarding.
I have seen both Avenue Q and Hairspray though the lottery and stood in line for Wicked Lottery numerous times.It is a very fun way to gain tickets, because beyond the fact that you see the shows for much cheaper, you feel great that you won something. For Avenue Q, there are 8 sets of 2 tickets. When I went, approximately 60 people wanted them, so winning was AMAZING. I think it makes the plays even that much better because you feel special. That being said, I hope more people don't start trying it because the article was in the NY times. It used to be somewjhat of a secret, for true theatre groupies, now anyone could go....
ReplyDeleteThis idea will never fully catch on with tourists because they are not going to risk a trip to New York on potentially not getting to see a show. Even living in south Jersey, I'm not going to risk the 20 dollar train ride with the possibility of not getting to see a show. There are other ways of getting cheap tickets to a show that I would prefer using, like finding discounts online. This article won't really change people's ways of getting to see theatre in the long run.
ReplyDeleteconcerning the idea that "This idea will never fully catch on with tourists." If you don't win the lottery you can still get tickets to another show, its not too late.
ReplyDeletewhether or not these ideas for cheaper tickets are practical for many people, i think the spontaneity is exciting and aids in the idea of theatre as being a current discussion of the world around us. if going to the theatre has to be so planned and so difficult financially, it doesn't really seem like much of a current discussion.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of ticket lotteries because it brings theatre to those who otherwise might not be able to afford it. I do however agree with some of what has been said that it it sometimes impractical to count on tickets being "won", (I experienced this first hand this weekend with the Wicked lottery). I would love to see a similar system to what is used in the West End. There is a company which essentially sells 1/2 priced tickets. these are either from theaters which couldn't sell them or other sources. What is particularly nice about this is that it is a standardized and regulated system that pools from all theaters so you know you are not going to wind up with a dud ticket.
ReplyDeleteI really love the idea of winning cheap tickets to a fancy broadway show. Sadly, I have never had the change to play. Every time I go to New York it's with my family and the whole trip is perfectly planned. I agree with the idea of the lotto not catching on with tourists from my own experiences. My dad doesn't want to wait around, wasting time, and risk not getting the tickets. I think this is more aimed at college kids, and people who live in the city, verse real "tourists."
ReplyDeleteI know allot of people back in Toona that go to New York and never buy tickets before they get to the theatre. They use the lottery to see five or six shows in a weekend and pay next to nothing for it. It's really the best deal that you can get. Even if you don't end up winning, it's still dinner time in NY.
ReplyDeleteI think what's so important about this article is not just announcing the ways Broadway trys to make it affordable for everyone but broadcasting how cheap it can be to see a show. In a time when money is tight, what do you think is the first to be cut in a person's budget? The arts. The artcle is a unique way to keep the business strong and keep people coming to the show. Yes, it's an informative article, but mostly it's a great business action.
ReplyDeletei've seen about 4 shows last spring thru TKTS. i mean, the reason i went to NY was to see shows, so i didn't mind missing out on doing other things. but if i was a tourist who had fixed schedule, it would have been more difficult to do so. since, i had to wait for the tickets from 2-3pm and it was too late to do anything.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a good win-win situation. Unsold seats get filled and people have access to more affordable tickets. It would be nice to see more people working on systems like this.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that they are doing this because a lot of people wouldn't be able to see these shows if it weren't for the lottery. I was going to go this past weekend to enter the lottery for Wicked, but that idea fell through. Not only are the tickets a lot cheaper, but they're pretty good seats as well.
ReplyDeleteI went to the Wicked lottery in L.A. Even though we did not win, we still received discounted tickets to the show. I think that this is a great idea and even if you don't think you will win-try it! There is very little risk and the suspense when the names are called can be fun.
ReplyDeleteThough this obviously is a break through which could potentially make it easier for everyone to enjoy theatre, I think we should remember that the cost of transportation and accomodation also needs to be taken into consideration. Not everyone lives near a Mecca of good theatre (regional or otherwise)and therefore not everyone can just stroll into the theatre.
ReplyDeleteFor me to buy a ticket to a show before getting to New York I have to really want to see it. I have done the raffle and TKTS a number of times. It’s the only way to see a Broadway show in my opinion; otherwise it’s not worth the cost. The only problem is that it’s really disappointing when you don’t get tickets at all. One time I won tickets to see Wicked in a raffle and some mother bought them off me for three times what I paid for them. Then I went to TKTS and got tickets to another show and still turned a profit. Good times.
ReplyDeleteI have seen Wicked through a similar process and felt really lucky to have been included. I think that making theatre readily available for everyone is a fantastic idea which can be educational and rewarding.
ReplyDelete