How to Get Tickets
Photos of the two TKTS locations in Manhattan
How to Get Tickets
Okay, you've finally narrowed down your choice of shows (see What Shows to See) and now you have to get tickets. This section deals with how.
Cheap Methods
You can get same day tickets and next day Matinee at the TKTS Booth in midtown that ALL the tourists use (47th and B'way -- pictured on the left) and or the one further uptown located in Lincoln Centre.
All About TKTS
- Lincoln Centre is located in the lower level (follow the signs)
This location has a smaller selection, BUT the line ups are way smaller, you can go in the morning (and not waste your entire afternoon in line) Disadvantage: the aforementioned smaller selection. Both TKTS booths sell discount tickets (typically 25%-50% off plus a $2.50 service charge). NOTE: You will never get the hottest show, Hamilton, Merrily, at half price (in fact, it is difficult (almost impossible) to get whatever the hottest ticket is even at full price -- good luck!) Line up between one and half and two hours BEFORE the posted opening time for the midtown (Times Square) location (opens at 3:00/11:00 -- on matinee days) and show up one half hour before the Lincoln Center location. Bring a good book/e-reader. Count on either spending a morning in line or an afternoon in line (Midtown Location). It gets worse on the weekends. By the way THERE'S AN APP for TKTS. It's best to check on the app to see what has been appearing daily to see if "your" show is generally available at the booth. You will NEVER find the popular shows here. KEEP YOUR TICKET STUB. When you return within a week, you get to go the priority line and skip the waiting. Website: http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56
The humongous line up at the TKTS booth in midtown. My friends Martin and Steph brave the cold and the crowds. Yes, all those people behind them are in line.
Other discount methods
Subscribe to the Telecharge and Theatre Mania emails. They have the same shows (broadway/off broadway) that are offered at TKTS. (they will be approx 10% higher than TKTS). THE BIG ADVANTAGE is that you can buy months ahead and you can get excellent seats for a relative song (Broadway is NOT cheap). This is how I normally buy my tickets.
Check to see if the show has student pricing/student rush (must have current student ID with you)
Check to see if this theatre has rush tickets
Check to see if the show has student pricing/student rush (must have current student ID with you)
Check to see if this theatre has rush tickets
Booking Ahead/Telecharge/Ticketmaster
Trying to buy tickets in advance for broadway is a very confusing venture for those who have never done it.
Since the services charges are approximately $20 per ticket, I would advise you think hard before you pre-buy. You should only pre-buy in the following cases
1. The show just won a Tony and you're going right after the Tonys.
2. It's the hot new show that everyone thinks will take the Tony.
3. It stars either Neil Patrick Harris or Hugh Jackman (I'm being serious -- you can't get tix for these guys)
4. You're going over an American long weekend and there are shows you HAVE to see.
5. You found a killer sale on Theatre Mania/Telecharge (yes, they have killer sales)
6. You are anal about planning and want to know exactly what you are doing every minute.
If the above is the case, then you need to pre-buy
Since the services charges are approximately $20 per ticket, I would advise you think hard before you pre-buy. You should only pre-buy in the following cases
1. The show just won a Tony and you're going right after the Tonys.
2. It's the hot new show that everyone thinks will take the Tony.
3. It stars either Neil Patrick Harris or Hugh Jackman (I'm being serious -- you can't get tix for these guys)
4. You're going over an American long weekend and there are shows you HAVE to see.
5. You found a killer sale on Theatre Mania/Telecharge (yes, they have killer sales)
6. You are anal about planning and want to know exactly what you are doing every minute.
If the above is the case, then you need to pre-buy
How to book in advance:
1. Determine if the show is with either Telecharge or Ticketmaster. These are the only two authorized and official vendors for tickets on broadway. Everyone else is a re-seller. That doesn't mean they're illegal. It just means you will be paying through the nose. All shows go through one vendor or the other. They are not on both. (by the way, your Canadian Ticketmaster log-on and password will work for the US site) This is not the case for off broadway. Go on the show's official webpage to find out what miserable app you are required to download to get advance tickets (I hate these apps)
2. Google a seating map of the theatre of the show you want to see. Please note the theatres are "small" (for my Edmonton friends, they're not Jube size, they're Shoctor size). You are never too far from the stage. And the site will tell you if a seat is "partially blocked". I am short. I like the mezzanine because it's raked. It usually overhangs Orchestra at about row J-O.
3. Have your credit card handy (Mastercard, Visa, Amex)
4. Phone them, don't try to do it on-line. Something always screws up and you have to call them any way.
5. DO NOT get them to mail tickets to you. Do either "print at home" (and they MUST be printed, they won't take a pdf on your phone) or "will call" which is free and means I will pick them up at the box office. (they sometimes charge for print at home)
6. Make sure you mention you have a coupon when you call (you did google for the discount coupons, right?)
7. Don't freak out when the seat numbers seem to "skip". If you are not in the Center Orchestra, then the seat numbers are either all odd, or all even (as in seats 1 and 3 are right next to each other). This allows ushers to tell at a glance if you're on the "wrong side" (the crowd at the entrance needs to be triage-d and cleared out of the tiny lobby quickly, seat numbers are one of the fastest ways of doing that)
8. Make sure you get a confirmation number and a confirmation e-mail. The e-mail doesn't always come right away -- it can take up to a week. Check your junk folder carefully.
2. Google a seating map of the theatre of the show you want to see. Please note the theatres are "small" (for my Edmonton friends, they're not Jube size, they're Shoctor size). You are never too far from the stage. And the site will tell you if a seat is "partially blocked". I am short. I like the mezzanine because it's raked. It usually overhangs Orchestra at about row J-O.
3. Have your credit card handy (Mastercard, Visa, Amex)
4. Phone them, don't try to do it on-line. Something always screws up and you have to call them any way.
5. DO NOT get them to mail tickets to you. Do either "print at home" (and they MUST be printed, they won't take a pdf on your phone) or "will call" which is free and means I will pick them up at the box office. (they sometimes charge for print at home)
6. Make sure you mention you have a coupon when you call (you did google for the discount coupons, right?)
7. Don't freak out when the seat numbers seem to "skip". If you are not in the Center Orchestra, then the seat numbers are either all odd, or all even (as in seats 1 and 3 are right next to each other). This allows ushers to tell at a glance if you're on the "wrong side" (the crowd at the entrance needs to be triage-d and cleared out of the tiny lobby quickly, seat numbers are one of the fastest ways of doing that)
8. Make sure you get a confirmation number and a confirmation e-mail. The e-mail doesn't always come right away -- it can take up to a week. Check your junk folder carefully.
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