Cheap Methods

• You can get same day tickets at the TKTS Booth (it used to be in Times Square (47th and B'way) and now its a block west right at the Mariott Hotel (46th between B'way and 8th).
  

  There is one downtown located at corner of John and Front Street (take the subway to Fulton Street, walk due east until you get to Water Street -- look for the sign, you're one block away).
  

  
  The sign at Fulton and Water directing you where to go

  
  You're looking for these street signs (and a throng of people)

  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) and BONUS you can get next day matinee tickets (which you CAN'T do at Times Square). Disadvantage, you have a slighter 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 or Lion King at half price (in fact, it is difficult (almost impossible) to get Lion King 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) and show up one half hour before the downtown location (opens at 11:00). Bring a good book. Count on either spending a morning in line or an afternoon in line (Midtown Location). It gets worse on the weekends. Cash or traveller's cheques ONLY. NO CREDIT CARDS.. Note: you will NEVER get the popular shows here.
  

• Two for one coupons. Go to the Times Square Visitor's center (see Before You Go. At the counter are often stacks of "twofers". Take the coupon and go to the BOX OFFICE of the theatre and buy tickets. Advantage: you can get advance tickets. Also, no TKTS surcharge.
• Check out the Hit Show Club. They e-mail you all sorts of updates and coupons. Plus you can check their offices when you're in New York to get the latest stuff.
• Check out www.sidewalk.com. Sometimes they publish a discount Off Broadway booklet that let's you get cheap tickets.


The discount coupon book

• In the theatre section of "Time Out New York" there's a little box marked "Tickets for a Song" (its in every issue). They list current hot discount offerings in that little box.

• Chicago: Front row seats are available for $20, day of performance only, at the box office.
• Rent: All seats in the first two rows of the orchestra are sold day of performance only by lottery. Enter your name in the lottery 2 1/2 hours before performance time. The lottery is held 2 hours before each performance.
• Student Tickets: Most theatres offer a very limited number of student tickets (must have CURRENT student ID -- they're snarky about it). Doesn't hurt to ask.
• Jersey Boys: Student Rush. Valid, current-year Student ID needed. Line up AT LEAST two hours before the box office opens. They have 10 available per show (and since each ID is good for two tickets, you have to be one of the first five "students" in line)
• Many other shows like Wicked, Ave. Q, Spelling Bee and Hairspray have some form of Lottery or student rush. It never hurts to check. Just prepare to line up like crazy.

Normal Ticket Buying (vs. Desperate Ticket Buying)

• Go to the Box Office of the Theatre and buy tickets there. No surcharge, you can pick the night. Only works if the show is popular (therefore, not available at TKTS), but not ravingly popular (usually works with well received "straight" theatre).
• Buy Tickets On-Line at Home. Do this in advance for shows that are popular that you MUST see. Humongous surcharges. Both Ticketmaster and Tele-charge tack on a service charge and handling fee that adds over US$10 to the price. The Broadway and Off Broadway shows are handled by one OR the other. No show is listed with both. You can pick your seats and night you're going. To figure out what show is playing where and who to buy tickets from, check out www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/bwaythea.htm
  
• Buy tickets by phone. If you don't trust the computer. You can also phone these companies. (Tele-charge: 212-239-6200, Ticketmaster: 212-307-4100). For both these methods, you pick up the tickets the DAY OF PERFORMANCE at the box office. Be prepared to show a ton of ID, including the credit card you charged the show to and at least one photo ID.

The Barb standing outside the New Amsterdam Theatre
Where the Lion King is playing

Desperate Ticket Buying
This is for the mega popular shows that have been sold out for YEARS in advance and you left it too late. We're talking Lion King, limited run shows featuring a celebrity and whatever hot new show that either just opened or just won the Tony.

• Before you go: The first step you should try is phoning Ticketmaster/Telecharge (whatever one is handling the show you want) and give them the dates of your entire trip and ask them for SINGLE SEATING! anytime during your trip. You won't be talking to whoever you're with during the show anyway. You also don't have to go on the same night.
• If they tell you that they're sold out completely (which is likely if you didn't give them 6 months lead), TRY BACK ONCE A WEEK (in the evening). One ticketmaster clerk told me that credit cards bounce all the time and then the tickets get returned to the general ticket pool. If there's only a nosebleed seat available -- TAKE IT!
• If you haven't already managed to get a hold that Lion King ticket by the time you get to NY, go to the Theatre on the day you want to see the show at 8:00 a.m. and stand outside the Theatre in the Stand by line-up. (your chances are best for Wed. matinee by the way). Prepare to stand there for HOURS! The box office opens at 10:00, but if you wait til then, you won't be anywhere NEAR the front of the line. What you are waiting for is the tour group operators to come by. They usually buy in blocks of 50 or 60, months in advance. What usually happens is that 1 or 2 people per tour don't show. They will sell you the extra tickets AT A PREMIUM. Or, you may luck out and a tourist happens to have an extra ticket they can't use that day (I actually had a spare Lion King ticket because one of my group backed out of the NY trip after the tix had been booked. I was nice, I sold at cost!). In that case, make sure that the tourist was INSIDE the box office and had just picked up their tickets.
• Of course, there's always good old ebay. Just make sure that the seller has a ton of good feedback before you purchase from them.

Overview/Introduction
Before You Go
Where to Stay
Shopping!
How to Get Tickets
Choosing Shows
Cheap Tourist Things to Do
Getting Around
Being Safe
Random Tips/Thoughts
The Barb's Broadway Reviews

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