TKT's Virtually!

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 4:30pm

Now we are firmly in the 21st century, with technology moved on leaps and bounds, do we need TKT's anymore, or could this be done virtually.

Think of the advantages you don't have to rush over to Times Square to get your ticket.

Than stand in a long queue, which is made worse if it is wet.

You can choose the seat you want online.

If you are handicapped maybe you cannot queue.

You’re never to be harangued by those pushers, trying to offload rubbish shows, whilst you queue.

If you are a visitor you can do your day trips without worrying whether to get to the booth.

If you are a resident, I know some of you don't go over to the booth until later in the day, as you want to get better tickets, but wouldn't you prefer getting your ticket in Starbucks on your tablet, whilst relaxing than worrying about running over to TKT's.

This has to be win win for residents and visitors alike?



Updated On: 5/6/14 at 04:30 PM

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 4:44pm

TodayTix is a great app that can replace standing in the TKTS line.

"You’re never to be harangued by those pushers, trying to offload rubbish shows, whilst you queue."

I hear you on that! I remember being haragued once by ticket touts for the not-so-rubbish Matilda as well, and I took it upon myself to find out what they were offering. They told me there was a group cancellation so the tickets were a great deal for $100 each. I asked about the seat locations and they showed me a ticket for a crap $37 seat in the balcony. I told them that the group discount for that ticket must have made it practically free, and that I could get that online anytime. I feel bad for anyone who acted impulsively and bought from those jokers when the show was hot!

[senorvoce2]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 5:17pm

It would be another chance to lard on additional fees.

[Susanswerphone]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 5:29pm

I use TKTS frequently when I'm in New York. I've never let the hawkers bother me. They are there to do a job. Either you engage with them or you don't. That's what headphones and a good book are for. Standing in line sometimes can be amusing...the stories you sometimes hear if you just listen! Getting rid of the booth would be a not-so-great idea, though I understand the desire for a virtual booth for those who are unable to stand still for more than a brief moment.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 6:13pm

This may be because I don't live in NY, but I actually love going to the TKTS booth. I've met so many people standing in line and it's so fun to hear their stories of why they are there and what shows they are seeing/want to see. And those scalpers have never bothered us! In fact we just got Aladdin tickets from one of them (paid a pretty penny for them but our seats were WONDERFUL and we wouldn't have been able to see Aladdin at all because the box office said they were sold out the entire time we were up there).

I just love the hustle and bustle of it all, it amuses me to no end!

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 6:25pm

So what's the benefit to the theaters and the show producers? The easier it is to buy half price on line, the less likely someone will pay full price. Who pays for the expense of setting up and maintaining the network? Touting benefits to the consumer without also demonstrating why it benefits the seller is a pointless exercise.

Why don't you sell the idea to Leicester Square, pilot it there and let us know how it works out.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 7:51pm

Fisherman, do you have anything better to do than to respond to nearly everyone's posts on here like a little screeching bitchbag? It's a great idea and it will happen eventually. Please join us in the 21st Century. Or don't. I could care less, and I doubt many others do either.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 7:58pm

I was thinking along the same lines as FishermanBob...

If TKTS was available online, why would anyone pay full price when they can get them online for half price? I mean, it sort of IS already available online with broadwaybox and theatermania, as well as todaytix (though, not all tourists know about those websites). While I realize those discounts aren't as low-priced, it's still somewhat accessible.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 8:08pm

Virtual TKTS may seem like a win, but as FishermanBob correctly points out, a discount without a little perception of effort becomes the de facto full price. Producers don't necessarily want to be at TKTS at all, ideally, but that we have them making seats as available as they do at as steep a discount as they do is TKTS' blessing. Yes, ticket prices have gone up, making TKTS's discount prices more expensive accordingly, but that problem is Broadway's, not TKTS's.

But, to address your original post point-by-point.

--Think of the advantages you don't have to rush over to Times Square to get your ticket.
TKTS operates two other locations downtown that are generally far less crowded.

--Than stand in a long queue, which is made worse if it is wet.
This is the effort required for TKTS' discount. Use a discount code if you want to buy at the box office, but it's less of a discount usually.

You can choose the seat you want online.
--The TKTS discount is incumbent on being sold best-available. Use a discount code if you want to choose your seat.

If you are handicapped maybe you cannot queue.
--I don't believe this is a written rule, but I've seen the security guards at TKTS letting handicapped patrons wait at the front outside the line and come right in the front when they open.

You’re never to be harangued by those pushers, trying to offload rubbish shows, whilst you queue.
--Pop-up ads, pop-under ads and banner ads.

If you are a visitor you can do your day trips without worrying whether to get to the booth.
--As stated before, this is the effort required to get the discount.

it's not an idea who's "time will come" - it's an idea that's half-baked and isn't feasible. Come up with a way to make the discount marketable to producers without replacing the full-price as a de facto ticket price and then we can talk.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 8:11pm

I can answer this. When you pay full price, you pick your seat location. I would imagine that a TKTS app would work exactly like at the booth. You would simply be assigned seats according to the allotment in the TKTS inventory and would not get to choose them. I have no horse in this race, except to wonder why certain individuals on this board get off on trying so hard to assert their perceived intellectual superiority by shutting other people's ideas and views down with a snarky scoff.

[veronicamae]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 8:13pm

Could limiting the # of tickets available at TKTS would limit the issue of "then who would bother to pay full price?"

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 8:17pm

TKTS is a public relations tool for Broadway. The tourist board can point to the lines and say "Look how Broadway is thriving. People are lining up for tickets."

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 9:11pm

Tickets get sold on the booth for one reason and one reason only and that is they couldn't sell their tickets at full price in the first place. Producers aren't doing tkt's patron a favor here. If it wasn't for the ability to discount, then shows would fold sooner.

There is more than one booth and I have used the one downtown and its quite a walk from the financial district and any subway, thinking people getting tickets in their break.

I have bought tickets from the booth and have seen empty seats in front of me, so they don't sell you the best seats.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 9:31pm

"There is more than one booth and I have used the one downtown and its quite a walk from the financial district and any subway, thinking people getting tickets in their break."

The original downtown location was in the World Trade Center. When the Towers came down, TDF didn't have many choices to relocate.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 9:46pm

Many shows absolutely need TKTS, but they don't want to need TKTS. That's also part of where the discomfort from the Broadway League with allowing TKTS greater opportunities (choosing seat locations, selling via mobile or internet) comes from, in addition to the previously-articulated need to make sure discounts require at least a little effort.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 9:51pm

"I could care less, and I doubt many others do either."

You doubt many others could care less?

I couldn't.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 10:57pm

"Fisherman, do you have anything better to do than to respond to nearly everyone's posts on here like a little screeching bitchbag? It's a great idea and it will happen eventually. Please join us in the 21st Century. Or don't. I could care less, and I doubt many others do either."

Matt you're the king of pissing and moaning, Prices are too high, I don't like this, I don't like that. Your complaint about short show running lengths and not wanting to pay more than $1 per minute of show was my favorite. Your posts are the most worthless on this board. In order for something to change, it's got to make sense and provide a benefit to both parties. That's how business works. Just whining constantly like you do about ticket prices will change nothing, unless your true goal is to just hear your gums flap.

[brdway411]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 11:02pm

"I have bought tickets from the booth and have seen empty seats in front of me, so they don't sell you the best seats. "

TKTS sells you the BEST AVAILABLE seats they have to sell. The theater releases the seats to TKTS. So yes there may be available seats in front of you, but they may not have been offered to TKTS.

One thing we have found over the years is the later you go there is little or no line and we tend to get better seats. The closer it gets to curtain, the theaters will release their better seats. Not saying this happens all the time but it has happened to us.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 11:04pm

Has it actually never occurred to somebody that those empty seats in front of them might belong to people who didn't come to the show they had tickets for, for whatever reason? No?

[brdway411]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 11:08pm

Sure Namo, I was at Lady Day tonight with rush tickets and the 3 seats right next to me were $97 and they were empty.
I was just pointing out that TKTS sell what they have available to sell, they are not screwing anyone over.

Updated On: 5/6/14 at 11:08 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 11:09pm

It was Phantom of London's post that inspired my query.

[brdway411]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 11:11pm

OKAY
BTW Lady Day is incredible. I just wish people would turn off their stupid phones. Twice during tonight's show.

Updated On: 5/6/14 at 11:11 PM