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How long does it take for TKTS?

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mmFan
#1How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 4:32pm

How long are you usually in line for discount tickets at TKTS in Times Square?  I would be trying for a Friday night if that makes a difference?  I've never tried it before as we are only in NY for a short time and don't want to spend that time in line, but we already spent $$$ for a family of 4 to see a show when we come so if we were to see another one, I would want it to be half price.


Also, do you know before you stand in line if the show would be 50% or 20%?


 


Thx.  Trying to decide if it's worth it.

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LizzieCurry
#2How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 4:36pm

The percentage of discounts are on the electronic boards outside the line, and on the app.

I've never been in line longer than half an hour. The longest was an hour for a Saturday evening show.


"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

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Phillypinto
#3How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 4:41pm

It depends which time you get there. The earlier the better. I think they open at like 3 for Friday shows. If you go at 6 or 7 for an 8 o'clock show, it will be packed. You can also get the app which tells you which shows are up, and for how much discount. 


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Jay Lerner-Z
#4How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 4:51pm

You could always leave it until closer to showtime. You risk not-as-good seats, but you could be lucky.


If you decide to see a third show, you'll be able to skip the lines on presentation of your previous purchase (for a week).


Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$

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Littleshopofcarrie
#5How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 4:54pm

I went at about 1:30 on a Saturday and got 6th row Something Rotten for $72!

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mmFan
#6How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 7:06pm

"It depends which time you get there. The earlier the better. I think they open at like 3 for Friday shows. If you go at 6 or 7 for an 8 o'clock show, it will be packed. You can also get the app which tells you which shows are up, and for how much discount. "


 Yes, it says that it opens at 3pm.  So in other words, best to go at 3pm.


Thanks for the note about the Tkts App.  Didn't know about that.  It only shows 20% off for the show I'm thinking of.  That's not much of a savings. How long does it take for TKTS?

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Phillypinto
#7How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 7:14pm

What show were u looking at? Mamma Mia? You can try rushing the show you wanna see when the box office opens at 10. Also, the amount of discount you get at tkts changes from day to day. 


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LarryD2
#8How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 8:09pm

The time you go to the booth has no bearing on where your seats will be. I've gone 15 minutes before showtime and gotten house seats, and I've gone two or three hours before curtain and gotten lousy seats. The new software that TKTS has used since reopening its Duffy Square location will automatically assign you the best available seats for the show you request. It all depends on what the TKTS allotment is for that performance.


I usually use the play line. I don't think I've ever waited longer than 15 minutes. The last time I used TKTS for a musical, I think I ended up waiting 30 minutes and that was with a pretty long line.

mmFan Profile Photo
mmFan
#9How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 8:14pm

"What show were u looking at? Mamma Mia? You can try rushing the show you wanna see when the box office opens at 10. Also, the amount of discount you get at tkts changes from day to day. "


Yes, for Mamma Mia.  When I looked at this site about Rush tickets on this site, it said only on Wed and Thurs and only to students.  My only available night would be Friday night, and I'm not a student.  But, I just saw on the Tkts site that said not just for students and 'selected performances'...but didn't specify the day.  So not sure.  Rush tickets are ideal.


 


Larry, it actually makes sense that the seats would vary as you would think they would hold onto the good seats trying to sell at full price and then close to the show, would let them go at discount?


 


PS - Now on another site, I am seeing Rush tickets for Mamma Mia for 'General Public' so maybe BroadwayWorld isn't updated with most recent into. 


 


 

Updated On: 7/6/15 at 08:14 PM

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Phillypinto
#10How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 10:01pm

It really varies. They will give the best seats first come first serve. I have showed up 10 minutes to show time and have gotten not as good seats. Also remember, even though it's at tkts, the better your seats are, the more expensive it will be. The seats are usually pretty good anyway. As for rush, I would still just show up when the box office opens and asks. It can't hurt. Also, if you look at the rush report, it says that people showed up for rush on weekends. 


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KathyNYC2
#11How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:08am

The percentages for the discounts change from show to show..it depends on the availability of the tickets on that particular day. As a rule, weekends MIGHT have lower percentages than weekdays but that is no guarantee. I have seen 50% one day and then 20 % the next for no apparent reason. The TKTS window opens at 3 pm for a night show.


I don't think I have ever stood on a Friday night line...but usually the crowds/lines start forming about an hour before the time TKTS opens...and then moves quickly even if it's long. *** If anyone in your family has a veterans ID card, you can go on a much shorter line and go right up to the window.


There is also another TKTS booth downtown at the South Street seaport..they sell their tickets earlier than the Times Square booth. YOu can get them in the morning for an evening show and the line is usually a whole lot shorter  (% are the same - not sure about the seats)

brdway411
#12How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:12am

I usually go to the booth about 30 to 45 minutes before the start of the show. almost never a wait. and almost always end up with a great seat. 


 


I also do not reccommend going early. They usually sell from the front of the theater to the back of the theater. so unless you want to be really close and off to the sides, I would go later. 

Updated On: 7/7/15 at 12:12 AM

mmFan Profile Photo
mmFan
#13How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:10pm

"I usually go to the booth about 30 to 45 minutes before the start of the show. almost never a wait. and almost always end up with a great seat. 
 
I also do not reccommend going early. They usually sell from the front of the theater to the back of the theater. so unless you want to be really close and off to the sides, I would go later. "


 


What kind of seats do you get at this time?  I actually do like sitting as close as possible (and would rather be close and on the side than centre and far back).  Having said that, if it's 20% off of $227 for prime seats, then that's more than I want to pay.


 

LarryD2
#14How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:20pm

It really varies. They will give the best seats first come first serve.


That is not accurate, as I pointed out in my initial post. Whenever you go, they will give you the best seats that are currently available. There is no guarantee that showing up right at 3 will score you a better seat than showing up at 7:30 -- in fact, it's often the opposite.

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Someone in a Tree2
#15How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:27pm

I'm a big fan of heading to the TKTS booth a half hour before showtime-- there's never more than 1 or 2 folks in front of most windows, and I've gotten great house seats that way (for THE VISIT or ON THE TOWN) as often as pretty good mezz seats (for SOMETHING ROTTEN and CURIOUS INCIDENT). I pity the tourists who waste half their days standing in those endless Saturday morning 10am lines.

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nightnic001
#16How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:35pm

I once bought tickets for Matilda at 7:20-ish for and 8pm show and got great seats. Third row mezz, right off the right aisle.

brdway411
#17How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:39pm

I think the most I spent for a TKTS ticket was around $93. 

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mmFan
#18How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:44pm

"I'm a big fan of heading to the TKTS booth a half hour before showtime-- there's never more than 1 or 2 folks in front of most windows, and I've gotten great house seats that way (for THE VISIT or ON THE TOWN) as often as pretty good mezz seats (for SOMETHING ROTTEN and CURIOUS INCIDENT). I pity the tourists who waste half their days standing in those endless Saturday morning 10am lines."


This is good to know.  I don't want to be one of those tourists....which is why I've never tried it before.  We only have a few days in NY and don't want to spend it standing in line.


 

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Wee Thomas2
#19How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 2:53pm

"I once bought tickets for Matilda at 7:20-ish for and 8pm show and got great seats. Third row mezz, right off the right aisle."


 


Those are nice seats.  Not great seats.

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Phillypinto
#20How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 2:55pm

I don't think the rush line for Mamma Mia is to crazy. I would just show up at 10 if I were u and ask if they have rush Sears available. If not, then go to tkts and ask them how much a ticket would be. You can always say no 


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nealb1
#21How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 5:10pm

Don't forget that you can go to the TKTS in Brooklyn and get matinee tickets the day before.  Or, same day at 11am when they open, whereas TKTS in Times Square opens at 3pm for evening shows.  It never crowded there.

It's very easy to get to from midtown and the subway stops right above TKTS.  When you walk up the stairs to street level from the subway, TKTS is right there.  

natkg20102
#22How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 5:42pm

You should use TodayTix instead! They are a great and reliable Broadway Ticketing App- discounted tickets hand delivered to you at the stage so there is no waiting in line.


I've seen On the Town, If/Then, Matilda, and Something Rotten! using their services, always great seats. 


You can use my code YKFKA to get $20 off your first purchase - good luck! :)


 


Natalie

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Auggie27
#23How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 6:24pm

To clarify: You won't be charged 1/2 of a premium ticket.  I had premium seats for THE VISIT, matinee, purchased at 1:20, 6th row center Orchestra. $79 each.


"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

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mmFan
#24How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 6:38pm

"You should use TodayTix instead! They are a great and reliable Broadway Ticketing App- discounted tickets hand delivered to you at the stage so there is no waiting in line.
I've seen On the Town, If/Then, Matilda, and Something Rotten! using their services, always great seats. 
You can use my code YKFKA to get $20 off your first purchase - good luck! :)
 
Natalie"


 


Keep seeing this mentioned, but I have a Windows Phone and it's not supported.


 

delongpre
#25How long does it take for TKTS?
Posted: 7/7/15 at 7:10pm

Sometimes tkts adds great seats right before curtain so you never know what you might get, early or late in line.