Broadway Flea Market Fund

[BroadwayNYC25]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 4:48pm

I am planning on going to the BC/EFA Broadway Flea Market this year and I'm starting to save up money now. Does anyone have any tips on how much money I should bring if I plan on buying a lot of stuff. Or does anyone have an average price for things like signed and unsigned playbills and poster, souvenir programs, show jackets, cast recordings, opening night gifts, and other goods that they usually have there?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 4:55pm

My magic number has always been around $200. With that being said I'm usually very frugle and only buy things I know I can't live without early in the day at asking price, then I usually come back around 1pm when they start marking stuff down and are more willing to haggle. Let me be clear, just because I limit myself to $200 doesn't mean I don't wish I could afford spend more! It's such a fun event to experience and I hope you have a blast.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 4:58pm

I usually take out $100 in cash so I won't go over that. That being said, I don't participate in any raffles or any signings so you'd have to budget extra for that. Last year I got playbills starting at $2, window cards and souvenir programs starting at $5, t-shirts starting at $10, and other misc. things like stickers, magnets, and souvenir cups for as low as $1. None of these things were signed. 

[Marianne2]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 5:04pm

It is hard to say. Sometimes you can get stuff really cheap. Sometimes it can be expensive.  Last year I paid $50 for a Side Show revival window card signed by Erin Davie and Emily Padgett.  A couple of years before I got an invitation from Cinderella signed by the whole cast for $5 near the end of the day. It really varies on the time of day and how many of something a table has. 

[smidge]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 5:34pm

Does anyone know the date of the Flea Market?

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 5:41pm

It's always the last Sunday in September, which is the 25th this year. 

[smidge]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 5:59pm

Thanks Clumsy! I'm in the city for Adele that date so it works out great 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 6:00pm

I've spent under a hundred dollars some years and others I've spent over a thousand. There's no way to know how much money one will "need" for the day. 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 7:36pm

smidge - You're welcome! It's a great day.

Last year, I spent like 65 bucks because nothing majorly appealed to me or I got it really cheap (example - a signed Les Mis poster for $10 and a off Broadway Hamilton poster for $10). I usually budget myself like a 100 bucks or so depending on how much I have because my friends and I make a weekend of it with shows and fun. Also, as others have mentioned, if it's something you feel like won't be part of the late in the day price drop and you feel like you absolutely need it - get it. 

Updated On: 5/15/16 at 07:36 PM

[Marianne2]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 7:58pm

Another thing about budgeting,  don't spend more than what you can afford.  I totally get that the expensive stuff is cool and you will be happy when you buy it. But, if having it is going to cost you being able to pay your rent or buy food, you might want to rethink its importance. 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/15/16 at 10:11pm

^ THIS. Also think in terms of how will I use this/where will I put it because that's important. My first go around on the Flea Market circuit, I bought an All Shook Up opening night martini shaker and bubbles signed by Megan Hilty - being sixteen and ridiculous at the time. While those big posters and life sized doors from next to normal seem like a cool purchase at the time, consider how you're getting them home and where you're putting them. 

Updated On: 5/16/16 at 10:11 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 5/16/16 at 12:26am

I've been going for the past 10 years or so and I usually budget around $100 and I've almost never gone over. I think the most I've spent on one thing is around $50 (in 2014 I splurged on one of the guitar string bracelets with the holder signed by NPH, Lena Hall, and Tits of Clay and a piece of sheet music from Cabaret signed by Danny Burstein and Linda Emond and I think that's probably the most I've ever spent overall). My general rule is that I get it if I think I'm going to really regret not getting it later. If I'm waffling, I pass or wait until later to see if it's still around at a lower price. I usually make one loop in the morning, break for lunch, and then make another loop later in the afternoon when it's calmed down. Last year when I went in the morning it was so crowded I could barely move and I definitely couldn't see anything at the tables...it seems to get more crowded every year, and I had a much better experience when I went back over after I ate and sat down a bit. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/16/16 at 10:11am

Jordan Catalano said: "I've spent under a hundred dollars some years and others I've spent over a thousand. There's no way to know how much money one will "need" for the day."

 

I agree with this. The inventory and stuff available is different every year.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/16/16 at 10:30am

I try to limit myself to $100 cash, with a little room for splurging on something special. Most years, I don't splurge, but every now and then I do.