Rush Tickets vs. Lottery Tickets

[hes16]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 10:03pm

I used to think that lottery tickets were always better seats than rush tickets, but after a few experiences where I've either rushed and noticed that lottery winners were next to me or where I've won a lottery and people who rushed were next to me, I wonder if for most shows if they use the same seats for lottery and rush. Does anyone know for which shows  lottery seats are better than rush and for which shows seating doesn't change if you rush or win the lottery?

[willep]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 11:36pm

Generally shows don't offer both rush and lottery, it is usually either/or. But I imagine if a show offered both, the seats would be comparable.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:24am

I do know at Matilda that the lottery seats in general are better. The rush tickets can be anywhere they happen to have extra tickets left over - while the lottery seats are mostly mid - orchestra (to the side but a really good view of most of the show).

Of course this may change if the theater is especially crowded  - or really empty for any particular performance. But as a rule...you pay slightly more for lottery seats for a reason.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:34am

willep said: "Generally shows don't offer both rush and lottery, it is usually either/or."

 

That was my first thought as well, but I think the OP must be referring to the shows with both rush and digital lottery, which has actually become quite common.

 

I'm not an expert, but from what reports I've seen, I do think digital lotto seats are usually pretty similar to rush seats when a show has both. Some shows like Hamilton and Fun Home offer front row seats through the lotto (at least Fun Home did - not sure if they still do), but those shows don't have a rush in addition to their lotto. 

 

[Notreallysilent 2]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 11:20am

Actually lately I've noticed that Matilda rush tickets are "Better" than the lottery seats. The rush tickets seem to be closer to the stage than the lottery ones, bur depends on if you classify those tickets as good vs farther back. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 12:24pm

It wasn't my judgement about which was better. I asked one of the gentleman at the Shubert box office...and he said that if everything else was equal (attendance, availability, etc), the better seats would go to the lottery winners.

Of course, everyone has his/her own opinion on what is "better" and as I mentioned earlier, every day is different so on any given day, you might get a better rush ticket (or you might not) ..but this is what I was told the policy was.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 12:27pm

I can share my Matilda experience. Last week I was first in line for rush and got rear orchestra right, along with the rest of the line. However, when I've won the online lotto, i'm usually full view orchestra somewhere in the middle of the sides. 

The best deal I've gotten is when they offered me a $42 seat after the lotto and rush ended, and that was in the 2nd row, partial view. (My favorite seat!)

[hes16]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:26pm

Thanks everyone! I guess with Matilda it just depends, but generally is better for the lottery.

I have an experience with SOR from a few months ago. I won the digital lottery and then went to the box office with three other people to get two extra rush seats on top of our lottery tickets. They placed us all together in the side of the front row mezzanine. I wonder if they just did that because we were all together though.

Updated On: 5/22/16 at 10:26 PM

[hes16]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 10:53pm

JBroadway said: "willep said: "Generally shows don't offer both rush and lottery, it is usually either/or."

 

That was my first thought as well, but I think the OP must be referring to the shows with both rush and digital lottery, which has actually become quite common.

 

I'm not an expert, but from what reports I've seen, I do think digital lotto seats are usually pretty similar to rush seats when a show has both. Some shows like Hamilton and Fun Home offer front row seats through the lotto (at least Fun Home did - not sure if they still do), but those shows don't have a rush in addition to their lotto. 

 

 

"

I agree, I think they are pretty similar.

Also, a few months ago I won the TodayTix fun home lottery and I believe I was in row F, must've just been earlier in their run. 

[Malatenj]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 4:34pm

We did rush for Something Rotten last August and got front side box. While waiting in line, I also tried the lottery. I won the lottery (and then sold a couple of our rush tickets). The lottery tickets were front row just off the center. 

[hes16]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:02pm

Malatenj said: "We did rush for Something Rotten last August and got front side box. While waiting in line, I also tried the lottery. I won the lottery (and then sold a couple of our rush tickets). The lottery tickets were front row just off the center. 

 

"

Nice! I did SR rush last month and got front row center, but I think it's because this show has been out for a while now.