BCEFA Flea Market

[tgirl16]

What typically goes on during the BCEFA Flea Market? How much can you really expect to see/accomplish? I'm a student from MA and I am interested in going, but is it worth it to take the trip out to NYC for just the day for the flea? 

[jbird5]

There’s a couple of threads down the page you want to check out. It’s extremely crowded so it’s best to focus on 1 or 2 things you want to accomplish and make sure you prioritize those. I expected to walk in at 10AM and hit the Great Comet table last year and the line was several hundred people long. I would recommend the photobooth over the autograph table if you really want to meet somebody. Line up early for the more popular ones. I expect Be More Chill and Mean Girls lines to be crazy. Also last year they had to cut the line off for Bernadette Peters and probably will need to for Chita. You might find some bargains later in the day but stuff will be pretty well picked over. It’s a unique event and probably worth making the trip at least once. If you’re a Be More Chill fan it might be your best chance of meeting those guys before everything blows up. Ben Platt did it a couple of years ago before DEH went to Broadway. Once it got there he stopped stage dooring due to the insanity.

[atuomala]

It’s definitely worth it. Autograph/photobooths with Broadway stars, show tables with one of a kind signed merchandise like props and playbills/posters. Theatrical organizations have booths set up as well selling playbills, programs, scripts, props, opening night gifts, etc. It gets really crowded so, like the previous poster said, prioritize what you’d be devastated to miss out on and do that first. I’ve accomplished a lot in the one day that it runs, but, I’ve been going for 5 years so I know how to navigate it. You can also take a look at the booth set up via the BCEFA website when it becomes available so you know exactly where each exhibitor is located and you can plan accordingly.

[BPfan81]

I was planning to get there around 1 or 2, I hope it's not too late. Is Bernadette Peters scheduled to be there? Anyone believe if Hello, Dolly Bernadette Peters merchandise will be available? I only went one time and that was in 2004, I can't remember what is offered in general.

[jbird5]

BPfan81 said: "I was planning to get there around 1 or 2, I hope it's not too late. Is Bernadette Peters scheduled to be there? Anyone believe if Hello, Dolly Bernadette Peters merchandise will be available? I only went one time and that was in 2004, I can't remember what is offered in general."

That’s too late for the photo booth and autograph tables.  Remember these people have matinees to do.  The last round is at 1PM and you need to be in line well before that.  Bernadette will not be there.  Chita Rivera is the big name this year.

[CPannullo]

I’ll be attending flea for the first time this year and was wondering if when you buy stuff, if they accept debit or cash. I’m not familiar with how this works

[Alfie6]

CPannullo said: "I’ll be attending flea for the first time this year and was wondering if when you buy stuff, if they accept debit or cash. I’m not familiar with how this works"

It honestly just depends on the individual tables, I would bring extra cash though in case. 

[veronicamae]

CPannullo said: "I’ll be attending flea for the first time this year and was wondering if when you buy stuff, if they accept debit or cash. I’m not familiar with how this works"

Cash is going to make it easier on you and the volunteers working, but if you run out of cash, you CAN pay with cards for everything (unless for some reason a worker changes their mind) by way of being sent to a credit card payment table with an invoice and returning to pick up your item(s) once paid.

 

[Marianne2]

I think some of the tables had a way to do credit cards last year, but don't know if that will become a standard. As mentioned, there are specific credit card payment tables. But, it is always best to have cash, in my opinion.

[sorano916]

You definitely want cash, even coins, at the end of the day when many tables are packing up and they just want to get rid of stuff. You could get some bargains if you can just give them something for it.

And for more expensive items that you might want a tax deductible letter for... I suggest going old school and write a check. You might not spend $250 at one table but if that's spread out to different ones, all the checks will be entered into one pool so you'll get one letter for all the items. Just make the check out to "Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS" and make sure you have a phone number on it.

[msmp]

This might be a dumb question, but as a first-year flea-goer, what time do the tables open up for sales? Is it at 10am when the autograph/photo sessions start, or is it before that for some/all of the tables in people's experiences? I'm driving in from New England so I want to make sure I plan enough time for the trip!

[LizzieCurry]

Sometimes it's 9:45. Depends when people have their act together. And sometimes more stuff comes out throughout the day (though not a large haul).