Broadway Discount Ticket Bake-Off

[amstand72]

Okay, so there are a lot of shows opening up in the next few months that I just have to see, and there's no way I can afford full price tickets, but I don't want to mess with rush and TKTS either. So I'm making up a list of all the Broadway discount options on the web, and I want to get some of your expert opinions on which are the best.

Here's what I got - please comment with your personal experiences and opinions, and add to the list as well!

PLAYBILL.COM - If you register, you get discount codes, and they have some pretty good deals, but the show selection seems a bit limited.

THEATERMANIA.COM - Pretty much the same deal as Playbill, though if I'm not mistaken it looks like they have codes for more shows.

NYTIX.COM - Now you have to pay a little fee for this one ($4), but they claim to have a better selection of codes and offer a money-back guarantee. Anyone know if they're worth the cost?

ENTERTAINMENT-LINK.COM - I like their interface and the discounts seem really good, but they charge $39.00 to subscribe! Anyone use them? Do they have any advantages over the other options to justify that price?

BROADWAYBOX.COM - You don't have to register, which is nice, but some of their expiration dates are really lousy compared to other sites.

AUDIENCE EXTRAS / PLAY BY PLAY - I like the idea of a one-time fee and then a small service fee per ticket. But if I'm primarily interested in Broadway shows, and my goal is to see most of the new shows opening up, are these services worthwhile?

HIT SHOW CLUB - Offerings seem kind of sparse. Anyone use these guys regularly?

TDF.ORG - I might qualify for this, but even then, I'm not sure it's that great. I get the impression that you have to be *really* on the ball, checking in with them all the time, to snag any Broadway tickets. Thoughts?

SEASONOFSAVINGS.COM - Some good discounts, but limited selection. I also don't get the "seasonal" aspect of this - do they only put out codes once a year?

[miss pennywise]

I have used BroadwayBox and Playbill a lot.

Theatremania doesn't seem to have discounts for the shows I want to see lately, but I have used them in the past and been happy with the results.

Hit Show Club is more like the "Hit and Miss Show Club." They don't offer A LOT and they're discounts aren't so great, but sometimes they're the ONLY discounts, which is better than nothing!

I belong to TDF, but have never gotten really great seats with it, and I'm definitely a "seat snob." I continue to join every year though because I feel that it's a good organization to support. They're very reliable.

The only one NOT on your list that I signed up for the NY Times theatre discount program and have used it a few times as well. (It's free.)

You gotta shop around!

Good luck.

[nytix.com]

I am Noel Turner, the president of www.nytix.com and I am honored that our name should be mentioned among such auspicious companies as Playbill and Theatermania.

What makes nytix.com so different is that is that we guarantee that we have the lowest priced discount ticket offers. We work really hard to always have the lowest discount broadway ticket offers, longest expirations and the best ticket availability on Broadway. We are negotiating with the producers everyday on your behalf to get discounts to Broadway shows.

For those of you who dont want to spend the $4 to sign up with us, we also offer a number of free discount codes so you can get the feel of our website and service.

If you dont like our service or the tickets are sold out for that day you want, we happily refund - so there is no risk.

I have 3 new Broadway show ticket offers that are coming up, these offers are for brand new shows where we have the exclusive on the codes before anyone else. If you like I am happy to paste them up here to show you what I mean.
Our Current Broadway Ticket Discounts

[shira467]

Wow, I like the new website.

I always go to BroadwayBox, as it compiles most of the other mentioned websites together.

Unless nytix has "special" discounts that none of the other sites mention, I don't see the need to pay for it or anything. Also, they don't have special discounts.

[nytix.com]

Yes of course www.nytix.com has exclusive Broadway ticket offers.

Todays deal is a $50 ticket discount on Mamma Mia, The offer expires on April 1st, and thats not a April 1st gag, it just happened that way :)

I dont think you will see that ANYWHERE else yet with that kind of expiration date.
We have our next exclusive coming out this Wednesday, let me know when you want me to stop.
Current Discount Broadway Tickets

[April Saul]

My TDF membership is invaluable to me, I really love them. Yes, you have to be careful with Broadway shows if you're a seat snob--sometimes I change into a better seat at intermission, sometimes I just plain luck out and get a good one--but especially if you're in any way an off-Broadway fan, go for it! It is well worth the yearly fee, and you don't have to move like lightning, most offerings stay up there for several days, not just a few minutes or hours. Playbill and Theatermania are free, so just sign up, but nearly all the codes you see there will wind up on BroadwayBox.com as well. Audience Extras and Play by Play, from what I hear, are the ones where you DO have to move like lightning to get something good, and I think you'd have to aspire to do a LOT of off-Broadway to make those fees worthwhile. Hit Show Club is also free, never seen a discount on there that wasn't the same on the others however. The gentleman who's posting here for NY Tixx will have to do more to convince me that he's got anything different, although he seems like a very nice guy! Sign up for lunchtix.com, I just got a $50 orchestra seat for Guys and Dolls with them and keep an eye on CraigsList and even eBay for bargains, especially last-minute. I got a half-price ticket for Billy Elliott in the fall from a tour operator who had cancellations that way; you never know!

[hxcmilkshake]

I gotta give props to nytix.com We saved $20 per ticket for Lion King and ended up 6 rows closer than going through straight up Ticketmaster.

[nytix.com]

I have another exclusive ticket offer, that you will not see anywhere else:

- ROCK OF AGES -
Just came out today, 50% discount, Expires May 3rd 2009

Let me know when you are bored with hearing about our exclusive Broadway ticket offers - I particularly like the response that "All offers end up on bbox", yes that's true, especially true when all the good ticket inventory is sold.
List Of Our Current Broadway Discounts

[Eris0303]

I've used nytix in the past (though didn't renew my membership this month. Just got lazy I guess). I find that their discounts usually last longer than broadwaybox's.

I've been watching for a better SP code. I'm hoping for one that, at least, includes Friday nights.

[Gary Indiana]

Thanks for the Rock of Ages discount code Noel. I'd been waiting for one to come out, and now I can get my tickets!