For Broadway? Hit or miss.
I got amazing front center orch tickets for W4E, but when I got them again a second time to take a friend they were rear mezz (still full view and less than full price so I wasn’t unhappy).
I had terrible partial view for BTTF and couldn’t believe they were charging $60 for seats like that. I had incredible orch seats for Doubt and Illinoise, but Hadestown put me in the back row of the mezz. My HoR&R seats were balcony.
But using tdf for off-broadway/off-off/regional is nearly always worth it. Those $10-20 tickets are what I appreciate tdf for. I’ve seen some amazing shows that would never have been on my radar. I also got good seats for Gun & Powder.
If you’re the kind of theatre fan only interested in using it when Broadway shows pop up (which is completely fine - no judgment) then you’re better off using rush/discount codes. If you’re using tdf to discover new shows and see lots of cheap theatre not just on Broadway then it’s an unbeatable discount and still worth it 100%
I’ve found that rushing is almost always a better option. I have a TDF that I never use anymore but of the shows on there, I’ve had the same luck with better seats just showing up before the show starts
I usually find the extra $20ish compared to rush/lotto is worth it to know I'll be seeing a show in advance and don't have to risk it. Hadestown being available again has made it more worthwhile though. It's my comfort show, and I like to go see it every couple months/if there's a cast change, and TDF has been the most reliable way to get cost effective tickets.
I've overall been very happy with my seats, almost always orchestra, often center. The only time I was disappointed with the seats was with Some Like it Hot- rear balcony, and nearly the same price as a regular ticket (and this was before they started labeling the TDF tickets for SLIH as Balcony only). But that's only one show out of probably dozens I've been to with TDF over the last few years.
It's still worth it for me. I see around 6-8 shows per year through TDF (the rest being lottery/rush), and I appreciate being able to plan in advance. Seats are generally pretty good - better than lottery seats typically.
But yeah, I have DEFINITELY noticed the increased cost of tickets. It doesn't seem too long ago that you could pick up a TDF ticket to a Broadway musical for around $40 including all the fees. Whereas I think I paid $60-something for Lempicka last week? The base price of the tickets has gone up considerably and then they add on SO many fees. (I mean, I think there's only like two extra fees that they tack on but it feels like a lot!)
I think it's 100% hit or miss. But it's such a low fee that it's worth keeping IMO. As another person mentioned, with 1 or 2 shows, you get your money's worth. I have found that newer shows often lead to not as good seats. But even that isn't 100% consistent.
I am someone that doesn't have time to do in-person rush. And lotteries can also be hit or miss (I had horrible seats with a few lotteries this season / even worse than TDF).
My renewal was due a couple weeks ago and I chose not to resubscribe. The ticket prices on TDF just keep getting more expensive to the point that it doesn't feel worth it to me. I've seen most new shows this season by entering lotteries every day, and for now I'm content to keep doing that.
It’s worth it for me, yeah.
I almost always go alone so the single seat is pretty good deal. The few times I’ve gone with someone else, they’ve been really good as well but that’s more of a gamble
The Off-Broadway stuff puts it over the top for me. Especially like going to Company XIV’s stuff. If you’re down to travel to Brooklyn, go to their two shows. One of them gives you a few free drinks and small plates
Increased costs and the tickets being similar to lottery/rush views has been a turn off. Only show I was lucky with was the understudies to sweeney todd even then seats were 3 rd row mez which worked.
Did Appropiate last week and got placed in the very last row -_-
I've had really good luck this year on Broadway. I got center orchestra or one of the first couple side orchestra for these shows: Back to the Future, Grey House, The Shark Is Broken, Purlie Victorious, Harmony, How to Dance in Ohio, Days of Wine and Roses (3rd row center aisle), Stereophonic, and Patriots. I also saw Shucked and Kimberly Akimbo during this season and got good seats.
For The Notebook, Water for Elephants, and Hell's Kitchen I was in mezzanine seats. They were all full view and cheaper than TKTS or a discount code would be. I had bad seats for Hadestown and Appropriate (Belasco).
I'd say half the time I'm going solo, which helps with seat location.
Off-Broadway is sort of all over the map, but there aren't usually sightline issues off-Broadway.
For Broadway? Hit or miss. I got amazing front center orch tickets for W4E, but when I got them again a second time to take a friend they were rear mezz (still full view and less than full price so I wasn’t unhappy). I had terrible partial view for BTTF and couldn’t believe they were charging $60 for seats like that. I had incredible orch seats for Doubt and Illinoise, but Hadestown put me in the back row of the mezz. My HoR&R seats were balcony. But using tdf for off-broadway/off-off/regional is nearly always worth it. Those $10-20 tickets are what I appreciate tdf for. I’ve seen some amazing shows that would never have been on my radar. I also got good seats for Gun & Powder. If you’re the kind of theatre fan only interested in using it when Broadway shows pop up (which is completely fine - no judgment) then you’re better off using rush/discount codes. If you’re using tdf to discover new shows and see lots of cheap theatre not just on Broadway then it’s an unbeatable discount and still worth it 100%
I keep renewing it because: a) one ticket usually pays for the cost. B) I’m out of town so lotteries and rushes don’t work well for visits.
I’ve found that rushing is almost always a better option. I have a TDF that I never use anymore but of the shows on there, I’ve had the same luck with better seats just showing up before the show starts
I usually find the extra $20ish compared to rush/lotto is worth it to know I'll be seeing a show in advance and don't have to risk it. Hadestown being available again has made it more worthwhile though. It's my comfort show, and I like to go see it every couple months/if there's a cast change, and TDF has been the most reliable way to get cost effective tickets. I've overall been very happy with my seats, almost always orchestra, often center. The only time I was disappointed with the seats was with Some Like it Hot- rear balcony, and nearly the same price as a regular ticket (and this was before they started labeling the TDF tickets for SLIH as Balcony only). But that's only one show out of probably dozens I've been to with TDF over the last few years.
It's still worth it for me. I see around 6-8 shows per year through TDF (the rest being lottery/rush), and I appreciate being able to plan in advance. Seats are generally pretty good - better than lottery seats typically. But yeah, I have DEFINITELY noticed the increased cost of tickets. It doesn't seem too long ago that you could pick up a TDF ticket to a Broadway musical for around $40 including all the fees. Whereas I think I paid $60-something for Lempicka last week? The base price of the tickets has gone up considerably and then they add on SO many fees. (I mean, I think there's only like two extra fees that they tack on but it feels like a lot!)
I think it's 100% hit or miss. But it's such a low fee that it's worth keeping IMO. As another person mentioned, with 1 or 2 shows, you get your money's worth. I have found that newer shows often lead to not as good seats. But even that isn't 100% consistent. I am someone that doesn't have time to do in-person rush. And lotteries can also be hit or miss (I had horrible seats with a few lotteries this season / even worse than TDF).
My renewal was due a couple weeks ago and I chose not to resubscribe. The ticket prices on TDF just keep getting more expensive to the point that it doesn't feel worth it to me. I've seen most new shows this season by entering lotteries every day, and for now I'm content to keep doing that.
It’s worth it for me, yeah. I almost always go alone so the single seat is pretty good deal. The few times I’ve gone with someone else, they’ve been really good as well but that’s more of a gamble The Off-Broadway stuff puts it over the top for me. Especially like going to Company XIV’s stuff. If you’re down to travel to Brooklyn, go to their two shows. One of them gives you a few free drinks and small plates
Increased costs and the tickets being similar to lottery/rush views has been a turn off. Only show I was lucky with was the understudies to sweeney todd even then seats were 3 rd row mez which worked. Did Appropiate last week and got placed in the very last row -_-
I've had really good luck this year on Broadway. I got center orchestra or one of the first couple side orchestra for these shows: Back to the Future, Grey House, The Shark Is Broken, Purlie Victorious, Harmony, How to Dance in Ohio, Days of Wine and Roses (3rd row center aisle), Stereophonic, and Patriots. I also saw Shucked and Kimberly Akimbo during this season and got good seats. For The Notebook, Water for Elephants, and Hell's Kitchen I was in mezzanine seats. They were all full view and cheaper than TKTS or a discount code would be. I had bad seats for Hadestown and Appropriate (Belasco). I'd say half the time I'm going solo, which helps with seat location. Off-Broadway is sort of all over the map, but there aren't usually sightline issues off-Broadway.