New York City is well know for it's depth of culture, adventure and awe inspiring creative nest for talent.

From the musicians, actors and street performers is a melting pot of cultural diversity and talent brimming with potential. Perhaps, at the heart of New York's entertainment is the Theater District and Broadway, from huge box office productions which sell out seats nightly to smaller Off-Broadway shows which garner a sophisticated more artsy type of audience. No matter your forte, New York's theater has everything anyone could want. More then London's famed theater scene? Of course, this is New York City and this is Broadway!

 

For the tourist coming to the Big Apple for the first time, sometimes planning a trip can be an adventure in itself, and finding tickets to a sold out show becomes a daunting task which may leave the weary traveler to throw in the towel and not go to Broadway at all. So here are some great tips for getting a difficult seat to a sold out show or perhaps a way to save a few dollars along the way.

 

First of the term Broadway applies to the higher productions which can draw Hollywood actors, thus making tickets more expensive and difficult to find. For shows like "The Producers" or "The Odd Couple" if you did not purchase in advance expect to pay top dollar from a Broadway Tickets broker. Box Office price is on average seventy-five dollars or more for hot Broadway venues, if you do find an inexpensive ticket that seems to good to be true it probably is, expect the seat to be an obstructed view.

 

The tips for these popular shows would be to simply find the box office number of the theater and book in advance, you will be able to get a good orchestra seat for around sixty dollars and save yourself a bunch of hassle. Of course perhaps you missed your chance at the box office, you still have a couple options. If the show is a "must see" for you, simply go to the hotel concierge desk and they usually are very knowledgeable and may find the ticket, but be prepared to pay extra. The true insider tip is to simply go to the theater and see if anyone picking up tickets at Will Call has an extra. Many times a person may cancel last minute leaving a group with an extra ticket they just want face value for.

 

Saturday nights on Broadway tend to be the most difficult, so if you have time while in New York, the best way to see a hot show is to simply go to a Wednesday matinee. Monday is a slow night for Broadway Theater as all the locals and theater fans who go to the Theater district for entertainment are starting the work week, though the atmosphere is not as happening as a weekend night, you should be able to see a popular production in a good seat at a great price.

 

The last advice for staying safe and getting a great seat at a fair price for the most sought after Broadway show would be to stay away from scalpers, New York City has some of the best cons around and for a new visitor with the excitement of the bright lights of the city, many are extremely talented at taking advantage of a situation. Before you even think about trying to "cop" a ticket, try this "new" technique. Most theater fans are on the Internet and there are plenty of groups and forums devoted to certain shows of Broadway, hop online and find some forums related to the show you would like to see, post to them what you are looking or hoping for and watch how many people come to help you out. Since you are all related in your common affection for Broadway entertainment you may be surprised at how helpful others online may be. Finding a great seat to a sold out Broadway show online is the safest and best way to see that perfect show at that perfect price.         By Al Terry