Broadway shows are a quintessential New York City experience. From smash hits like Hamilton and Wicked to long-running classics like The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King, the bright lights of Broadway attract visitors from around the world. However, securing tickets to popular shows can be expensive, especially when additional service and handling fees are tacked on to the base ticket price. These annoying fees, which can add $15-$30 to every ticket, go straight to ticket sellers like Telecharge and Ticketmaster rather than the show’s producers. Luckily, savvy theatergoers have a few options to avoid paying inflated prices. Read on to learn insider tricks for scoring cheap Broadway tickets without all the extra fees.
Buy Directly from the Box Office
The best way to avoid service fees is to purchase tickets directly from the theater’s physical box office. Broadways theaters do not charge extra fees for walk-up sales, so you’ll pay only face value for tickets. The catch? For very popular shows, you may need to stand in the rush ticket line and wait to see if you can snag same-day tickets. But if you have your heart set on a particular show and some time to spare, scoring box office tickets is the most surefire way to avoid fees.
Be aware that you cannot buy advance tickets at the box office unless you are paying with cash. If you want to guarantee tickets for a future date and pay with a card, you will need to make the purchase online or by phone through an authorized seller.
Look for Fee-Free Promotions
Sometimes Broadway shows will run special promotions offering no-fee tickets during slower sales periods. These deals allow you to purchase tickets through Telecharge without service fees for a limited time. Promotions are often advertised on the show’s website, through email lists and social media.
Two of the most well-known fee-free programs are Broadway Week and Kids Night on Broadway. Broadway Week occurs twice annually (winter and spring) and offers 2-for-1 tickets without fees to dozens of shows. Kids Night on Broadway promotes no-fee tickets for families during slow months. Subscribing to Broadway newsletters and following shows on social media can help you stay on top of upcoming promotions.
Use Membership Discounts
Certain memberships and club affiliations provide access to special offers for Broadway tickets without fees. For example:
- American Express cardholders can buy tickets with no handling fees through the Amex Experiences program.
- New York City residents with a valid ID can get discounts and fee waivers through Theater Development Fund memberships.
- Student and educator discounts through StudentRush.org include waived fees on select shows.
- Weekly Lottery offers free tickets without fees through the TodayTix app.
Investigate if any of the memberships you hold offer savings on Broadway tickets. Even a waived handling fee of $10+ per ticket adds up quickly.
Try Third-Party Sellers
While Ticketmaster and Telecharge dominate Broadway ticket sales, other authorized resellers have entered the market. Companies like New York Tix, BroadwayBox and TodayTix can sometimes offer discounted tickets with lower or no fees compared to the major sellers. However, cheap tickets sell out fast, so make sure to compare all your options.
You can also look for resellers that offer exclusive promotional deals. For example, Mastercard has a long-running partnership with Telecharge offering cardholders access to ticket packs with no handling fees. Always make sure third-party sellers are authorized Broadway partners to avoid scams.
Enter Lotteries and Rush Programs
Many shows offer lotteries, rush tickets and standing room only policies as a way to fill unsold seats on short notice. While lottery rules vary by show, they generally involve submitting your name for a drawing to win inexpensive same-day tickets. Tickets are limited, but you can avoid both face value pricing and service fees if selected.
Similarly, rush tickets are sold on the day of the performance for heavily reduced prices – sometimes as low as $20-40 per seat. The catch is you may have to wait in line for hours with no guarantee of getting a seat. You can also try standing room policies, which sell last-minute standing spots at drastically reduced prices.
See a Less Popular Show
Service and handling fees are non-negotiable at popular shows that sell out every performance. However, slower-selling shows may offer discounted tickets, promotions and lottery seats that help you avoid the fees. Sort Broadway shows by average ticket price and look for options under $80-100 if you want more bargaining power. Off-Broadway shows also tend to have lower ticket prices and fewer add-on fees in general.
Attend a Preview Performance
In the weeks leading up to a Broadway show’s official opening night, producers will host several preview performances. Tickets to previews are usually discounted up to 50% compared to regular prices. Preview periods are also a good time to find promotions offering fee-free tickets. The one downside is that all the kinks in the production may not be worked out yet.
See a Matinee
Attending Broadway matinees (shows before 5pm) is a time-tested way to score discounts of roughly $20-40 per ticket. Savings may be enough to counteract service fees. Matinees are popular with tourist groups, so tickets sell out fast. Your best bet is booking early or trying rush/lottery seats.
Comparison Shop Online Prices
Always check multiple sources when buying tickets online or over the phone. Ticketmaster, Telecharge and Broadway.com are the most well-known ticket sellers, but not always the cheapest. Compare all available prices for your performance date before locking one in. Third-party resellers can sometimes undercut major vendors.
Also look out for coupon codes and Deals of the Day EMAIL SIGN-UP HERE that may offset handling fees. Make sure to factor those savings into your price comparison.
Wait Until the Last Minute
This risky strategy can pay off big for popular shows that don’t sell out every performance. As date of the show approaches, producers will gradually lower prices to fill remaining seats. Eventually they may waive service fees altogether.
Of course, waiting too long risks the show selling out. Refresh ticket listing constantly in the days and hours leading up to curtain time to find last-minute deals.
Buy a Broadway Gift Card
Many theater gift card/certificate programs allow you to purchase face value tickets without additional service fees. However, selection is limited compared to buying single tickets online. Gift certificates can only be redeemed in person at the theater’s box office. So do your research ahead of time to see if the show you want is available.
Popular gift card programs include:
- Broadway Gift Cards – redeemable for multiple shows
- Telecharge Gift Certificates – works for over 75 participating theaters
- Individual show gift cards – check popular show websites
Choose an Alternative Payment Option
If available, paying by cash or check can sometimes bypass service fees compared to credit/debit purchases. handling fees mainly apply to online and phone orders. But each show has its own policies, so this method is hit or miss. Be prepared with multiple payment options when buying tickets to maximize potential savings.
Conclusion
Scoring cheap Broadway tickets without all the extra fees requires strategy and flexibility. Your best options are buying directly from the box office, using memberships discounts, finding promotions and lotteries, comparison shopping prices or waiting until the last minute. While there’s no foolproof way to avoid service charges every time, following these tips will help minimize fees and maximize savings on your next Broadway show. Just be prepared to put in some effort for popular shows in high demand. The thrill of live theater is worth paying face value, but there’s no need to waste money on avoidable handling fees.
