Going to the theater can be a real treat, but for many, it is one that they do not afford too often as it can get pretty expensive. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. If you want to make going to the theater a more regular part of your life, you need to know how you can save yourself money on the best tickets. And the good news is, if done correctly, you could actually secure yourself a seat for as little as £5. It might sound crazy, but it’s true! So how do you go about finding these cheap tickets? Well, we have lots of tips and tricks to help you bag those affordable seats. Read on to find out how you can secure the best deal right now.
1. Check the Official Site
First and foremost, it’s important that you check the theater or the show’s official website to get a rough idea of the price of a ticket. The price given on the official site will typically be the standard. By understanding the average cost of a ticket, you can make sure you find the best possible deal and don’t pay over the odds.
2. Shop Around Online
The best way to bag a bargain is to shop around and compare prices until you find the most affordable seats. Using ticket aggregate sites like Seat Plan, you can compare prices and look out for the latest discounts.
If you sign up for these schemes, you can begin to see some insane savings, with the possibility of bagging tickets for as little as £5.
So don’t settle for the first available seats you find; instead, do a bit of shopping around and make the most of comparison and aggregate sites that are designed to help you secure tickets for the right price.
3. Leave it to the Last Minute
If you’re prepared to wait until the last minute and be more flexible about what you see and when then waiting until the last minute to book your tickets can be a great way to get seats at a fraction of the normal price. These last minutes sales are often referred to as rush tickets.
This is because theaters don’t want empty seats, and therefore they are willing to reduce the price of tickets last minute to try and fill the remaining empty seats. This can lead to some impressive discounts; it just means you might have to change your plans at short notice, so it’s best to only do this if you’re nearby or don’t have any other plans already in place.
4. Go to the Box Office
Similar to the above, going to the box office on the day of the show can help you to cut the costs of your tickets. Although you might have to queue for a bit and often will have to pay in cash, some theaters will hold back tickets to release on the day, sometimes refried to as ‘day tickets’ that are only available from the box office. Others might use the box office as an opportunity to sell more tickets if the performance hasn’t sold out as expected or needs a bigger audience.
The only downside is that you might have fewer options about what you see if you leave it to the last minute and go to the box office on the day. But if you’re happy with the options currently showing, then you can’t go wrong, and you can save yourself money.
5. Sign Up for Ticket Schemes
There are lots of great ticket schemes out there that are designed to help you find budget-friendly theater tickets. If you sign up for these schemes, you can begin to see some insane savings, with the possibility of bagging tickets for as little as £5. Often, these schemes will alert you to performances that aren’t selling very well or that need a full audience for various reasons. In this case, you will be alerted, often by email, about the opportunity to get a steal. In fact, for some tickets, you may only have to cover the administration costs.
6. Enter Theater Lotteries
As well as ticket schemes, there are also lotteries you can sign up for specific shows or theaters in order to secure yourself some cheap seats. Often you will be required to go directly through the theater or show’s official website to do this. Then, winners are randomly selected and offered budget tickets for their chosen show or day.
7. Think About Where You Sit
Some seats will be more expensive than others thanks to the view and accessibility they offer; this can lead to huge jumps or reductions in price. For example, sitting in the middle of the stalls can offer some of the best views. Therefore, these tickets can be pricier. In contrast, those in the upper circle who are further away from the stage might not have to pay so much.
As such, it’s a good idea to consider where you want to sit and whether choosing different seats could help you to get a better deal. Using sites like Seat Plan can also help you to compare real views from other theatergoers to determine whether those tickets will give your the best view for the best price.
8. Choose to Go Outside of Peak Times
When you choose to go to the theater can also impact the cost of tickets. This is because peak-time shows like weekends and evenings are more expensive than those that are off-peak.
As well as ticket schemes, there are also lotteries you can sign up for specific shows or theaters in order to secure yourself some cheap seats.
So if you have the opportunity to go midday or mid-week, this can be a great way to save money. You can also save money going to a matinee rather than an evening performance, so it’s a good idea to think about when you can go and compare ticket prices to ensure the best deal.
9. Look for Concessions or Group Rates
Finally, our last tip for finding good deals on theater tickets is to look for any available concessions that the theater or website offers. Often, you’ll have the option to pay less if you are over or under a certain age, and students might also get discounts. Then there are group or family tickets that can help to cut the cost of the average ticket. So before you settle on a show, check out any concessions that may be on offer.