Cultural events can be quite pricey, but I've always had a bargain
outlet wherever I've lived - Manhattan, Boston, and now in Ft
Lauderdale. They're all are must-buy deals if you live in the local
areas. To do the cities justice I'm devoting one blog to each of the
three. Tip #1 was about Boston. This one, #2, is about NYC.Chuck O'Connell. I call him my "Ticket Guy." I inherited Chuck in "a divorce" from an ex-boyfriend. For months he held out on the name of his contact. He finally revealed Chuck as the source right before I broke up with him. I swear I didn't wait till he gave it up! Just lucky I guess.
Chuck sells last-second (1-hour to 5 days) performance tickets for cheap, cheap, cheap - cheaper than a movie. Over the course of 12 years I enjoyed Broadway, Off and Off-Off Broadway, Dance, Music, movie screenings, and other events. Prices ran from $2-$5 - no joke! He gets the tickets free when a venue wants to "paper the house". This means that the theatre doesn't have the advanced sales they need (it's new or it's a holiday, or it doesn't have promotional bucks), but they still want a full house for a couple reasons: first so that the performers don't get depressed! They need the energy from the audience; second to get a buzz going. Sometimes you get stinkers, but for $4, if it's that bad it's acceptable to leave over intermission. Never fear - many are gems and many become or already are commercial hits.
He works with local customers because they learn the drill. You call him up and he rattles off everything he has. Make sure you have your NY Magazine and a pen in front of you because he gets cranky when you ask him to repeat or for his opinion. After using him for years he cut me a little slack and we stop to chat. It's also good to know that Chuck spends a lot of time at his house on the Cape. So if you call and no one answers it means, "closed". Chuck has some strict rules of engagement -- all for good reason. Never ever EVER no-show on your tickets. It make s Chuck look unreliable to his suppliers. He doesn't care who, but someone better be in those seats. Time at the box office is another big deal. He tells people to be there 45 minutes in advance. That's because people like us should not be crowding the line for people who are spending $75/ticket that night. It's only fair.
I live in Ft. Lauderdale right now, but I miss Chuck and will call him soon.
Email me at findDana@gmail.com for Chuck's contact info.
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