My husband and I are avid theatergoers and we use rush and lotteries often but we don't know what we need to do to join TDF. We graduated from college already and use our student IDs for student rushes. How strict are the rules to join TDF? Thanks in advance for your help!
Stricter than most student rushes, unless they've relaxed in the past few years. I believe if your student ID does not have an expiration date on it, you need to also provide a tuition bill or class schedule or something else to prove that you are a student. The good news is that once you join, they don't continue to check your eligibility every year.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
Recent college graduates (age 26 and under) are eligible for TDF membership.
I've actually heard that TDF membership regulations have gotten stricter, probably due to demand. A friend of mine (a member for 10+ years) was asked to provide up-to-date credentials when she renewed her membership last month.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Very often, members are allowed to buy MULTIPLE tix. I have purchased as many as 6 in one single order.
I've never been asked to re-verify my credentials. It wouldn't be a problem, but I"ve never been asked.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I've never been asked either, but my close friend was, one month ago. I renew my membership next month, so I'll see what happens. It wouldn't be a problem, but my status has changed--I was a student when I joined, and now I'm a teacher. (God, how time passes)
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
I'm assuming that anyone 26 and under is considered good. It doesn't say anything more specific than "recent".
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Since it only says under 26, I'm guessing if you're under 26 and have graduated college, that's recent enough. And yes, if only one of you is eligible to join, that person can buy tickets for both of you.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
Couldn't open Yero's link, so sorry if this is redundant, but anyone can join tdf by writing 7 reviews in 3 months for stage grade. Stage grade and tdf
Have you looked at the link Yero provided? It will answer any question you have.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
To qualify for TDF membership, you must belong to one of the following groups: full-time students (high school or above) full-time teachers recent graduates (26 years of age and under) union members retirees (no longer working and at least 62 years of age or older) civil service employees staff members of not-for-profit organizations non-exempt employees performing arts professionals members of the armed forces or clergy
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
well, writing 7 reviews in one night doesn't make any links magically appear. I'm wondering if the reviews have to be voted 'useful' to count. I'll let you know how it goes!
Logged back into Stage Grade this morning and on my account page, there was a box that reads,
"Congratulations! Because you've reviewed at least 7 shows over the past 3 months, you can start getting up to 70% off hundreds Broadway and Off-Broadway shows!
StageGrade has an exclusive relationship with TDF, which will now consider you eligible for a coveted TDF Membership! Apply for your TDF Membership, and print out this StageGrade page to prove your eligibility. Make sure to select "Performing arts professional" when applying."
It directs you to the TDF page, and I guess you just send a copy of this page for eligibilty to TDF after you've applied. I'm kind of amazed this worked - my reviews were nothing to print in the NYT. Now here's hoping this "proof" works for TDF!
QUESTION: Are the discounts you get as a TDF member better then those discounts you would get if you just showed up on the day of at the TKTS booths? or about the same?
TKTS prices, on a good day, are 50% top price, so around $55 or $60. TDF is nearly always between $35-$40 for Broadway shows. Even better, you can purchase TDF tickets in advance. Seats are usually worse with TDF than with TKTS, but sometimes you get lucky and nab a great orchestra seat with TDF.
Anyway, it depends on what you prefer. If you want to spend $20 to get an amazing seat, use TKTS. If you want to spend less and don't particularly care where you sit, or if it's important to you to be able to purchase in advance and not spend half a day in line, use TDF.
TDF does have an annual fee, so it doesn't make much sense unless you use it frequently (although out-of-town members pay a much lower annual fee). Also, a lot of times, they'll have weeknights and matinees up, so if you can only see shows on weekends, that might not make sense either.
Personally, I was a member of TDF for a year, but I found that nearly all the shows up had student rush or some other deal that was cheaper, so I rarely used it and I let it expire. But if I couldn't do student rushes or you don't have time to spend waiting in lines or entering lotteries, I'd absolutely rejoin.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
I am a new member of TDF, and I have been enjoying it a lot so far (yay, Follies!). I check the list online every day, and there is a lot to choose from. I will caution you, however, that the TDF selection is much more limited than what you can get at TKTS, from what I have observed. For instance, I have never seen the following shows on TDF in my two months of membership: Anything Goes, Jersey Boys, Porgy and Bess, Mama Mia, Mary Poppins, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Avenue Q, Spider Man, Phantom, and many others. All these are available at the TKTS booth regularly.
So, while tdf.org does give you cheaper seats, you will not find the selection to be as good as TKTS.
That being said, I think TDF is a great deal for $25 a year membership, and you're helping support live performance in NYC.
On the other hand, if you're somewhat adventurous and want to explore off-off-Broadway, there is a fine selection of plays on TDF for only $9 a ticket.