How To Attend Theatrical Productions For Free

The price of a ticket for a traveling Broadway show or even regional theater productions can be prohibitive if you are on a budget. Attending a matinee performance may save you a little money, but those tickets often sell quickly. Occasionally a season ticket holder may offer unused tickets at a discount, but these offers are usually far and in-between. There's always the chance a generous friend or co-worker might buy you a ticket in exchange for your companionship, but the cost of tickets for many professional productions often makes this arrangement prohibitively expensive. You may still find yourself obligated for travel expenses, meals, babysitting fees and show-related merchandise. A night at the opera or theater can indeed be very taxing on your limited entertainment budget.

But there are ways to obtain free tickets (or at least free access) to theatrical productions, as long as you're willing to put in a little sweat equity in exchange. There are no guarantees that these methods will work under all circumstances, but if you really want complimentary tickets to a popular show, it doesn't hurt to try. While keeping an eye out for discounts and last-minute cancellations, you may want to try the following ways to get what the entertainment industry calls "comps," theatrical shorthand for complimentary tickets.

1. Volunteer to be an extra or atmosphere player. Professional theater companies rarely put out a call for local extras, but regional or local theater companies might need volunteers. An extra might be called upon to sit at a back table during a restaurant scene, or pretend to be a guest at a party. The director might give an extra a specific bit of business to perform, such as bartending or dancing or waiting tables, but it's rarely anything too difficult. In exchange for providing realistic atmosphere for the play, extras may receive complimentary tickets for their family members, or simply the privilege of watching the play from one of the best seats in the house. Contact local theater companies or directors to see if your services as an extra would be appreciated. You may have to attend a few rehearsals in order for the director to place you on the set, but for the most part you'll spend your time onstage pantomiming a conversation with other extras or simply reacting to the action.

2. Join a theatrical league. If you live in a city with an active local theater scene or regular performances from professional touring groups, there may be a group dedicated to the performing arts. These supportive groups may go by different names in different places, but essentially they function as the local staff for theatrical productions. Some work to publicize upcoming events, while others handle the box office or concession stand. A volunteer may also hand out programs or work as an usher. No matter what the position might entail, members of these local theater appreciation groups may receive complimentary tickets for their efforts, or at least gain free access to the venue after performing their assigned duties. If you want a good shot at seeing a very popular show for free, it may pay to join one of these groups and be very helpful to the incoming cast and crew.
3. Offer to write a review of the production. It is not unusual for local television stations, radio stations and newspapers to receive complimentary tickets to upcoming theatrical production. These tickets are often earmarked for local reviewers, but not every local media outlet has a designated staff reviewer. This is where you may be able to use your writing skills to score complimentary tickets. If you can contact the media outlets directly, you may want to ask if they have a need for a local review in exchange for the tickets. Sometimes the media outlets will give away the tickets to employees or use them as prizes in promotional contests, but they may also agree to exchange the tickets for a well-written review submitted after the performance.
4. Make friends with cast and crew members. With an abundance of social networks now available online, it's always possible to cultivate a friendship with people in the entertainment industry. If one of your online acquaintances happens to be connected with an upcoming production near your hometown, you may be able to obtain complimentary tickets. Many cast and crew members are allotted a certain number of complimentary tickets for each performance, but many go unused because they don't know anyone in the local area. If you take the time to befriend someone in the production, you may be the lucky recipient of a complimentary ticket or two at the "will call" window.
5. Listen to local radio and television stations for contests. Many local radio and television stations receive sets of complimentary tickets to upcoming theatrical productions, but they may have a standing policy against using those tickets themselves. This means the station may offer these tickets to their listeners or viewers as the prize in a contest, or simply give them to a specified caller. If you really want a shot at getting complimentary tickets, listen carefully for any details on contests or promotions. Local public radio stations are especially likely to give away complimentary tickets for local productions, since they often receive the tickets from the theater group especially for that purpose.

Obtaining complimentary tickets for theatrical productions can be a challenge, but many people don't realize how many opportunities are out there. Sometimes it's just a matter of asking the right person at the right time, or volunteering a little of your time in exchange for a complimentary ticket. Theatrical production companies are often willing to comp a percentage of tickets in order to encourage the recipients to invite more paying customers to the show. Providing complimentary tickets can also generate local goodwill and interest in future productions.