Save on theatre, movie, comedy and extra.
I’m going to allow you to in on a secret that’ll get you play, musical, pageant, cabaret, pop-up cinema, stand-up, gala’s, lectures, strolling excursions and different tickets for a £4 to £7 reserving price. It’s by way of one thing referred to as seat-filling.
I’ve been to London Movie Competition screenings, large West Finish reveals, fringe theatre, Christmas gala’s, gigs by comedy giants and extra for just some quid every time. Cut price!
Right here’s the way it works and one of the best locations to search out tickets.
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What’s seat filling?
The concept is that venues and promoters will give away low cost or free tickets when gross sales are low. They don’t need prospects who’ve paid full whack to expertise a half-empty auditorium, so that they allocate small quantities of tickets to businesses who discover folks keen to provide one thing an opportunity for a couple of quid.
The primary guidelines of seat filling
There’s a great cause it’s a secret. If the individual sitting subsequent to you paid £50 and also you paid £5, they’d understandably really feel like they’ve been ripped off.
So the primary rule is to not inform anybody how you bought your ticket. Generally this extends to the field workplace and theatre employees! You additionally shouldn’t share on social media about your cut price ticket, although be happy to inform folks should you loved the present.
The following key situation is it’s essential to present up! Should you don’t there’s an opportunity your membership can be suspended.
What tickets are you able to get?
There actually is a big vary. Throughout all of the completely different websites I’ve seen tickets for a gig by some 90’s indie-rock legends, large London Shakespeare productions, sing-along screenings of the traditional film musicals, bingo nights and a Turner Prize successful artist in dialog.
However you would additionally see smaller reveals you’ve by no means heard of in venues you didn’t know existed.
I’ve observed that since venues reopened after the pandemic there are numerous extra choices than prepandemic. That’s comprehensible with some folks not eager to return to crowded occasions.
How a lot cash are you able to save?
Clearly the larger the present the larger the saving. A pageant might value £60 (or extra) at face worth, however be only a fiver for the reserving price. Whereas a comedy present may usually be a tenner however you’d pay £4.
It’s actually price checking there aren’t different gives out there on smaller reveals.
When you may get tickets?
Tickets are normally listed only a day or two forward of time, although typically they’re out there per week or two upfront. All of it is dependent upon advance gross sales.
Generally tickets go quick and promote out, however it’s at all times price wanting once more later, even simply hours forward, in case extra have been launched or any have been returned.
It’s price ensuring you’re getting emails from the businesses so you’ll be able to act quick when reveals go on sale.
Take heed to Money Chats, Andy’s twice-weekly podcast. Episodes each Tuesday and Friday.
The downsides of seat filling
I’ve missed extra reveals than I’ve gone to as I’ve both not been free, the placement hasn’t labored for me or the tickets have gone actually quick. So until you could have a great deal of spare time you may solely get to 1 or two reveals.
You’re extra prone to get tickets for London venues, however there could be a respectable vary of regional theatre or gigs out there.
And it actually could be hit or miss. Generally there are masses to select from, and at different instances there’s hardly something out there. So you must be flexble.
You additionally don’t get to decide on your seats, so it could be you’re up within the gods or have restricted views. Should you suppose that’ll spoil your expertise, possibly look elsewhere for offers.
The place to search out seat filling tickets
Central Tickets
Central Tickets undoubtedly appears to have a great vary of tickets, although it’s largely for London occasions.
It’s free to affix, although you must make not less than one reserving a yr until you’re a “regional member”. The charges vary between £4 and £6.50 per ticket
Present Movie First
You could be conversant in Present Movie First for advance screenings of flicks, however in addition they have seat-filling alternatives. I’ve noticed a greater vary of non-London occasions right here, although there’s normally quite a bit much less to select from. It’s most likely the higher web site for reside gigs and festivals. Charges are usually a bit decrease than elsewhere, however will fluctuate relying on the kind of present.
My Field Workplace
You’ll should pay an annual membership price for MBO, costing you £15. You’ll nonetheless pay an admin price on high for every ticket.
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+ Get a £17 Quidco bonus (new members solely). Extra particulars
Get one of the best of Andy’s cash saving content material each Thursday, straight to your inbox
Get a £17 Quidco bonus (new members solely). Extra particulars
Different free ticket web sites
Blue Mild Tickets
These tickets are only for NHS employees and allotted in a prize draw. It is advisable to register with Blue Mild Tickets.
SRO Audiences
Although not technically a seat-filler service SRO Audiences gives free tickets to TV and radio recordings for reveals like Have I Acquired Information for You and Dancing on Ice.
Misplaced In TV
Misplaced In TV works the identical as SRO, with TV and radio present tickets given away at no cost. Programmes embody The Masked Singer and Who Desires To Be A Millionaire.
BBC Exhibits and Excursions
Lastly you may also get extra TV and radio manufacturing tickets at no cost direct from the BBC.
