Play-By-Play was created in 1998 and is one of the original seat-filler services. It was created by Hugh Hayes, a Tony Award winning producer who has worked in the New York Theater industry for over 25 years. All of the employees of Play-by-Play have backgrounds in the NYC entertainment industry and know the business backwards and forward. It is not only their job to know, but their passion. We are able to offer you unique deals not available to the general public or any other organization. Not only do we offer a great variety of shows and performances for free we also get exclusive discounts to entertainment all over the city that is made exclusively available to Play-By-Play members.
Hugh Hayes- Founder & Owner
Hugh is a Tony award winning producer who has worked for over 25 years on and off Broadway as a Publicist, Company Manager and Producer. Productions include: IT'S ONLY A PLAY, PIPPIN (TONY award, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama league winner) YANK (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lortel award nominations), FOUR (Lortel Award), VICTOR/VICTORIA, DAMN YANKEES, ON THE WATERFRONT, HEE LIES JENNY (starring Bebe Neuwirth, choreography by Anne Reinking, direction by Roger Ree, THE SONG OF JACOB ZULU, to name a few. Upcoming Broadway projects include Kander and Ebb's THE VISIT starring Chita Rivera and Roger Rees. Mr. Hayes is the owner of Play-by-Play, the seat filling organization with offices in both New York and London. He is a self-taught Broadway Historian and holds a degree from Boston University.
How To Order Tickets
- Please read the following instructions as well as the terms and conditions before ordering tickets. Tickets move quickly for popular performances, so we suggest that you check our member site frequently to see new listings!
- Go to the www.play-by-play.com home page.
- Enter your email address and password in our log-in section and click Go.
- Browse Play-by-Play's show listings and times. Click on the performance you wish to attend or to read a description about the production.
Additionally you will see: Your name; ID number; Credit amount in your reserve account; Membership expiration date; Description of show; Theatre address and pick-up information; "Reserve Now" drop down box for number of tickets desired and Add Now to add $ .00 to your credit reserve.
- Select the number of tickets you want to reserve from the "Reserve Now" drop- down box.
- Confirm the specifics of your order before clicking "Reserve Now". Once you click "Reserve Now", $4.50 will be deducted from your account for each ticket you have requested.
Please do not click on "Reserve Now" more than once, as this may result in a double charge to your account.
- Your confirmation will be immediately emailed to you with the theatre address and pick-up instructions. Please print out this page and keep for your records.
Members will be responsible for keeping records of all performances attended and tickets used against your credit account.
- Tickets must be picked up at specifically instructed times and locations. Never approach the box office for tickets if you are late! Memberships may be revoked for such actions. Enjoy, and thank you for using Play-By-Play Internet site!
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS A SEAT-FILLER?
A seat-filler is a person who fills in an empty seat during an event. Our members help fill in unsold seats for theatre, music, film, sporting events, dance performances and other live events. The producers of the event give complimentary tickets to the seat-filling organization, which then pass them on to their members. The producers get a fuller audience and therefore a better experience for the paying patrons (and talent), while the seat-filler is able to see an event for a small service charge. Within the industry, this is also referred to as "papering the house".
WHAT TYPE OF SHOWS DO YOU OFFER?
Play-by-Play offers tickets to a wide range of entertainment in NYC and the surrounding area. Included in these are: Off-Broadway shows, the occasional Broadway show, film screenings, Off-Off Broadway shows, comedy shows, dance performances, lectures and discussions, social events, kid's shows, and many different types of music performances -- from cabarets, to classical music, to big concerts!
CAN YOU SHOW ME A LIST OF YOUR CURRENT OFFERINGS?
Due to discretion being of up most important to us and our venues, we cannot list specific show to non-members. Please look at "what types of shows do you offer" in the question above.
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DO YOU GET TICKETS FOR EVENTS?
We typically receive shows from the venues anywhere from a week to the day of an event. We do on occasion get events more than 2 weeks out but that is not the case a majority of the time.
HOW DO I GET MY TICKETS?
Posted on each show page are the pick-up instructions, you will either pick them up from the box office itself or from a play-by-play representative near the venue.
HOW OFTEN CAN I RESERVE TICKETS?
Each Play-by-Play member is able to order up to 2 tickets per event. Those with Double Memberships may order up to 4 tickets per event. You can virtually see a show every day if you want.
HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS?
The ticket price is basically free. The only thing you pay is a $4.50 processing fee per ticket after that it's FREE!
Seat filling is the majority of what we do but if a venue doesn't need seat fillers we sometimes get exclusive discounts to great events all over NYC only available to Play-by-Play members.
WHAT IS A DOUBLE MEMBERSHIP?
For an additional $99 per year ($198.00), Play-by-Play members can have access to up to 4 tickets per event. The registered member must be present to pick up reserved tickets in person at the box office.
WHY DO SHOWS OFFER TICKETS TO PLAY-BY-PLAY?
Shows view Play-by-Play as a marketing tool. By making these offers available to a limited and exclusive group of people, it allows a production to develop word of mouth without compromising the sale of a full price ticket.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SHOWS ARE AVAILABLE?
Log on to the Play-by-Play website daily. Use your email address and password, to see what productions are available. Great shows are available daily. Find just what you were looking for or surprise yourself with an unexpected treat.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Please call Play-by-Play at 212-868-7052 or E-mail [email protected].
