FAQs

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 full 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”.

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!

Due to discretion being of the utmost importance to us and the venues we work with, we cannot share any of our current or past listings with non members.

We typically receive offers from the venues anywhere from a week to the day of an event. Occasionally, events will be listed further in advance but it is less common.

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.

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 see a show every day if you want.

Tickets are complimentary. The only thing you pay is typically 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.

For an additional $99 per year ($198), Play-by-Play members can have access to up to double the maximum amount of tickets for single memberships per event (typically 2 tickets for single memebrships and 4 for doubles). In addition to this, two names may go on a double account, authorizing two people to pick up tickets for the account. One of the registered members must be present to pick up reserved tickets in person at the box office.

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.

Log on to the Play-by-Play website daily, using 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.