Questions about same day ticket purchases???

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Questions about same day ticket purchases???

(17 posts) (9 voices)

Started 8 months ago by AnthonyM88
Latest reply from kenmorefield

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AnthonyM88
Member

Hey guys, this is my first time attempting to buy tickets for TIFF.

I am thinking about going down to the TIFF box office and testing my luck with new tickets going on sale on the same day as the screening. So for example, I want to see the premium screening of DRIVE on Saturday, September 10th. Obviously, tickets went off-sale pretty quickly, but I asked some employees/volunteers at the TIFF box office, and they said at 7am on Saturday they will re-sell whichever tickets they have left over from the press (that haven't picked up their tickets).

So my question to you is: If I line up REALLY early on Saturday, is there a realistic chance that I will get tickets to any movies playing on Saturday? I currently have tickets to Melancholia (premium) and You're Next (midnight), but really want to see the Artist (non premium), Moneyball (non-premium) and Drive (premium)

Does anyone have previous experience with this? Do they often release a decent amount of tickets for re-sale, or is it like 5 tickets?

Thanks in advance for your help

Posted 8 months ago #
tellyc
Member

Hi Anthony,

I've never attempted to get them from the in-person box office the day of at 7am, but I've had lots of luck buying tickets online at 7am the day of. I got three premium screenings last year (including the premieres of the King's Speech and 127 Hours) through this method.

Either make sure you're there pretty earlier at the box office or just try from home. Bring your laptop with you in the morning and if you see there's too many people in the line, walk over to your local Starbucks and use the internet to try online at 7am. The 'extra' tickets will likely be gone by 7:05am.

Posted 8 months ago #
AnthonyM88
Member

Hey tellyc

Thanks so much for the response. Ok that sounds like a good idea. I was planning on going like at 2-4am, I better bring my laptop just in case. The reason I didn't want to buy online is because there are usually so many variables when buying online, like site crashing, slow internet, etc. But than again, if I am not one of the first 5 in line, i probably won't get my tickets either.

Does anyone know if big line-ups form for same day tickets sales? And does anyone happen to know roughly how many tickets are released?

Posted 8 months ago #
ddreher
Member

the number of tickets released varies from day to day and film by film. there is no formula. most films have a few tickets but a few none. 2 am is way too early. i have been doing this for 10 years and it has been getting earlier and earlier every year. at first if you got there at 6;30 you were toward the front but last year i got there at 6;15 on the first day and was about 30th in line, but still got tickets. i started coming at about 5;45 and was generally near the front. i would think to myself "what time did that a++h+++ at the front of the line get here?" one morning i got there by mistake at 5;15 and i was that a++h+++.

Posted 8 months ago #
AnthonyM88
Member

Thanks for the reply ddreher!!

Well, I REALLY want to get tickets to 3-4 movies, so I am planning on getting there pretty early. Maybe not 2am, but fairly early! So if you see some a++h+++ at the front of the line, say hi, cause it might be me!! lol Thanks for the heads up though.

So it seems like everyone has had good luck with getting the tickets they wanted on the day of, anyone else have any input/pointers on the topic? Thanks for all the help!

Posted 8 months ago #
trinaj_j
Member

Keep checking daily. I work behind the box office so I went in with my friend an hour ago and I was able to get to prem tix to Melancholia (prem). They had just released 43 tickets and it wasn't available online.

Posted 8 months ago #
abishop
Member

The couple of times i went to the box office early, i wasn't able to get tix. However, most people say they've had good experience with that. Me, i've had good experience rushing films. I'm yet to NOT get into a film that I was rushing.

Of course with Rushing, it's better to do with with morning screenings, since earliest anyone else will show up is 6am. But for evening screenings, rush lines get confused if you're there too early. Still, i've never been to a screening that did not let in at least a few rushers.

Posted 8 months ago #
AnthonyM88
Member

trinaj_j, so youre saying in person at the box office, they realease more tickets, but not online? Hm interesting, thanks for the tip!

Posted 8 months ago #
trinaj_j
Member

It looks so. I checked online before I went to the box office and while I was in line and it still showed offline and when it was my turn, they were available. I checked online when I got back and it still showed offsale. Still check online until the day of the show and if u still don't get it, try the box office. I've been able to score online as well. Just keep trying :). Good luck!

Posted 8 months ago #
lcgorham
Member

Hey Anthony,

I have went to the box office early at least one time every year that I have gone to the festival and generally have good luck. They have a different system every year, but almost every film has SOME tickets go back on sale, even if its only 4 or 5. Just some advice, Last year I showed up around 5:30 AM and there were probably 20-25 people ahead of me. If you want to be front 10, I'd guess maybe 4:30 but I have never gone early enough to find out. Good luck!

Posted 8 months ago #
AnthonyM88
Member

Hey Icgorham,

Thanks for the advice! I am planning on being there for 4am (possibly earlier) and I intend on getting tickets for 2 premium and 2 standard movies. I am assuming the bigger the movie, generally the more tickets there will be (because of a bigger theatre) but I really want to see The Artist, and I am hoping there are some tickets for that!

Posted 8 months ago #
dejavu
Member

is it possible to return a ticket the day of the screening?
I can't make it to a showing of From Up On The Poppy Hill tomorrow at 9:30pm and was thinking of going to the box office tomorrow morning to swap it for something. Too late?

Posted 8 months ago #
ddreher
Member

you have to exchange tickets THE DAY BEFORE SHOWING. then you have to go the next day to get ticket unless it is available at the time of return

Posted 8 months ago #
dejavu
Member

right, I remember spending a lot of time at the box office queue last year :(
tnx for the clarification

Posted 8 months ago #
canmark
Member

And if you order same-day tickets over the TIFF website, you still have to pick up the physical ticket at the box office.

Posted 8 months ago #
trinaj_j
Member

Yes and you have to bring your email confirmation and visa card used to purchase the ticket.

Posted 8 months ago #
kenmorefield
Member

Quick question about ticket exchange. I know that regular tickets can't be exchanged for premium tickets regardless of availability. Can premium tickets be exchanged for other premium tickets? Can a premium ticket be exchanged for a regular (non-premium show ticket)?

Posted 8 months ago #

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