When I lived in Los Angeles, one of my favorite deals was “public rush,” when all the remaining tickets to theatrical performances were sold 10 minutes before showtime for $10 or $15. Since my days off were Tuesday and Wednesday, I almost always could see the top shows on the cheap.
South Florida has never adopted public rush, but we do have a chance to get discounts for theater, music and dance performances.
One of the best deals, if you’re 22 or younger, is through Culture Shock Miami, which provides tickets to high school and college students for just $5 each. Students ages 13 to 22 are allowed to buy two tickets, and since the second one can be used by someone of any age, it is entirely appropriate for Mom or Dad to go along.
The schedule includes theater, classical music and dance events as well as special events such as the Miami Film Festival. Culture Shock’s website also has links to other cultural discounts for people of all ages.
One of the best-known deals, at least to anyone who listens to public radio, is through Cultural Connection , which provides discounts on same-day theater tickets to several theaters in Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties. You can sometimes get passes for free movies on the site, too.
Another great source of occasional discounts is the e-mail newsletter of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, which anyone can get for free. When tickets for shows are selling slowly, subscribers are notified of special deals.
TravelZoo, which is primarily a travel website, includes some entertainment deals. You can search for discounts by ZIP Code and subscribe to a free e-mail alert.
It’s not public rush, but it saves you money.
