_
Where Should I Sit ?  ( And - Apples To Oranges )  


It is difficult to know which seats are "Best" as this is dependent on a lot of things - the specific venue, type of show, your preference, and - for many of us - what we are willing to pay.  But - there are some basic concepts that are worth reviewing..

How well centered a seat is is often overlooked when purchasing a concert ticket - but can be a very important - even critical, consideration.  Depending on the type of venue, seating layout, and specific section, well vs poorly centered seats can be the difference between enjoying your experience, and feeling "ripped off".

When is Front Row really not?.   Be careful here - row A or even 1 may not be the front row..  For some venues, row AA, AAA, or even PIT 1 would be the front row.   Double lettered rows might be in front of single lettered, or the opposite might be true.

It is always best to go to Ticketmaster ( or other ticketing agency ) and find a seating chart SPECIFIC to the event - if it is not a TM event and you are having trouble, you might try an Ebay search as it is likely that some of the listings will have a seating chart posted.    Take a look at the chart and note what sections you are interested in - I generally break this into two groups - ideal, and what I'll settle for if prices are really ugly.

Centering ( And - What Are My Seat Numbers ? ) 
Here is where Apples to Oranges come in : Poorly centered seats can be really awful !   I can tell you that - as a seller, I will frequently give up poorly centered seats and buy well centered seats five rows further back.   For some sections, it really doesn't matter where the seats are - for others it will.   Take a look at the seating chart for the Tennessee Theatre.   Any seat in the center orchestra section will have a very well centered view.  Low numbered seats in the left and right front sections are fine, but as the seat numbers get higher, the view gets further away from center.

If you were buying tickets on the secondary market for this venue, it would be important to know the seat numbers for every section except the center orchestra ( and two center balcony sections ).   Seat numbers are optional on Stub Hub, if not listed, you should probably assume that they are the worst centered seats for that section / row.   If seat numbers are not listed in an Ebay listing, you at least have the opportunity to contact the seller.  AT THE VERY LEAST, a seller should be willing to give you a range, as in " they are between 4 and 10".   If not, and the section includes poorly centered seats, I'd be VERY cautious.

For my money, I want to know the EXACT seat numbers.

Trust me on this - there is no valid / ethical reason to not disclose seat numbers.  It has absolutely nothing to do with your privacy, safety / whatever - at no point will your Ebay user ID  ( or any personal info )  be viewable to anyone except the seller.   So - why the mystery?   This topic comes up often amongst broker message boards and I have had a lot of sellers try to justify the ~ No Seat Number ~ rule, but here is what it really comes down to:

1)  The seats are poorly centered.  2)  The seller doesn't know - seriously - they are selling tickets they don't own, but will try to track down something "comparable " after they have your money.  3)   The seller is selling tickets they do not have the legal right to sell.  This comes into play more than you might think.  Season ticket holders and tickets purchased through a fan club which has absolute restrictions regarding resell for profit are the most common.  By disclosing seat numbers, the seller increases the risk of having the tickets revoked.

Arena Shows : 
For a show in an arena, Side Stage seats for some events are very nice, not so nice for others - take a look at the seating chart - you might get a few clues, but in general, I stay away from the closest lower level sections ( one on the left, one on the right ) as they offer a side view - move back to the next section for a more complete view of the stage.

Frequently, close in lower level seats in an arena setting are better than mid floor seats - it doesn't take many people who want to get up and dance to block the view of much of the floor!  If you are looking at front 20 rows of the floor as your target, include the lower level sections that are equivalent.  If there is a General Admission Standing Room Only section in front of reserved floor seating - well - I'm absolutely getting off of the floor!

Front row of 200 or even 300 level seats in an arena are frequently much better than row 25 100 level seats - keep a look out for these as they generally cost less from the box office than the lower level seats, and many sellers will price them lower than lower level seats.

Theatre Seating :  
Centering can be critical for Theatre seating - pay attention to whether seat number 1 is on the center aisle, or the far left of the section - makes a big difference !

You want to try to determine how close the elevated sections are.  If it isn't obvious by the seating chart, call the venue!  Front row balcony seats are great if they overhang the orchestra within 20 rows of the stage. 

Pit seating can be a real puzzle - they are frequently folding chairs, not real comfortable with minimum leg room, and sit a bit low.  This is OK for a comedian or solo acoustic show,  maybe iffy for a band, and a real no no for a stage production as your view of much of the stage can be limited.  In general, I always tend to favor the Orchestra seats ( especially front row ! ) as they are fixed, plush, have arm rests, and are ideally situated for a good view.

Also, look for sections that are separated from others - assuming that they are close to the stage these can be very good seats as they frequently have a short rail and an aisle between you and the closer row - a six foot gap between you and the head in front of you can do wonders for the view!

Take a look at the seating chart for the Tennessee Theatre.  Row J in the Right Center and Left Center sections is the front row, and are very good seats!  Even though there is an area for people to walk, this is rarely an issue in Theatre settings - people just don't tend to walk around during the show.

Amphitheatre Seating : 
Think of these as just really large theatres, except of course they do not have an elevated balcony. 

I tend to stay away from the front row of 200 and 300 level seats - in this setting, there is frequently an area for people to walk and for some reason, they do - during the entire show !  These areas can be rather heavily traveled and this can be very distracting.  Stay with front 20 lower level seats if you can, and yes - CENTERING is important !!

If you need any ( free ) help with ( or locating ) a seating chart feel free to contact me !!