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Movies
Potential savings: 25%.Which would you choose: a night of reruns on the small screen (i.e., your pitiful home theater system) or the latest blockbuster in all its big-screen glory at the local cineplex?
Unfortunately, the latter doesn't come cheaply. Movie tickets can run $10 or more per person. Add a tub of popcorn and a soda, and you can easily double that amount.
The good news: There are ways to see movies for less. And given this summer's swill, finding ways to cut costs is clearly worthwhile. Here are some tips:
Head for the drive-in. Drive-ins are retro in more ways than one: They hearken back to the days of milkshakes and hoopskirts, and their prices are lower than conventional movie theaters. You might pay by the person (usually about $6 for adults, $4 or less for kids) or a flat rate per car. You can save even more by bringing your own treats. Find listings through the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association or DriveInTheater.com.
Search eBay. You can find packs of movie passes for chains such as Loews Cineplex, AMC Theatres and Regal Entertainment Group. These are heavily bid on, so don't expect the savings to be massive. But you should be able to knock 10% to 15% off a standard $10 ticket. Just be sure to read the details for expiration dates, shipping fees and surcharges (for example, AMC tickets have a $1.50 surcharge in Manhattan). Also, look for the phrase "limited engagement" -- that means you can use the pass only after a flick has been in theaters for at least two weeks.
Buy in bulk. Look for multipacks of tickets at a discounted price. AMC Theatres and Cinemark offer tickets in bulk. A minimum order of 50 unrestricted passes from AMC will cost you about $375; from Cinemark, $350. That means you're paying $7.50 and $7 per ticket. Of course, you've got to love movies or have a huge family (or both) to make this pay off.
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Look for freebies. Many theaters offer free showings of long-out-of-theater movies and timeless classics. Usually, these are tied to some sort of theme, such as AMC's Summer Movie Camp, which are free morning movies shown once a week during June and July. Check theater chains' Web sites for current local information.
Join loyalty programs. Earn points every time you purchase tickets and snacks, and then redeem those points for gift certificates. As with other point-earning clubs, you'll need to assess whether you'll rack up points quickly enough to make joining worthwhile. Regal's "Crown Club" program is free to join, and you earn one box-office credit per dollar spent. But you can earn a maximum of only 12 credits per day, so this program won't work well for families unless each person buys his or her own ticket. It takes 120 credits to earn a free movie ticket.
Go indie. Independent theaters can offer some great deals, especially for classics and independent flicks that aren't available in the mainstream. Tickets are usually a dollar or two below those of chain theaters, and many are even cheaper. Independents are also more apt to offer ticket packs and promotions.
Search out sneak previews. Sneak previews don't happen only in major markets. Pay attention to local newspapers and radio stations.
Avoid online ticket-reservation programs. Reservation programs may save you a few minutes of waiting in line, but you'll pay big for the convenience. Fandango, for example, slaps on an extra $1.50 per ticket to reserve online. Advance buys might be worth it for much-hyped openings such as "Spider-Man 3," but if you're dying to see, say, "Kickin' It Old Skool," just wait in line -- that is, if there is a line.
Concerts
Potential savings: 20%.Spring and summer are when musical artists come out in force, from local acts to chart-topping bands, 1960s staples to gangsta rappers. Here's how to get a good deal on concert tickets:
Freebies. Your best bet for a good summer concert experience is to check out one of the free shows that abound in most localities. If the weather is nice, you can have a picnic lunch and enjoy the music (assuming it's any good).
Newspapers list local events and may even run feature articles on some of the bigger artists and festivals. Radio stations, meanwhile, don't just advertise concerts -- they sponsor them. Atlanta alternative radio station 99X is offering concerts every Saturday from June through summer's end, with ticket prices starting at $10 for performers including Cake, Interpol and Chris Cornell.
The Internet, of course, is a great resource for all sorts of information on free concerts. Without it, you might miss hearing about the Sunset Serenade concerts at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., each Thursday, or the 1980s bands playing at the boardwalk every Friday in Santa Cruz, Calif.
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Keep an eye out for promoters, too. A lot of summer concerts are sponsored by big companies such as Chrysler Group, Verizon Communications and PepsiCo. These companies hire promoters to pass out tickets and hype the event.
Continued: Hot shows, sporting events
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