Performing Arts Discounts for Local San Diego Events
Goldstar Events: Sign up for free at www.goldstarevents.com to get dozens of half-price music, comedy, theatre and spa offers and receive information about performing arts discounts.
To become a Goldstar member, you go to www.goldstarevents.com and fill out a simple seven-question form that asks you to choose your favorite kinds of entertainment from this list: classic rock, classical music, comedy, family, film, jazz, popular music, spas and massage, social events, sports, theater and two catch-all categories, "performing arts" and "unique ideas." That's it -- there's no membership fee. (Goldstar makes its money by adding a small service charge to each ticket.) You then receive a weekly e-newsletter listing available performances in your area, along with special last-minute email offers. Tickets are bought online and picked up at the box office at the time of the show.
Goldstar Events now has 315,000 members and offers all members an ultraconvenient way to purchase heavily discounted surplus tickets to undersold performances
Free Tuesdays: Free admission on a rotating basis at Balboa Park museums. (619) 239-0512 or www.balboapark.org.
ARTS TIX: Half-price deals through the San Diego Performing Arts League. (619) 238-0700 or www.sandiegoperforms.com.
La Jolla Music Society: Fifty percent discounts for students, teachers and others, as well as group discounts, and $7 “student rush” for those age 18 and younger. (858) 459-3728 and www.lajollamusicsociety.org.
Lyric Opera San Diego: Discounts include half-price tickets for youths (ages 5 to 17); $4 off tickets for college students, seniors and military; “Date Nights” (two tickets for the price of one); and “Family Nights” (one child's ticket free with purchase of adult ticket). (619) 239-8836 or www.lyricoperasandiego.com.
California Ballet: There's discount strength in numbers – groups save 25 percent on adult tickets. (858) 560-6741 or www.californiaballet.org.
La Jolla Playhouse: Each Playhouse production includes one “Pay-What-You-Can” performance. (858) 550-1010 or www.lajollaplayhouse.com.
House of Blues: The “2 for TU” (meaning two for Tuesday) promotion lets you buy one ticket and get the second one free. (619) 299-2583 or www.hob.com.
eBay: For high-demand tickets, you can try your chances at the online auction house eBay (www.ebay.com).
Classifieds: Check print ads and use online sources including Craigslist (www.craigslist.org).
