There are tables lined up down the street of both sides of Shubert alley. Each year closer to the flea market you’ll be able to see a map that even says where each table is located if there’s a specific one you’re looking for when it comes to a show that’s currently on broadway.

Most shows participate but not all of them. I think when Music Man was on Broadway with Hugh and Sutton, I don’t recall them having a table but maybe I’m just not remembering correctly.

I recommend getting there a bit early (before they open) so you can freely walk around and scope out what you’d like before it gets too crowded. The crowds get pretty bad so there is a lot of waiting. Just be courteous and apologize if you bump into people. At one point I was trying to get away from a table (that had a crowd gathered around it) so I was just yelling “sorry, excuse me!” As I pushed my way out.

Sometimes some actors attend but it’s really a toss up. Rachel Zegler happened to attend last year and was hanging around and some people recognized her and got photos with her. Another year Alex Brightman and Elizabeth Teeter showed up later in the day and were hanging around the Beetlejuice table and signed things for fans.

If you happen to see an item that you really like, get it. As an example I had bought a signed Funny Girl playbill and since the show had already been closed earlier that month, those playbills sold FAST. If I had waited/doubted getting it, I definitely would have missed out.

I had actually gotten there a bit before open my first year, and the first table I happened to stumble on had a Herschel branded backpack with the Funny Girl logo on it. The worker said it was gifted to the cast and said she’d sell it for $20. I quickly handed her the cash as another woman walked over and was admiring the bag. I kindly took it from her as I had just paid for it, and she was surprised how quick that was sold😅

But if there are items you’re interested in and you get lucky that they’re not popular, they usually end up going on discount a few hours in the flea market OR an hour or so before the market closes since they just wanna get rid of their inventory.

Take some water and a snack with you. Definitely bring a backpack or reusable tote bag with you. Most tables take card but also bring plenty of cash with you. Bring a power bank for your phone as well.

I’ve only gone the past 2 years but for the most part have had good experiences. Only “bad” experience I had was my first year when I waited on line at the Beetlejuice table. I waited 2 hours and some lady and her adult daughter disregarded the huge line behind me and just pushed their way through to see what was at the table (which I would have been fine with) but then the lady started trying to buy stuff before it was my turn. I got pissed off because I did not just wait patiently in line for 2 hours for her to cut not just me but everyone else in line. I’m usually not the type for confrontation but I called her out to the person working the table, who was already frazzled with how busy the table was. The worker didn’t understand that the woman didn’t line up at all (guess she thought I just meant she cut in front of me) so the worker helped me first but the lady was helped after (after giving me a dirty look for calling her out).

You will definitely encounter resellers buying items up as well. There’s one reseller guy that’s known in the community to be an asshole but just don’t engage with him. I recall last year one woman said she happened to be on line next to him for a table and he was just straight up rude and mocking towards her for being there.