Doors, showtime and last entry
Read the different times on a ticket and work backward to a realistic arrival time.
HappenHop ·
Read the times as separate instructions
- Doors
- When the venue starts admitting people.
- Showtime
- The advertised start of the program, which may include an opener.
- Last entry
- The latest time the organizer says you can enter.
A worked example
Say doors are at 7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m. and last entry is 8:30 p.m. If you want to catch the opener and need about 20 minutes for the line and bag check, aim for 7:40 p.m. If arriving at 8:20 p.m. is your only option, ask the organizer whether being in line at the cutoff counts as arriving.
When the listing gives one time
Ask the venue whether that time is doors, performance or a timed admission slot. Comedy rooms, seated shows and late-night parties can have different check-in rules. Confirm the time zone for online announcements, and recheck the organizer’s page before travelling if the venue or date changed.
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