College students have limited funds, so seeing plays, concerts and movies can sometimes be tough. NYC is one of the cultural capitals of the country. Just as easy as one can find expensive tickets to performances, one can sign up to volunteer at the same events to earn a seat. No longer does volunteering solely apply to soup kitchens and resume building. However, not everyone is willing to give up their weekend without gaining something tangible.

Despite student rush and lottery drawings, tickets to Broadway shows can still be far from fitting into the average undergraduate budget. Instead of only watching the plays, get more involved and try your hand at ushering. Many NYC theaters, including the majority of off-Broadway venues, rely heavily on volunteers for their ushering staff. Greet and seat guests in exchange for a ticket to the show; it’s easy and fun, especially when you sign up with a friend or two.

“Tickets in exchange for volunteering is a great incentive, because college students don’t get too many opportunities to see free plays,” junior marketing major Samantha Yeung said. On their website, New York Magazine has a great list of theaters that provide free tickets for their nightly ushers. Call the numbers listed on the site for more information on reserving your place. Some theaters will require you to sign up in person at the box office.

First on the list is The American Airlines Theater, where Claire Danes is currently making her Broadway debut, so get out there and make your ushering debut at the same time. Visit nymag.com/guides/cheap/ushering If theater does not strike your chord of interest, why not earn free tickets to concerts? For rock fans, Boost Mobile Rockcorps is an organization that promotes volunteerism among young people; they also provide other useful resources to find ways to volunteer in NYC.

Along with a free concert ticket, every volunteer gets a t-shirt touting the Rockcorps motto, “Got 2 Give 2 Get.”