How Close is Too Close in a Cirque Show
 

I know this will be different depending on the venue but in general, are the first few rows too close? I'm getting tickets at a local venue and have the opportunity to be in the second row. I'm wondering if this is a disadvantage....or not.

The Cirque shows tend to be on so many levels that I wouldn't want to be quite that close.

I just learned the hard way at the Cirque du Soleil Delirium show that the front row was AWFUL!!! And the funny thing is you pay more for it. That show was on a stage 8 feet tall so I had to crick my neck worse than if I was in the front row of a movie theater and I still missed a TON of it. Needless to say, I was really ticked - I would have complained; however, my friend works for the arena and got the tix for us (although we paid the $100 fee). In fact, for that show, I would say all floor seats are bad and to try to get in the bleacher seating.

I think it definitely depends on the particular show. I've actually seen most of them and I think the first few rows ARE, in fact, "too close." If you could get them, my recommendation would be for the middle or rear of the closest section at the very closest, especially if there are the usual aerial components of the show.

We saw Varekai from the FIRST row. It was pretty unbelievable. Some of the performers whispered to our little grandson when they were leaning over the stage.
The venue is quite compact so I really do not think there is a bad seat. We have sat very close for the two we saw--last time in the 4th row. Can't speak for Delirium except it is coming and is in our arena and for only 2 days so I think the setup must be quite different.
If that is the show you are seeing then take Radiofanatic's advice.

Would this seating advice also apply to the bigger Cirque shows in Vegas? We're planning to see KA and have seats in Row F, dead center. Is that far away enough?

I don't know about LV, but I think closer is better. It is just a terrific show. With the caveat about Delirium. It must be quite different since I think it must take days and days to put up the venue.

Gretchen, thanks for the response. Obviously, it's too late to change my seats at this point, so I'll have to hope they're good. Just got a little concerned after reading this thread.

When Cirque was in Raleigh (Dralion?) I had tickets too far to the side. I could see the performers climbing up to the cat walk (dressed in all back with hoods) so I didn't get the magic of performers appearing in the middle of nowhere.

We saw Mystere in Vegas from the 2nd row and it was great. It's an interactive show. Someone on the 1st row got picked on, as well as someone from maybe the 7th row or so :-)

Oh, we loved seeing the performers going up. POinted it out to our DGS.

I saw Varekai from the 4th row of their own Shapito tents they carry from place to place. Somebody warned me, my neck will hurts. No! Didn't happen! I felt fine (5'6")

I also saw people bringing their own cusions to the show, not needed!

Do it! Unless it is O, because you will get wet. We have been to every Cirque show that has visited Houston since 1996. The closer in, the better.

I took my ninety one year old mother to see a Cirque show (she requested it for a birthday present). Because she is wheelchair confined we were seated in the first row. When the show was over I asked her how she liked it. Her reply " I thought the shoes were very interesting." Apparently that was about all she could see from the front row. I am with radiofanatic on this...sit a bit further back to get the full effect.

If the show is in their tent, our heads were just above the stage. It was not a problem. I think grandma was being cute. But the rows go up a half step or so and I think the top row would not be more than 12 rows high. It is a very intimate venue.

Just saw Corteo in San Jose last week. We bought discounted tickets on the Cirque du Soleil website, but watch out for the add-on fees. The least expensive tickets were right in front of the orchestra (four different locations) and the most expensive seemed too close to the stage. We ended up with tickets on the front row of the next-to-the-least expensive area. Here's the trick: We went in mid-week, and the more expensive section in front of us was almost empty, so as soon as the performance began we moved down from row P to row K (Section 206). If you go in mid-week you could even chance buying tickets at the box office. We were able to park on the street a couple of blocks away. We'll use the same strategy again. By the way, the performance is the best of the best of all the Cirques we've seen. Totally breath-taking!

Gretchen, I am glad front row seating worked for you.
I assume your reference, "grandma was being cute" was an allusion to my mother's remark. The statement accurately described her experience. I understand that is not a universal sentiment and tried to be clear about her circumstances and limitations.

We were in the first row for the Corteo production and felth that we were too close.

Betsy, I was the original poster to the question and I too, will be buying the mid-week discount tickets for the performance in San Jose. I have never had the desire to attend any of the Cirque shows when in Las Vegas. I thought seeing one here in San Jose would either insipre me to see others or take a pass. Thanks for the insight...and to all of those who had input to my question.

Judy24, I think you'll be ok. I just saw Ka at MGM Grand and sat in row K in the center. During the show some of the actors come down in the aisles and perform briefly. They stopped right around row K, so they will be behind you. At the beginning of the show there is some limited action to the sides, but this doesn't last long. Most of the action will be right in front and not as close as row F sounds.

Enjoy the performance, Tray! Let us know if the info provided in this thread works for you. I'd like to know if your mid-week experience is the same as ours was.

We just saw the Corteo show in San Jose on Saturday night - it is my favorite so far too. We were in row G - the last row in the first section of seating. It was great because we were close enough to see very well, but not so close that we had to crane our necks to see the stuff happening overhead.

We took the light rail to the show, which was very convinient - the Civic Center stop is only a couple blocks from the venue.

Meant NO disrespect. The seating for the handicapped at our venue was back several rows and elevated.

Original poster here...Went to see Corteo yesterday in San Jose. Got the discounted 4PM ticket ($40). It was for section 206 row P. I, like Betsy, just moved a few rows down (plenty of open seats) and felt that section to be perfect. Very glad I didn't take the front row or two. Now for the performance...loved it!

You can't be too close unless you are actually on stage.

yes you can - I was WAY too close when I was in the front row - will never do that again.

I've seen Cirque shows from up front and way back. There was no problem at all with farther back, but I enjoyed the ones I saw up close more.

The particular venue might change that.

I will see Delirium in Kansas City this weekend and booked seats down close.

Keith

well, Keith, good luck b/c that's the show I was in the front row for and I could hardly see anything.

Yes, I think this show is completely different from the ones in their Grand Chapiteau. It's in an arena, at least in our town it was. Hope it works out.

I have seen almost every single Cirque du Soleil show, with the exception of some of the new resident shows in Vegas (Ka and Love) and Kooza. My advice, the only exceptions for sitting too close are "O", where you can get wet, and "Delerium", because the stage is so big you can't really see it all if you're too close. But all the others, close seats give you a better experience. Cirque du Soleil puts so much detail into their costumes you would never see from further back. Would highly recommend sitting close!!

I would sit close in one of their traveling tent shows, but for a big stage show I liked being a teeny bit further back so I could see it all.

We just had front row seats for Mystiere in Vegas and it wasn't too close...it was actually really cool, especially for the two-man team strength stunt where you could literally catch every breathtaking move.

We saw "O" from the second row and it was great. We did not get wet --not a drop.

I had the same experience at "O." I always want to be close to the action.

If you don't sit in the second row, where would you sit? If it's way back some where--take the 2nd row.