Met net vs associate vs individual???

August 5, 2009 7:53 AM

Can you explain the differences between the various Metropolitan Museum of Art memberships? In particular, if you have one, why did you pick that one and not another?
posted by smackfu to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

Best answer: I looked at Met Net, but I don't see screensavers, etc. as a benefit. I chose individual when I was a member because I liked the publications use and more use of the trustees dining room. They were worth more to me. Met Net, honestly speaks more gimmicky-discount individual packaged to think you're getting more from it. Associate was not available to me as I live too close. They used to have a student membership, but appear to have discontinued it.
posted by TravellingCari at 8:07 AM on August 5, 2009

It took me a second to figure out, but if you click on the names of the memberships here, it outlines what you get. (Sorry if you already realized that, but I was clicking around like "MetNet!? What does it meeeaaannn?") It looks like all memberships get a 10% discount in the stores, free admission to the museum and the Cloisters, and "the opportunity to Travel with The Met."

I agree with TravellingCari, the MetNet membership seems gimmicky. If you're gonna get a membership, you may as well pay the extra $35 for an individual membership to get the publications and access to the Trustees room.

*You do know that regular admission to the museum and the Cloisters is technically free for everyone, right? The admission prices posted are a suggested donation. I'm not saying you shouldn't donate if you can/want to, but you're not required to. When I was a poor art student, I never went and missed out on a lot of cool stuff because I thought it was 20 bucks, and I didn't have that to spare! Now I'm a poor artist and I enjoy going...but can only afford to give a couple bucks each time I go.
posted by AlisonM at 8:22 AM on August 5, 2009

Agreed w AlisonM re: suggested. The members of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) are all totally suggested admissions, but do their best to hide that. I pay what I can because there are organizations whose missions I support. I'm a member of a couple, including AMNH, because I go often enough that it makes sense, but I'm not a fan of these new "discount" memberships that some are doing and not sure how much it helps their bottom lines.
posted by TravellingCari at 9:04 AM on August 5, 2009

Response by poster: Associate was not available to me as I live too close.

Hmm. Is this actually enforced? I do live within 200 miles so it wouldn't be an option. Like you said, that would make the choice fairly simple: pay 50% more to get Individual, for pretty reasonable benefits like the mailings.

And yeah, I know about the "suggested donation". I believe you still have to wait in the ticket line though, and members do not. Correct?
posted by smackfu at 10:39 AM on August 5, 2009

I believe associate membership is enforced by address, at least it was when I tried to join when I lived outside the city. That was a few years ago and it may or may not still be enforced. Correct, however, that there's a much shorter (non-existent, at times) line for members.
posted by TravellingCari at 3:16 PM on August 5, 2009