Midtown daytime parking in Manhattan

I work in Brooklyn and occasionally need to go into meetings near Herald Square for 2-3 hours. What's everyone's experience with parking in Midtown Manhattan? Do I need to just suck it up and pay for metered parking, or can you scoot by in a chill spot? I occasionally park in other areas in Manhattan and usually can find free parking with no issues, but never this zone. Just asking re: ticketing/towing, not security.