Hamilton Tickets - When do Scalpers Leave?

[BEE3]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 1:14pm

When do you think Hamilton will stop selling out?  When will it be easier to get tickets?

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 1:37pm

I don't see sales/resales slowing down anytime soon. Also, I noticed a lot of the house seats are offered in the "Resale" section in Ticketmaster for much more than the Premium prices. Is it the show selling them or the scalpers? It does seem like a coincidence though.  And I wondered if it is the show who is selling them and the unsold tickets are sold to those on the cancellation line.   I would not blame the show for doing it, since outside scalpers are raking in the $.  

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 1:43pm

House seats often show up on Ticketmaster a few days in advance for some shows, which are then purchased and resold by scalpers, since I saw it convert from normal premium to scalped within an hour when that happened. So, I don't think it is the show doing it...

[Mike Costa]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 2:05pm

Luv2go has it figured out. Hater makes a good point but it does not negate Luv2go's assumption.  It is  business.

To answer the OP, it will be at least three years.

[Dave13]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 2:17pm

Mike Costa said: "Luv2go has it figured out. Hater makes a good point but it does not negate Luv2go's assumption.  It is  business.

 

To answer the OP, it will be at least three years.

 

"

I think sooner than that. The show will see a spike after the Tony Awards. 

 

For me, I have seen the show 3 times, and have tickets for another 2 shows. At this point, I do not have any desire to purchase anymore tickets. Once the original cast moves on, I think the show loses its luster. The debate is whether it will maintain it as long as LMM remains with the show. He performed in "In the Heights" for a long time, so it will be interesting to see how long the demand remains. 

 

For me, once Leslie Odom leaves, I think I will be less interested. 

 

Also, the show keeps jacking up the ticket prices, and that is a turn off for me as well. The flip side is it becomes less profitable for scalpers. So you may see the scalpers back off. 

Updated On: 2/11/16 at 02:17 PM

[macnyc]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 2:51pm

To me the wildcard in this equation is the tourist market. Will tourists be interested in Hamilton? We read all the time that tourists make up something like 70% of Broadway audiences. I think that for the group of tourists that are not native English speakers, Hamilton could be a challenge. Also, the subject matter may not appeal.

 

I think that so far, Hamilton has tapped into a homegrown market, and, through word of mouth, has gotten people into the theater outside of the usual rabid theatergoers, such as us. Someone who goes to the theater once or twice a year is going to have Hamilton at the top of the list. Also, as Dave13 says, people are seeing Hamilton multiple times.

 

After this market is saturated,  tourists will have to take up the slack, bringing us back to the original question. It will be interesting to see what happens at that stage.

 

Personally, I don't think Lin-Manuel will stay with the show that long. He's just too hot a property. He's got to be tempted by some of the offers I'm sure are coming his way. Plus, doing that show seven times a week must be grueling.

Updated On: 2/11/16 at 02:51 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 2:59pm

Mike Costa said: "Luv2go has it figured out. Hater makes a good point but it does not negate Luv2go's assumption."

 

Seeing scalpers actually buy $475 house seats to Hamilton and then double the price within the hour doesn't negate a mere assumption on here? Rough room...

[Mike Costa]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 3:05pm

Hey Hater, I agree with you on that part and am glad you made that clear.

 But I also agree with Luv2go that The Nederlanders are wise enough to control who the "scalpers" are for tickets to their own theaters.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 2/11/16 at 3:34pm

haterobics said: "House seats often show up on Ticketmaster a few days in advance for some shows, which are then purchased and resold by scalpers, since I saw it convert from normal premium to scalped within an hour when that happened. So, I don't think it is the show doing it...

 

haterobics, you are right and I was able to grab one of those seats at regular price a few days before a performance earlier in its run. For the past several months I've been checking Ticketmaster frequently and have not seen any seats become available for any performance, except those for Resale.  Sure, I may be missing them because the scalpers are grabbing them up immediately, they probably monitor the site electronically. Even so, scalpers usually start lowering their prices closer to the date of the performance, closer to the price of the actual cost, sometimes below. I do not see that, the cost still remains well above the retail cost.  Could be they have a deal to return tickets back or they are being sold on the street. I never pay attention to what tickets those street guys are offering by the booth.  Anyway, just my thoughts and opinion.  

 

 

"