MY HAMILTON CANCELLATION LINE EXPERIENCE AND HOW WE ALL GOT F***ED OVER IN THE END

[Kad]

They're not passionate. They're hangers on. When the next big thing comes, they'll jump ship.

[Jordan Catalano]

And this one pretty much sums the entire thing up. 

"I feel so bad for you for all of this but this part especially pissed me off as it reminded me of being at a rally for Bernie this year where me and my friends waited hours to get in and people who got in on a whim 20 minutes before it started and got on the floor complaining about not being able to see."

[HogansHero]

@Kad "I don't know how much the theatre can prevent..." Perhaps lost in all of this is that a theatre cannot control the public sidewalk; the only real option they have is to call the cops. Obviously, theatres often do control the sidewalk consensually, and in this case they are doing the city's bidding. But you nailed the issue. You can also break in line trying to get into the ticket once you have your ticket, as some people do although in that case the theatre security has a stronger arm. 

[WhizzerMarvin]

It's true that neither the producers nor the Richard Rodgers can truly control or police a public sidewalk, but if they did a better job laying down the law in re: to the rules of the line I believe those waiting would obey. People seem to be patient and well-behaved overall. I think they're looking for order, and whether they have real legal authority or not I think it could only help and not harm the situation to have all policies clarified.

[neonlightsxo]

"I think my favorite part of this is that the OP- and numerous others in this nonsense "unofficial line to wait in line"- could have gotten matinee tickets but decided not to because the cast attendance for that performance was not ideal for them."

 

Yup. It's hilarious, actually.

[PalJoey]

So did the OP call the kid in the picture a "faggot" or not?

[sarahb22]

Anakela said: "Some friends and I were discussing what the situation outside the RR is going to look like at 10am on Wednesday, when the cancellation line "officially reopens." I'm picturing something like this:"

Nah, there's no blood spilled in that video.  The stampede at the cancellation line will be MUCH worse.

As for the RRT taking any official responsibility for the line: That won't happen. Not only is it a public sidewalk, but taking responsibility opens them up to so much liability that they'd be fielding stupid lawsuits for months - "I stood in line for 96 hours and didn't get tickets", "Someone cut in front of me", "Nobody told me Lin would be out today, I lost a day at work!".   It's much easier for them to say, "You're on your own" and step back because really, they don't have anything to do with that line. It's not their circus or their monkeys.

Of course, what that means is that the line really is, essentially, Lord of the Flies. Whoever has the strongest will makes and enforces the rules.  If someone arbitrarily decided "Hey, let's line up alphabetically" and they were enough of a bully to make it happen, that's what would happen, and anyone in line who didn't like it wouldn't have any recourse.   There isn't any fair or unfair, it's just whatever is decided by whoever takes charge.  When you step into that sort of arena, you surrender yourself to anarchy.  And that's pretty much what's happening now.

[broadwayguy91]

Jeremy the ****is kinda cute.

[wonkit]

I honestly feel like I hit the wrong button and found myself on an international discussion of Brexit. 

[Brian07663NJ]

This would completely be a nonevent if the producers of this show just sold tickets ahead of time from a central location or an online source. Either of those resources should have the ability to have a calendar and seating chart to prevent people from complaining about having to wait outside for days on end, sleeping overnight on the sidewalk, not showering, making videos "My name is Mary Jane and I am number...", getting into arguments with strangers, the need to create a system of rules and hierarchy. 

[Kad]

wonkit said: "I honestly feel like I hit the wrong button and found myself on an international discussion of Brexit. "

The unofficial line-to-wait-in-line at Hamilton is FAR more important than the dissolution of European unity. Far more important than anything. Didn't you read the initial post? This is SOCIETAL COLLAPSE.

[indytallguy]

I'm beginning to think this thread is now the first draft of a 2017 entry into the New York City Fringe Festival.

 

One by one the performer form a line at the front of the stage, drawing powerful flashbacks to A Chorus Line.  Suddenly they erupt in song:


God I hope I get it.

I hope I get it.

How many tickets are still left?

Will I again be just bereft?

[aaaaaa15]

Perhaps there should be a referendum on whether to get rid of the cancellation line or not.

[smidge]

Waiting for the merchandise.  A T shirt: "I waited 96 hours in this cancellation line and all I got was f****d".

[haterobics]

sarahb22 said: "Of course, what that means is that the line really is, essentially, Lord of the Flies. Whoever has the strongest will makes and enforces the rules."

So Jeremy is Jack in this case, and the OP is Piggy?

[HogansHero]

@whizzer "if they did a better job laying down the law "

the theatre's rules are crystal clear. 

[wonkit]

Wait, Kad! I thought it was the OFFICIALLY unofficial line-to-wait-in-line. I demand a second referendum. And leave Scotland out of it.

[Phantom4ever]

My first reaction to reading about these insane cancellation line experiences is to say that people like the OP are crazy but thank goodness Hamilton was not around when I was 19 because I think I may have been one of the crazies sleeping outside for tickets.  But then again I was 19 at the height of the Rent craziness and I never wanted to sleep outside for tickets lol.  

[Kad]

The official parliament of the official unofficial line-to-wait-in-line will have to vote. But not until their daily session of having everyone report their name and line number via video.

[pupscotch]

Someone on Reddit had a good idea. Give the tickets to the SRO patrons and abolish the line. Of course, the show would make less money, but it would be fairer.

[haterobics]

Does the Hamilton line roll call video go like this?

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/cheer-squad/n41630

[Mister Matt]

Either of those resources should have the ability to have a calendar and seating chart to prevent people from complaining about having to wait outside for days on end, sleeping overnight on the sidewalk, not showering, making videos "My name is Mary Jane and I am number...", getting into arguments with strangers, the need to create a system of rules and hierarchy. 

But there's no story in that!  How can one gain respect or sympathy that way?  

I remember when Lion King first opened and tickets were impossible to get.  I waited all day for SRO and cancellations and when I was unable to score a ticket, noticed that 90% of the line had been scalpers reselling whatever they got at triple the price (and trying as hard as possible to misrepresent the type of ticket they had).  I went back the next day only to find the line of the exact same scalpers queued up again (many of which were teenage girls employed by ticket agencies during their summer break).  I asked the box office about these people and the reply was, "What do you want me to do?  I'm inside and I sell the tickets to the next person who walks up".  

That pretty much sums it up and represents the attitude I have most frequently encountered from Broadway box office staff for over 20 years.  I think an incident involving the staff of the Broadway during the run of Miss Saigon back in 92 or 93 was the only instance of genuine concern and assistance beyond the basest obligation I've seen on Broadway.

[aaaaaa15]

I kind of hope someone films the mad scramble to get into a line when it reopens after filming.

[chilly]

Why couldn't RRT use TKTS? Doesn't TKTS receive tickets throughout the day, and sell them until pretty close to curtain? 

[haterobics]

chilly said: "Why couldn't RRT use TKTS? Doesn't TKTS receive tickets throughout the day, and sell them until pretty close to curtain? "

Some cancellation tickets are sold at like 8:02p.

[dramamama611]

And people would just swarm Times Square, waiting.  It'd be a nightmare...every freaking day.

I really don't know the answer.  If they just put them back on line,  they'll likely be scalped, more often than not.