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

[HogansHero]

@nelly "It's just frustrating that the theater has been working with the cancellation line"

That's where you are wrong. You are just imagining that. The only thing "the theater" has done is tell you where you can't stand. 

This also reminds me of the CPW overnight line outrages that were catalogued here back when there was a reason to stay in a line overnight to get your freebies.

P.S. Has anyone else noticed how many 1st Day posters there are in this thread?

[nellyxoxo1]

jdra said: "It is hard for me to believe that the box office did what they did because of Jeremy's complaint.Who the heck is he? I think they have been getting complaints about the line from various people for a while.

 

"maybe. but the guy we talked to did mention they received a complain from someone in line yesterday and he was the only one who complained. maybe it had been building up over time and Jeremy was the last straw.

 

[VintageSnarker]

jdra said: "It is hard for me to believe that the box office did what they did because of Jeremy's complaint.Who the heck is he? I think they have been getting complaints about the line from various people for a while."

Just conjecture but he may have gotten a response because he alleged that a slur had been used. 

We have a while until the new shows start coming in... unless people are expecting a great deal of fervor over Cats. I wonder if this will make the Hamilton craziness worse without the buffer of shows like American Psycho, Bright Star, etc. Yes, I get that these specific shows were not selling well but at least in theory, having more shows on Broadway might take some of the heat off Hamilton. Now there's less to occupy the time of people who would want to sleep in the cancellation line or camp outside the stage door. 

[rodrigo_ca]

nellyxoxo1 said: "maybe. but the guy we talked to did mention they received a complain from someone in line yesterday and he was the only one who complained. maybe it had been building up over time and Jeremy was the last straw."

Maybe he invented that on the spot just so he wouldn't say "I'm changing things because I want to"

[Huss417]

Seems nelly is going to spend the next 96 hours on this thread. 

[Emma MK]

Hey, I just wanted to say ive read this whole thread and im sorry for some of the responses youve gotten. I would totally feel the same had that happened to me. I did the line last week, from Wednesday evening to the Saturday matinee and thankfully things went ok, they went by the videos and all was well. Im so sorry that things didnt go as smoothly for you and you really did get screwed over, which is a real shame considering the hours you put in to waiting. I would have also passed over the matinee tickets knowing the principal cast was out.

 

Its so sad that there are so many people that dont understand the whole waiting in line thing and think its a waste of time. I had no other choice than to wait in the cancellation line as having paid nearly $1000 just for flights and a hostel, that didnt leave much in the way of money for a ticket. I was in NY for 5 days and spent 3 of those in line having flown from the UK to see the show for a second time as id seen it from the standing room only spot back in March, having waited just 12 hours in line and now wanted to see it from a seat. Id do it again in a heart beat if i had the holiday left lol I had specifically booked those 5 days off work with the intention of standing in line. There are people saying 'but oh you could have made enough money to buy a ticket if you had worked those days instead' but i dont see how since i would still have to book at least 3 days off work anyway to fly etc so would only be saving myself 2 days and thats not that much lol

 

I had a fantastic time in line, everyone was so friendly and by the end youre like a little family, helping each other out. Strangers shared food with strangers, strangers let other strangers use their shower, they shared blankets and pillows and chairs with people that youve never met and i think thats a wonderful thing. You all have a common goal and interest and its so easy to make friends with the people around you that youre spending days with and a lot of people dont seem to understand that you become a small community and you go by the rules, and if anyone tries to break that, everyone stands up for each other. Im sure all of you banded together to try and get your spots back and im so sorry that there were people there that were so rude to you and ruined that experience for you, i know id be just as heartbroken having put so much time into it.

 

A similar thing happened to me once. I go to a lot of film premieres (stand at the side of the red carpet) and you have to queue up for a few days before for that too, which is why i didnt really mind doing the cancellation line. One time the security that run it told us to get lunch come back by 1pm, which is when they would let people in to the pens at the side of the carpet, so we went off to get lunch. We were first in line having been there 2 days and when we returned from getting lunch at 12:00 (early to make sure we were ok) we found that they had let people in early and we ended up in a terrible spot and didnt meet a single person that night, which was a horrible feeling. Ive done it so many times that I know youre not entitled to meet anyone, but seeing the people that got there that morning a little further down getting to meet all the people i was hoping to meet was a little depressing lol So i can understand that seeing people who had just arrive get in to the show to be an awful feeling. I know ranting about it makes it feel a bit better though so im glad this thread has helped you in a way :)

[nellyxoxo1]

Sunshine31 said: "This is madness. At this rate, RRT may get rid of the cancellation line. 

Even Lin himself said it's getting "a little crazy" outside the RRT. 

 

 

"not trying to make myself or others look like an angel or anything but we that were in line did follow the rules set up by the theater. Lin himself even came out and wished us all good luck on Thursday. The stage door however is crazy. People stay out there way past midnight trying to bombard the actors and actresses. The other day Lin was trying to get home in congnito and someone recognized him from the stage door an instantly  a flood of people rushed to him and he had to be escorted out by police. Same thing the other day when he went to get food. People recognized him and flooded into the pizza shop after him. I felt so bad. He's tired from all these shows and just trying to get home and i don't understand why people think he owes them their time to sign anything or take pics and stuff. It really bothered me when i saw all those people flood to him and that it took police to disperse the crowd and basically save him. It was so sad

 

[rodrigo_ca]

Huss417 said: "Seems nelly is going to spend the next 96 hours on this thread. "

At least the Mighty Emperor of the Thread is absent and she will be able to sleep without taking care of her kidneys.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Careful, guys. Light snark seems to be imminent.

[nellyxoxo1]

rodrigo_ca said: "casedilla2 said: "poor unfortunate soul..."

But she did open a public thread on a public forum allowing us to say whatever we like as long as we don't break the law or the rules of this forum. She can tell her story on the mirror if she want every listener to agree with her.

 

"not looking for people to agree with me. just venting out frustration. I posted it on here and tumblr because this is where i learned about the cancellation line in the first place and wanted people to know what to expect going in from now on!

 

[gypsy101]

I feel bad for the OP only because i got tickets for Wednesday's matinee in December (some dates this month, mostly Wednesdays, had tickets appear on ticketmaster randomly) for only $190 and the entire original cast was there (obviously except those who have left the show). would I ever spend 4 whole days waiting outside to see them? heavens to Murgatroyd, no. then again I'm pretty lazy. but the OP deserves credit for sticking it out for so long. such pluck!

[rodrigo_ca]

nellyxoxo1 said: "not trying to make myself or others look like an angel or anything but we that were in line did follow the rules set up by the theater. Lin himself even came out and wished us all good luck on Thursday. The stage door however is crazy. People stay out there way past midnight trying to bombard the actors and actresses. The other day Lin was trying to get home in congnito and someone recognized him from the stage door an instantly  a flood of people rushed to him and he had to be escorted out by police. Same thing the other day when he went to get food. People recognized him and flooded into the pizza shop after him. I felt so bad. He's tired from all these shows and just trying to get home and i don't understand why people think he owes them their time to sign anything or take pics and stuff. It really bothered me when i saw all those people flood to him and that it took police to disperse the crowd and basically save him. It was so sad"

That was what I was talking about. "Fans"

Your boss sure is a compreensible person, Emma MK

[nellyxoxo1]

HogansHero said: "@nelly "It's just frustrating that the theater has been working with the cancellation line"

That's where you are wrong. You are just imagining that. The only thing "the theater" has done is tell you where you can't stand. 

This also reminds me of the CPW overnight line outrages that were catalogued here back when there was a reason to stay in a line overnight to get your freebies.

P.S. Has anyone else noticed how many 1st Day posters there are in this thread?

 

"no. Im pretty sure i'm not imagining that when a line manager from the theater themselves has called from that very same line before. Also, that ticket was not a freebie, i promise you the line would have been way longer and way more out of control if that was the case. I did notice that. Maybe it's a popular subject, maybe people wanna put in their two cents. Doesn't bother me, everyone is allowed to their opinions.

 

[rodrigo_ca]

nellyxoxo1 said: "not looking for people to agree with me. just venting out frustration. I posted it on here and tumblr because this is where i learned about the cancellation line in the first place and wanted people to know what to expect going in from now on!"

Didn't said you were, dear. But casedilla2 did.

 

[nellyxoxo1]

rodrigo_ca said: "nellyxoxo1 said: "not looking for people to agree with me. just venting out frustration. I posted it on here and tumblr because this is where i learned about the cancellation line in the first place and wanted people to know what to expect going in from now on!"

Didn't said you were, dear. But casedilla2 did.

 

 

"sorry, first day using this. I'm still working out the mechanics lol

 

[nellyxoxo1]

Auggie27 said: "Hogan's clearly set-forth rules should be read by anyone and everyone who has ever approached a theater with expectations (and moral indignation) about management's responsibility to consumers. 

The bigger issue here is one that must come from old(er) fartville.  Maturation -- character growth -- happens when we learn the limitations of our entitlement.  Isn't HAMILTON the perfect vehicle for said growth in 2016? Someone said to me at the TKTS line only yesterday, re HAMILTON, and petulantly: "I should be able to buy a good seat for $145!"  That phrase, "I should be able to {fill in the blank} ..." says it all. It probably defines Brexit, Trumpism, whatever the personal lack du jour disconnecting our entitlement from the culture's cruel ability to yank away our fix with "not so fast!"  

But I'm a sentimentalist.  I think the OP-er will see HAMILTON, and some day look back on those 96 hours, the tears, the sweaty grabby people, the ingratitude, O the humanity, the glare of that marquee, the sheer adventure, like it was  ... what?  ... Woodstock?  And laugh.  Tragedy plus time equals comedy.   

 

"Lmao. It wasn't that extreme. People were super nice and no one was grabby haha! But yes; Tragedy plus time equals comedy!

 

[Anakela]

HogansHero said: "to attempt to bring some closure to this (good luck with that, right?), let's summarize:

1. There are no rules.

2. As with every other show in the world:

    a. There is no guarantee there will be cancellations. There is also no guarantee they will be distributed to any line, on any basis. If a VIP calls the press agent at 4PM, those tickets will magically become house seats. 

    b. There is no procedure regarding when any cancellations are released. It can be at any time when they feel like it. 

    c. The box office has nothing to do with the administration of a line on the street; the only involvement of theatre staff and/or security is to make sure ingress and egress are not impeded.

    d. If there are tickets to be distributed as cancellations, fairness suggests they should be distributed first come first served at the time they decide to sell them. If you are not first in line at that point, you are by definition not there at the time. Leaving because of some self-appointed Emperor of the Line grants you leave to do so is inherently preposterous. 

   e. All of this should be against the law.

3. I can't help but hear parallels between this outrage and the outrage of others when actors have the temerity to skip the stage door after folks have been waiting patiently.

 

"

All of this, basically, except for the fact that there are rules. And I don't mean fan-made rules, I'm talking about the actual cancellation line rules posted at the RR. The first of which is "patrons may not swap out or hold places on the line."

So if I don't know any better (or, hey, even if maybe I am an ass), and I try and join the cancellation line, but I get told by other people on line (not any actual theatre staff) "oh, this is the actual list of the line, on this sheet of paper. even though these people aren't here, because they're off showering and sleeping. so you have to put your name on the list, and you'll be in the line after the 20+ people who aren't here," well I would probably question the staff and complain too.

Sounds like the RR mistake was in abiding by these fan rules and fan lists for too long. 

 

[Anakela]

HogansHero said: "@nelly "It's just frustrating that the theater has been working with the cancellation line"

That's where you are wrong. You are just imagining that. The only thing "the theater" has done is tell you where you can't stand. 

This also reminds me of the CPW overnight line outrages that were catalogued here back when there was a reason to stay in a line overnight to get your freebies.

P.S. Has anyone else noticed how many 1st Day posters there are in this thread?

"

What were/have been the Shakespeare in the Park outrages? I did that overnight wait once, and I found it very well run: staff was very quick to send to the back of the line those who tried to cut in at 6am when the park opened, hey'd walk the line asking if anyone had any complaints (basically speak up now if your neighbor cut, or forever hold your peace), you could get off the line for the restroom and that was it - food had to be delivered to you on line, no leaving toget food, etc. 

[scrapedknees]

Sorry if this was mentioned before but you waited on line for 96 hours for tickets to a show that people are buying a over 6 months in advance to see, AFTER the leads leaving is announced and passed up tickets that were offered because the cast wasn't who you wanted to see and are now mad you got screwed over? i get being disappointed but picking and choosing your actual show with the cast you want to see and expecting fairness is kind of impossible. not to be rude but its a cancellation line being run by the honor system. there are zero rules to abide by other than the ones posted on the wall by the theater. 

[Bell0708]

_IrisTInkerbell said: "A few thoughts:

I think it's hypocritical to basically shame the OP for waiting in line for 96 hours instead of spending $2000. You think it's ridiculous to wait in line that long? Well, I would never do that either, ever, but I also think it's just as ridiculous to spend that kinda money on tickets for anything and would never ever do that either. So clearly that's just a difference of opinion and it's up to everyone to decide what they want to spend their money or time on.

I think the OP has the right to be upset, anyone would be, even if you only waited 2 or 3 hours, instead of days. There was a system that worked and was followed for what sounds like a significant amount of time, and then was suddenly abandoned. Sure, life is unfair, but that doesn't mean you can't be upset..

 

That being said, this is the first time I read about the cancellation line, and it's ridiculous. And once again Hamilton would just have to look across the pond to Harry Potter. They allow theater goes, if they can't make it (because you bought tickets up to 15 months in advance...) to return their tickets to the box office and patrons will receive a full refund if the tickets are resold (at face value by the BO). Every performance has a wait list online, so I think the resale is pretty much guaranteed, and people don't have to continuously check if seats become available again, it's taken care off for them with the wait list - everything online without people having to camp out in front of the theater! If Hamilton is annoyed by the people in the line, get a new system that saves everyone involved times and nerves...

Took the words right out of my mouth!  And 2 grand for a Bway show is ridiculous, I don't care how popular or good it is.  Sorry you had to waste 4 days of your life that you'll never get back, Nelly, may ur next Bway show be awesome!

 

 

[ashk8177]

All of this, basically, except for the fact that there are rules. And I don't mean fan-made rules, I'm talking about the actual cancellation line rules posted at the RR. The first of which is "patrons may not swap out or hold places on the line."

So if I don't know any better (or, hey, even if maybe I am an ass), and I try and join the cancellation line, but I get told by other people on line (not any actual theatre staff) "oh, this is the actual list of the line, on this sheet of paper. even though these people aren't here, because they're off showering and sleeping. so you have to put your name on the list, and you'll be in the line after the 20+ people who aren't here," well I would probably question the staff and complain too.

Sounds like the RR mistake was in abiding by these fan rules and fan lists for too long. 

Good point, I see what you are saying. However, they make everyone leave for approximately three hours for each showtime, so the list doesn't isn't just used for people showering or eating. I really don't know what the solution is to this mess.

 



 

 

"

 

[casedilla2]

Yes, the problem is I think a lot of people in this thread think that they were keeping a list in order to be able to leave the line whenever they pleased. In reality, this list came into place because the theater requires that everyone leave the area completely for several hours during the show. So, they followed this rule, and then from my understanding, the theater then gave away their spots to people who did not follow the time and formed a line in front of the theater during the show. Not cool. 

[schubox]

ashk8177 said: "

Good point, I see what you are saying. However, they make everyone leave for approximately three hours for each showtime, so the list doesn't isn't just used for people showering or eating. I really don't know what the solution is to this mess.

 



 

 

"

 

 

"

Get rid of the line. It would be best for everyone 

[schubox]

ashk8177 said: "

Good point, I see what you are saying. However, they make everyone leave for approximately three hours for each showtime, so the list doesn't isn't just used for people showering or eating. I really don't know what the solution is to this mess.

 



 

 

"

 

 

"

Get rid of the line. It would be best for everyone 

[casedilla2]

@schubox, how do you propose they sell those tickets then? They're not going to let them go unsold and lose thousands of dollars. 

[nellyxoxo1]

scrapedknees said: "Sorry if this was mentioned before but you waited on line for 96 hours for tickets to a show that people are buying a over 6 months in advance to see, AFTER the leads leaving is announced and passed up tickets that were offered because the cast wasn't who you wanted to see and are now mad you got screwed over? i get being disappointed but picking and choosing your actual show with the cast you want to see and expecting fairness is kind of impossible. not to be rude but its a cancellation line being run by the honor system. there are zero rules to abide by other than the ones posted on the wall by the theater. 

 

"I have to agree. I got greedy but like i said, I did come to see it with Lin, Leslie and Phillipa and all three were out for that performance so i took a risk and it didn't pay off. Also I'm sure most people would rather buy their ticket from the comfort of their home instead of spending four days out in the streets with no guarantee of getting one or not, as obvious from my experience. I had the chance and the free time to do this line this week so i did. The honor system is just so random people don't show up and take the place of someone who had been waiting there for days. This line was made so that abiding by the rules posted on the wall goes as smoothly as possible. It worked perfectly for three days. Or would you just prefer for the cancellation line to turn into a bloodbath (cause it will with show especially since the three main are leaving) with people fighting over who is where in line? All thats gonna lead to is bad publicity for the theater and the cancellation line being taken away. Then less people can see this show that so many want to see.