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

[casedilla2]

I'm still not sure some of you understand that the reason people left and the reason there was a list is not because they left to shower/eat, etc- it's because the theater employees specifically said that everyone needed to leave during the show and would be able to come back into their line positions afterward. Then, people broke the rules by coming outside the theater during the show, and the theater employees went against their own instructions and allowed them to claim spots at the front of the line. 

I understand the theater can do whatever they want since it's their tickets. But anyone can objectively look at this and see that there was a huge lack of organization and that this is not the correct way to sell them when they do have posted rules for the line for tickets. 

But anyways, I think I'm done posting in this thread. Those who've done the line know how it works and how this was highly unfair and upsetting for those who waited multiple days, but it is what it is. 

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

dramamama611 said: "Nelly's getting sassy.  I like that.

 

No, Indy....like the other Hamilton Cancellation thread it will go on forever and ever.  It has it's own existence now, and we can stab it with our steely knives, but we just can't kill the beast.

 Welcome to the Hotel Cancellation... Such an awful place (such an awful place) 

 

[aaaaaa15]

Yes there was a huge lack of organization but that's inevitable when people are queuing for 4 days, camping out on a public sidewalk outside a theatre that people need to get in and out of. You can say it always worked well before but from reading this thread and the cancellation line one, it seems like a huge mess. This isn't the first time people have got in verbal fights with each other in this line. It needs to be scrapped if it doesn't calm down.

If there was organization, people would be prioritizing the rules the theatre has set which everyone seems to be ignoring now.

[adamgreer]

They really need to just get rid of the line. 

[blaxx]

adamgreer said: "They really need to just get rid of the line. 

 

"

Get rid of it or completely own it. The theater staff is at fault here. Either they are going to respond for it or ban it altogether. I wonder who is going to take blame when something truly dangerous (beyond their own drama)  happens to these people. 

[GreasedLightning]

They should get rid of the line altogether. Something dangerous WILL happen one of these days and it's just not worth the risk.

If it's just a handful of tickets, they should eliminate the line and just go hand out the tickets in Times Square or surrounding areas. A "give-back" program. Completely random. Sort of like what Jimmy Fallon does just minus SnapChat announcing their location. Or what some major artists do when they are on tour. 

[LizzieCurry]

Remember when that kid got beaten up outside Jersey Boys back when it was new? I'm sure that's going to happen at Hamilton if something doesn't change.

[gypsy101]

LOL why should they give those tickets to random tourists in times square that won't even understand what they're seeing (I assume, given the demographic that is usually in Times Square). I agree with whoever said they should sell those tickets on ticketmaster before the show begins, no lines or anything like that.

[GreasedLightning]

I'm sure they could find a few people in Times Square interested in two tickets to Hamilton that night.............

You can't sell cancellation tickets on Ticketmaster. It's too close to show time. 

[Wick3]

Since I benefited from the cancellation line in the past, I do hope they keep it. I am truly grateful for the cancellation line but I wish someone from the staff was there to tell the Jeremy kid what the rules were. True, he could have written that complaint but I'm fairly certain other people have also written complaints to the box office -- I just wonder why they listened to him this time. 

I just think there should be a way for the average joe shmoe to be able to get tickets without it being a lottery or without buying the ticket 8 months in advance (if I'm 85 years old, i'm not even sure i'd be alive by that time!) At the moment, the cancellation line provides that. 

[Notreallysilent 2]

I also agree that they should get rid of the line and sell it on ticketmaster. As for the one hour thing I wouldn't think that'll be too big of a problem because it's not like every single ticket that gets sold in the cancellation line becomes available exactly at that time. People just cancel it throughout time, but the theater chooses to sell them an hour before the show. But I'm sure they'll extend the time period of other venues are already doing it.

[gypsy101]

i don't think it's too late, people buy tickets from resale up until the show starts.

[Jordan Catalano]

They could do an online lottery type thing where you enter your credit card information and agree that if tickets become available (you can select the price point you agree to) they'll be charged to you. 

[blaxx]

Jordan Catalano said: "They could do an online lottery type thing where you enter your credit card information and agree that if tickets become available (you can select the price point you agree to) they'll be charged to you. 

 

"

YES! 

[ljay889]

Jordan Catalano said: "They could do an online lottery type thing where you enter your credit card information and agree that if tickets become available (you can select the price point you agree to) they'll be charged to you.

"

That sounds pretty much perfect. It would alleviate the potential danger and unsightliness of the cancellation line. 

[adamgreer]

But, like, guys...the line is FUN! It's all about the shared experience of hanging out on a street with strangers for 96 hours!

[gypsy101]

That really is a perfect idea, someone call the producers with this idea.

[Anakela]

Wick3 said: "
I just think there should be a way for the average joe shmoe to be able to get tickets without it being a lottery or without buying the ticket 8 months in advance (if I'm 85 years old, i'm not even sure i'd be alive by that time!) At the moment, the cancellation line provides that. 

"

Wait, why shouldn't people have to plan ahead if they want to buy regular price, face value tickets? I knew that I wanted to see the performance after the Tonys, so when June 2016 went on sale in September 2015, 9 months ahead, I bought tickets (and gambled as to which Tuesday in June would even be after the Tonys.) I want to take myself to the show in December, for Christmas, so in Jan 2016 when Dec 2016 tix went on sale, 11 months ahead, I bought tickets.

Yes, I'm one of those selfish people who has seen the show more than once, which according to some other threads on here shouldn't be allowed either. 

Next day theatre tickets aren't a right. Nothing wrong with an average Joe having to plan ahead. 

[Anakela]

Jordan Catalano said: "They could do an online lottery type thing where you enter your credit card information and agree that if tickets become available (you can select the price point you agree to) they'll be charged to you. 

"

But what if my card gets charged before I know who the understudies are that night, and I want to pass?!?

 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Yikes, the people I feel the worst for here at the box office and theatre staff. Box office work can already be tough as it is, especially at an in-demand show like Hamilton, but it has to be a goddamn nightmare to deal with people who wait 96 hours to get tickets, especially since box office staff are not paid to be babysitters for people waiting in line. I get it- it's a popular show and everyone wants to see it, but come on. That's beyond ridiculous, and I'm sure the staff at the Rodgers is absolutely sick of it. 

[aaaaaa15]

Anakela, I agree on your first point. If people have to wait for an in demand show, so be it. I went to the same performance as you and also bought my tickets in September. It was worth the wait, didn't cause me any tears, fights or annoyance to the theatre and its staff.

As far as the understudies, I'd guess there would be enough people that would be willing to pay face value even with understudies, especially as the cast are starting to leave soon anyway.

[ChiTheaterFan]

LizzieCurry said: "Remember when that kid got beaten up outside Jersey Boys back when it was new? I'm sure that's going to happen at Hamilton if something doesn't change.

 

"

Seeing how insane some people get over this, I'm concerned it will be worse.

 

Ive seen the show 8 times. All face value thanks to getting tickets MONTHS ahead of time. So obviously I love this show a ton. But it's gotten to the point of insanity. When I sat in the rear orchestra there were superfans in SRO singing and dancing. I complained to an usher and he had no interest in stopping them. The only time I haven't felt surrounded by crazies, honestly, was in the front orchestra. And even then the atmosphere of people buying merch and stuff is like a rock concert. I felt stressed every time I wasn't in my seat. I'm very fortunate to have see the show so many times but there was no magic to it. I'm no one special. I just bought tickets as soon as they went on sale for months out. And I don't live in New York but I planned trips way in advance. I bought tickets the day the Broadway run went on sale, which happened to be the day I saw the show at the public.  

 

Now I'm certainly saying not everyone in the cancellation line is crazy like that. But there are enough of this type of insanity that I honestly have no desire to see the show again unless this insanity dies down. I do have tickets this winter but I may just send friends and not go. Theater is a refuge for me and going to Hamilton no longer feels that way. And it makes me sad because I LOVE the show. Such is life. I hope others are getting the joy from it that I did the first few times. 

 

I'm glad I waited in the cancellation line at the public, when people thought I was nuts for waiting 5 hours. 

[mordav]

Apologies if this has already been noted. But nelly while I feel for your situation, you seem to have worked through your initial anger and achieved some catharsis and acceptance by posting here. Think of the hundreds you would have had to spend in therapy to achieve this same effect. I wish my group therapy sessions were as effective.

[perfectlymarvelous]

They really do need to do away with the cancellation line altogether. I honestly have little to no sympathy for people who were late to the game and are expecting to get reasonably priced tickets to see the OBC now, after they've been doing the show for essentially a year and a half straight. I bought my ticket to see it at the Public two years ago, and on Broadway a year ago. I saw the full original company at the Public in February 2015, and the full original company (minus Lin, but Javier was on and was excellent) on Broadway last October. I know many people who bought face value tickets to see the show months ago and they had to wait...and if for some reason they couldn't go (understandable when you buy a ticket 9 months in advance), they certainly would have had no problem selling it. 

I did cancellation line for Wicked in 2005/2006 when it was still extremely popular, and I don't think I waited more than a few hours in line. I've never seen anything like this (and not to sound old but I've been doing the rush thing for a full decade now so I've seen a lot of insanity), not even when things like Spring Awakening and Wicked were at the height of their popularity, and I'm not ashamed to say I don't get it. 

[Hellob]

Some of you are being pretty rude to OP. Shaming them for passing up the matinee has NOTHING to do with what happened for the evening. It's no different from passing up premium and no regular price seats end up released so you wait for the next show.  There was no gamble and loss, there was a pass and wait.

How is any of this her fault? If you want to wait, you eventually get a ticket. That's how it's supposed to work. 

To the OP, was the person who changed the line someone who you had dealt with in the 4 days or someone new who may not have known the rules? I'm not sure how staff would have read Jeremy's email and responded to it with a short turnaround, his slur accusations on Twitter may have been a reason. Do you think any drama between the sitters and staff ensued before you returned? I honestly think that the sitters would have called police about this issue so while I totally believe that you believe what you wrote, I think something else happened and you're unaware? 

Eta I do think waiting is crazy but it's their own business and it's easy for most of us to dismiss posters like her cuz we already saw the show so our level of desperation and desire is over.

[dramamama611]

The police?   This isn't a legal issue, at all.