A Chorus Line Lotto Rigged- Page 12

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 2:34pm

The point of the matter is this is quite a serious accusation - as b12b described in detail.

People should think before they post.
Or obtain photographic evidence, as I did.

[evadiva]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 2:44pm

The mean girls sure have their claws out on this board!

And I have this weird suspicion that money is no object to them... and that they have the means to see Broadway shows whenever they want....

Just a hunch.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 3:08pm

Question: I've won the ACL lotto twice, and both times the names were pulled right in front of us- once was when the seats were the partial-view sides, the second was since they've gone (back?) to being the front row. There was no pulling names in the lobby while everyone waits outside on the street going on- is that a sometimes thing (ie just if the crowd is too big to all wait in the lobby?), or is that how it is now?

And for those arguing about the # of seats being "20" vs "a limited number," depending on which source you're quoting from, I was at Spelling Bee lotto one night wayback in the day where it was announced that they were drawing for "(X-2) seats tonight, instead of X seats" (I don't remember the exact numbers)- the fact that a cast member needed two of them was not announced, but that was the reason.

So if you're going to sell ACL lotto tix to the cast, just do it that way, announce it upfront, don't go through a charade (if it is a charade) of pulling names for predetermined winners.

And I too have been at lottos where the cast members lost- heck I watched Stephanie J. Block lose the Wicked lotto on more than one occasion in L.A. So I'm not screaming "ZOMG Fixed!!1!!" just because a cast member's allowed to enter...but, that pulling names in the lobby while everyone's out of the street, that just sounds kinda sketch.


ps: BSoBW2- that photo? awesome.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 3:36pm

"So I'm not screaming "ZOMG Fixed!!!!!" just because a cast member's allowed to enter..."

Cast members should be allowed to enter. That shouldn't prompt people to call a lotto "fixed."

The real problem, if one does exist, to set aside, say, 6 tickets for a cast member and still tell people there are 20 seats available, then pretend to randomly pick those 3 people as winners when they really got the seats as a result of knowing a cast member (again, this is just hypothetical; not saying it is true). Why not just say "Due to ticketing issues, we have 14 tickets available for tonight's performance instead of the usual 20. If you would like to enter the lotto...etc, etc, etc."

It simply just is a waste of a person's time. Especially for people who are coming from out of town who don't have the opportunity every night. Why should a tourist have to waste his or her time at a predetermined lottery when they can try to get tickets to something else?

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 4:16pm

"Since when is a ticket lotery a way for producers to be nice and offer affordable seats. The seats are **** seats they can't sell for full price because they are obstructed view or so close you can see the actors' dental work and religion. Don't mistake a producers need to get asses into all seats with them being kind!"

No, producers aren't known for their kindness, but what you're saying isn't true at all. There are plenty of shows without lotteries, and the front row's never empty. Neither are the partial view at the sides. If they didn't have a lottery they'd sell them one way or the other--full price to unsuspecting tourists, over at TKTS, etc.

The lottery at any show is a way for them to make nice with the public, deny allegations that Broadway is inaccessible due to high ticket prices, and present a good face. That's all. All the same, they don't have to offer it.

[kmovies]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 4:22pm

People did not have to pay to enter the McDonald's Monopoly game ... but when it hit the fan that certain Million dollar game pieces made it into the printer's familys hands, it didn't make McDonald's look good. For that reason, most contests exclude employees from entering.

The Broadway lotteries may benefit from that as well. Reason: to avoid having it looked rigged.

Heck - they can have two lotteries a day. The first could be for cast members and they could give out up to 6 tickets. Then the general public lottery where they would give out 14 tickets plus any left over tickets from the employee lottery.

Never should they place their hand in the fish bowl and know what name they are drawing out. That is wrong.

10 grandma's bake Apple Pies for the County Fair. No grandma had to pay to enter, but the 2 winners get a cook book. Shouldn't all 10 grandma's have an equal change instead of 9 grandma's having 11% (1 in 9) chance and pre selected winning grandma (1 of 1) have 100% chance.

Not saying they are rigged, but if they are, the person rigging it should lose their job.

Just like when you enter to win that free TV at the local grocery store, you don't want the store manager's daughter be the predetermined winner.

Not sure how anyone can defend the predetermed winners.
Updated On: 7/6/07 at 04:22 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 4:22pm

"The seats are **** seats they can't sell for full price because they are obstructed view or so close you can see the actors' dental work and religion."

Front row isn't generally bad at all theaters. I think front row can be an enjoyable experience! It's easier to pick a section of the theater to lotto off rather than have scattered seats in the orchestra, so they usually pick something like front row or first two rows.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 8:52pm

The producers and theatre owners should just codify rules and stick to them. Be above board. Set an example.

Or does that not mean anything anymore?

Maybe I missed the "let's pee on the audience" memo.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:09pm

The "let's pee on the audience memo" will come out shortly before the producers cancel the lotteries altogether, due to unsubstantiated claims of malfeasance, made on message boards.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:15pm

And I would rather have a "rigged" lottery than no lottery at all.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:20pm

"And I would rather have a "rigged" lottery than no lottery at all."

That's a perfect example of what's wrong with this country. The same backwards thinking that landed our admnistration in the hands of losers and why we have a litany of abolished rights in this country.

Start small, but demand to be treated honestly and fairly.
SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:23pm

Yes, Fenchurch, because the lottery for A Chorus Line is comparable to The Constitution.


The lottery is not a right. It's a privilege. I would prefer to keep that privilege, rigged or not.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:27pm

"Start small, but demand to be treated honestly and fairly.
SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS."

Does that include, treating the people that are being accused of rigging the lottery honestly and fairly, or only those who are bent out of shape because they didn't happen to win?

It seems those running the lottery are automatically considered guilty, even though no one has come up with a single shred of evidence that they are. Where's the honesty and fairness in that? Hearsay, second hand gossip, I saw someone give a wink to someone else right before the drawing, do not constitute proof. When you furnish the proof, then you might have a case, but until then you have nothing.

Updated On: 7/6/07 at 09:27 PM

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:33pm

I've seen it. I know it happened at least once. I'm willing to give ACL the benefit of the doubt, but drowsy does their lottery way outside of the lobby.

Why not ACL? They have that little alcove, they could set up a table there, like Drowsy.

It's wrong, plain and simple, but you're right, there are more important things to worry about.

Theater tickets are prohibitively expensive, and they know it's giving them bad press. The lottery is a way for them to sell tickets and create buzz outside the theater at the same time. It's not a one way street,they get buzz and press from having a line outside the theater like that every day.

But they are abusing it, and it's not right. Poor tourists who travel and younger people who make the trip into the city are under the impression that the lottery is RANDOM, that's the point of the lottery. And they aren't giving you sommething for nothing.

I am sick of the upper classes making working class people feel like they shoudl be thankful when things are affordable. It's sickening.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:36pm

Fenchurch, them drawing the lotto and wink between two people is NOT PROOF OF RIGGING?

How many times do I have to say it? Until you have proof, don't accuse A Chorus Line of rigging it. How hard is that?

And may I ask *how* it's giving them bad press? It's a thread on a message board, not an article in the NY Post.


P.S. How did the protesting go today?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:40pm

wonderfulwizard - you'd be really surprised. It's not as much BWW as it is ATC. But both together make life miserable for all under the gun.

Whether or not there was rigging, the sign outside the box office clearly states lotto availability is at the discretion of the management and they can do whatever they feel like. Which is to protect them if they ever decide to cancel the lotto, but still...

Fenchurch, you are making anti-capitalists look bad. Shut up!
Updated On: 7/6/07 at 09:40 PM

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:41pm

"I've seen it. I know it happened at least once."

You've seen what? A cast member's friend win? Hardly proof that it's rigged.

"I am sick of the upper classes making working class people feel like they shoudl be thankful when things are affordable. It's sickening."

You poor oppressed thing, how do you even get out bed each morning, with the man keeping you down like he does.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:41pm

Hmm, I never thought ATC and BWW could cause something like that.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:46pm

We can all tell by Fenchurch's mismatched shoes that he is a crusader. Much like our founding fathers.

"Sit down, Fenchurch, sit down!"

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 10:08pm

She winks at me everytime I win the lotto, and I don't win because the lottery is rigged.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:53am

I've kinda missed this thread- and there were two new stories (one re: Friday, and one re: Sunday) posted up on ATC this weekend:

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1436707

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1437487

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:57am

I tried again this week, and something similar happened.

We should seriously confront the lottery as a group.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:07pm

Or you should find better things to do. The second link that was just posted was about yesterday. I was there. I was standing right in front of the the guy who won the bonus ticket. He was with another guy and as soon as he got there he was like "if we don't win, i am going to make a big deal about it being rigged". It was like he was out to get everyone. And the only reason he finally shut up is beacuse he got the bonus ticket. Also, PLENTY of other people won lotto seats, as there weren't that many taken by people who knew castmembers. Plus the crowd was huge yesterday, how could that guy expect to win even if there weren't friends of castmembers. I knew my chances weren't good since so many people were there, so i was the first to run in and buy standing room. People just NEED to have something to bitch about.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:11pm

..because if YOU don't win in a crown of 60 or so people, it MUST be COMPLETELY rigged.

Oh. My. God.

get over it.

yeah, there was a mad dash to SRO...

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:13pm

Also, PLENTY of other people won lotto seats, as there weren't that many taken by people who knew castmembers.

So it was castmember friends 'winning' the first lotto seats for the show yesterday?