I tried for lottery today with my dad for Father's day. We didn't win, but joined the cancellation line. we were the 9th and 10th person in line. We waited two hours, hoping to get tickets to see it, totally willing to pay full price for the tickets (which we haven't done in the longest time) but my dad thought it would be worth it.
In the two hours we were waiting, 6 people got tickets (one each cause that's all they needed.) While two women in front of us and my dad and I waited, we could hear the show start. A few more people came up to pick up their tickets and went in. Then, at like 7 minutes after start time, the guy at the box office said: "Show has started. We're not selling any more cancellation tickets." Didn't say if there were any, just said they weren't selling anymore. it was frustrating for my father and myself but then I thought about all the 20+ people that were behind us. Could they not tell them that there was no chance that they could get in if the box office knew?
Because my father and I waited till right when the show started, we had no chance to try and get tickets for any other show doing a matinee. And there were only three shows that had evening performances. We didn't win the Priscilla lottery and Billy Elliot (which we had seen before) was sold out of the $41.50 tickets. We finally got the $36.50 tickets at Chicago. It was our last option/chance. And it wasn't bad. But it took all day to try and get tickets.
I'm a little pissed at the box office policy. I think they could only sell cancelled tickets and not tickets that hadn't been picked up yet. But I feel that if people aren't there 5 minutes before show, sell them! I know not all people are late on purpose but there has to be a policy if they are late so that they (the ones that are always late) know for next time.
I'm a stage manager (though only done regional theater) and almost 90% of the late people that come in after the show starts are the annoying loud people that can't understand why the show has already started, either on time or at least 5 minute afterwards. They think that if it says it will start at 8pm that they need to be pulling up to the parking lot at 8pm.
Sorry, this turned into a huge venting thing. looooong day. hope this helps. for some people, it did work out. And I did hear that some people lined up at 10am and got tickets (i think they were selling cancelled tickets all day.)
<--- the set of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I was assistant stage manager for during the 2007 season at the STNJ outdoor stage.
-Dre- You must remember all the same that at the crux of every game is knowing when it's time to leave the table... And it's important to be artful in your exit. No turning back, you must accept the con is done... It was a ball, it was a blast. And it's a shame it couldn't last. But every chapter has to end, you must agree.
~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
There's a special kind of people known as show people. We live in a world full of dreams. Sometimes we're not too certain what's false and what's real. But we're seldom in doubt about what we feel.
~Curtains~
It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to, than I have ever known.
~A Tale of Two Cities ~