Crowd-sourced version of "Rush Report" (update: first report published!)

[isaac.evans]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 12:45pm

Update: The first rush update is up! Feel free to check it out, use, and share - let's keep this information coming so it can be more accurate as we go on and stay up to date: https://broadwaycrowdsourced.wordpress.com/

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Update: We now have a site up, which also has a direct link to the form: https://broadwaycrowdsourced.wordpress.com/ I'm also in the process of adding instructions for adding the site to your home screen if you have an iPhone.

The first report will go up on Monday, 8/22. 

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Hi all! Ever since the disappearance of BroadwaySpotted/the rush report, I've found rushing shows tricky just because there is no central source for data on rushes - so it's much more of a guessing game. 

So, I would like to try to organize a crowd-sourced version of the rush report. I'm still working on some logistics, but basically, there will be a quick form you can fill out on your phone to submit info, and then weekly, I will aggregate the data into a table/other easily readable format (which I will post a link to if this pans out) on a site, where one can access the info and hopefully make somewhat more educated decisions about rushing shows.

To see if this will work, I've set up a basic Google Form here - http://tinyurl.com/crowdrush

You can fill out as much or as little of the form as you would like - I've also included a space for seat locations, as I know that's a frequent question. Even if you get a rush ticket for a show after the box office opens, feel free to share that. I feel like that can be good info to have out there too. 

This will only work if there are a decent number of responses, but I feel like this could potentially be very helpful, so let's give it a go. I hope to publish the first set of info next Monday, August 22. If you've rushed in the last week or so and remember what time you got there, etc., feel free to go ahead and retroactively enter that. Thanks in advance and happy rushing!

(PS. Thoughts, suggestions, questions? Feel free to PM me.) 

Updated On: 8/22/16 at 12:45 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 1:57pm

Love it! I've thought of doing this before, actually, but never took the initiative. Thank you for doing this! 

One suggestion: in the "date" section, perhaps make it a text box rather than a date selection. People may feel uncomfortable giving the specific date, but could still give useful information like "it was a tuesday" or "a Friday early in the run," "A Wednesday matinee after Tony noms" "A Sunday in late July" - etc. So people can choose their level of specificity. 

[isaac.evans]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 2:10pm

Good call. I just made that edit.

Any suggestions on how to really get the word out about this would be appreciated also - this will only be as good as the number of people who do it, so I want to try and have as many people helping with it as possible. I feel like it will grow as it turns into something, but it has to have some responses to even start. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 3:05pm

This is a nice idea in theory but unlike yelp or Show Score it kind of feels like you're just asking people to do work without compensation, especially if it eventually "turns into something."

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 3:28pm

VintageSnarker said: "This is a nice idea in theory but unlike yelp or Show Score it kind of feels like you're just asking people to do work without compensation, especially if it eventually "turns into something."

 

"

The compensation is having a place to find info for rush rather than crowding the boards here with the very question. 

If anything, it'll be more accurate than rush report which I found to be incorrect 90% of the time anyway. It's not like they're asking much of you... fill out the form while you're sitting on the line. 

[gleek4114]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 3:41pm

^ Exactly. If having a good resource for rush info means I have to fill out a 30 second form every once in awhile, it's worth it.

[isaac.evans]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 4:21pm

Right, and that's my thinking. If I get enough responses that the information is valuable, I'll go ahead and publish a report next week. My concern is just getting it off the ground. I feel like once/if it gets off the ground, it'll be fairly easy to keep the information coming.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 6:56pm

Share it on social media! Try and get the word out as much as possible. 

[isaac.evans]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 7:14pm

Yeah, i just made a twitter for it (@bwaycrowdrush), which I hope will help. I've already gotten a few ressponses, which is a good sign.

Updated On: 8/14/16 at 07:14 PM

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 8:31pm

I'll be rushing some shows this weekend and will definitely contribute! Thank you!

[isaac.evans]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 9:19pm

Great; thank you!!

[CassandraReads]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 10:06pm

I've been looking for something like this! Will go follow on Twitter now and will be happy to fill out the form next time I rush, which hopefully will be this week! :) Thanks! 

[bfreak]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 10:13pm

I couldn't find your handle on Twitter!

[Notreallysilent 2]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 10:17pm

I can't seem to find it either :/

[CassandraReads]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 10:18pm

Same, couldn't find it.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 10:24pm

The one thing I didn't like about the rush report, and i know I won't like about this (though major kudos to you for getting this off the ground) Is that if I tell you I got there first at 7:30am, and it's a hard rush...the person who tries the line the next day will be sure to get there by 7:15am to ensure they're first. And so on and so forth where people will start lining up super early just to ensure they're first and they have the highest chances of getting rush tickets. 

[isaac.evans]

Posted: 8/14/16 at 10:28pm

Probably because I posted the wrong handle. Ha! My bad. It's @bwaycrowdrush. 

I do agree with the above potentially making a difference, but I'm not sure this will be quite wide-reaching enough to cause such a difference. That said, I also feel like the positives of having such a resource will outweigh the negatives. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/15/16 at 2:35am

@ Hairspray0901

I think it's true that that happens, and the rush report contributes to it, but I think the same thing would happen with or without a rush report. Though maybe it would take longer? Just look at the Hamilton cancellation line: Rush Report wasn't around, and yet it it still escalated into a 4-day wait. As long as there is word of mouth surrounding a popular rush (which is unavoidable in this day and age), I think the snowball effect to which you're referring will happen anyway.

[djoko84]

Posted: 8/15/16 at 7:25am

I think this is a great idea. Thanks for taking the initiative in doing it!

[isaac.evans]

Posted: 8/15/16 at 11:18am

Of course! Happy to. I've gotten enough responses at this point that I'll definitely put something out next week - hoping to get even more during the week this week to make it as accurate as possible.

[isaac.evans]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 10:28am

Update: We now have a site up, which also has a direct link to the form: https://broadwaycrowdsourced.wordpress.com/ I'm also in the process of adding instructions for adding the site to your home screen if you have an iPhone.

The first report will go up on Monday, 8/22. 

[beebs2]

Posted: 8/18/16 at 9:06pm

Love this idea!

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 8/18/16 at 9:29pm

I don't ever rush shows but it's great of you to do this, thanks!

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 8/18/16 at 11:37pm

Thanks! Maybe one day we will have a Broadway equivalent of Theatremokey.

Updated On: 8/18/16 at 11:37 PM

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 8/19/16 at 12:39am

We can only hope.