Did anyone else attempt the Hamilton Amex pre-sale today? — Page 4

neonlightsxo said: "I said they were GOING FOR. As in on the resale market. I'm not an idiot, but thank you."

LOL I misunderstood you, sorry.

NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "I'm curious about Ticketmaster's contract and wonder if it would be feasible for the Hamilton producers to demand that the resale feature be turned off. I guess they probably don't care though because the tickets are being sold and they are getting theirs. It doesn't really matter if it reflects poorly on the show. Hey, I answered my own question!"

It doesn't reflect poorly on the show either way, but if the tickets weren't resold on Ticketmaster's website, they could be resold on StubHub, eBay, craigslist, etc. So, that really isn't a solution, just moving the target...

haterobics said: "NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "It doesn't reflect poorly on the show either way, but if the tickets weren't resold on Ticketmaster's website, they could be resold on StubHub, eBay, craigslist, etc. So, that really isn't a solution, just moving the target.."

Very true. But the Hamilton producers don't have contracts with StubHub, eBay, Craigslist. The Tickermaster site is essentially endorsed scalping.

My query is - is ticketmaster successfully combatting scalper robot purchase? If so, then we can't complain about access because everyone has the same shot at buying tickets (pricing structure aside) when they go on sale. If not, it's just like every concert or big event out there where the consumer doesn't have a fair shot.

JM226 said: "except that you have no clue if the producers are potentially receiving a small percentage of the fees and profits netted by TM in the resale market, which would change everything because they're winning twice: when they sell the ticket and when the ticket is resold. "

True and I brought that up earlier in the thread. I have heard rumblings that the show does get money back on resales because the Ticketmaster fees are quite high on those - much higher than the original ticket sale.

Theatre producers aren't philanthropists and most of the time they lose money mounting shows. While it is frustrating to see increases, I hope this leads to more productions being mounted and a long life for this show once the frenzy is over.

accessibility and free market can be in direct conflict with each other but can also be directly linked to the success of the other. in the case of HAMILTON, they offer the lottery and standing room and donated charity comps. they don't have to do any of that but they do because they recognize the need for some accessibility. its not much but it is something ... again, completely optional to them. i think it's fine to recognize that diversity and accessibility on broadway is limited due to the prices but you cannot force something like that unless you plan to have a government sponsored, publicly funded theatre company. like in Europe. that doesn't exist here so we get the free market and that market dictates the pricing. if HAMILTON is selling tickets for hundreds of dollars each, they'll keep the prices there unlike other shows that can maybe only sell $50 or $75 tickets. the free market dictates the pricing and anything beyond that ... like the lottery or rush or standing room.. is a gesture of kindness and goodwill.

Ticketmaster is making money twice on those transactions, why shouldn't the show? (I don't know if they do or not, however.)

As far as accessibility: Other shows do not automatically jack up their prices just because a runaway hit does so. We didn't see it effect other shows when the Producers, Wicked or Mormon was incredibly hot. It does set a precedent for the next hot show....but certainly, not right out of the gate.

I'm not sure the casual theater goer thinks that much about the price....they are seeing it as a luxury, a splurge. Just like going to a ball game or a concert, prices are high and perhaps expected. RE-sale on that stuff is also insane.

While I won't be purchasing any more tickets for Hamilton, I can't say I blame them. We aren't just paying for this hit, but all the failures that came before and will sure to happen again. That being said, I don't often pay full price (I scourge for discounts for every show) and there are even shows that I have passed on seeing because of the price. In the moment of that decision I'm a tad sad, but I can't really miss what I don't know.

I also think live theater isn't considered a frequent thing, it was special. This idea of seeing MANY shows and certainly the same show multiple times, is relatively new. My parents see professional theater once or twice a year depending on what tours through Memphis....it's a big deal to them and they make a fancy night of it with their friends: fine dining, dressing up. They have never in their life seen the same production twice. They don't complain about prices because it's special and classy.

Seeing a b'way show shouldn't be like popping a dvd into a machine, or casually scrolling through your dvr listings. (which is why I hate all the whining about not having shows filmed for the public) It's a unique time in place that happens when you are there in the theater.....and only then does the magic happen.

Updated On: 1/27/16 at 08:07 AM

I don't necessarily disagree with your post, Dramamama, but seeing these prices rising once again makes me worry about the accessibility of live theatre. It's a problem that has been there for ages, without a doubt, but I still consider it as highly upsetting. Off course I am happy to hear that your parents along with many others are enjoying theatre as a very special not very frequent event, and I agree with you saying that going to the theatre doesn't have to be as common as watching a DVD, but what about the people who barely had the money to see Hamilton (or any show, because prizes have been going up for a long time now) before the current prize increasing? For a lot of us theatre goers it probably won't matter, because in a season filled with shows it's easy to leave one out and spend the money (partly) on a Hamilton ticket, but there actually are people that can only afford going to the theatre once a year. $20 might make the difference between them seeing a show (Hamilton) and them not getting to see it. Broadway shouldn't be there exclusively for the middle or (and that's where it's going) upper class, everybody deserves to hear its stories.

^^Exactly. And let's not forget that theatre does happen outside of Broadway. Sure, prices may continue to climb in midtown, but there are plenty of other more accessible options. I love Broadway as much as the next poster on this board, but it's certainly not the be-all end-all.

Not to mention, Lin has confirmed on Twitter that all of the touring productions will hold a lottery at each of their stops. If that isn't striving for accessibility, I don't know what is. It's generally far easier to win lottery tickets to a hot show in the average touring market when taking into account its Broadway counterpart.

Updated On: 1/27/16 at 10:34 AM

exactly, dramamama. there is a difference between a need and a luxury. entertainment is a LUXURY. healthcare, shelter, food... is a NEED. doesn't mean everyone has those things -- far from it. but let's focus on accessibility to the real essentials. not entertainment which is a luxury.

Does anyone know if ALL seats were released as part of the AMEX presale or if there is a chance tix will be available on Feb 2nd as well when they go onsale to general public?

I got front row Mezz for November 16th. Very excited!

If it's Amex Preferred Seating (vs resale) it's premium seating, and the normal price for that. If you go toward the beginning of this topic you'll find some reports of people talking about how far they extended the premium seating section, and how expensive it is. Non-premiums are at $199-$230 or something like that, and around $120-$150 in the rear mezz (don't quite remember, but in that ballpark)