HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
#1HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 10:29am
Someone in the preview thread had questions about the logistics of the lottery so I thought it might be easier for people to give updates in a separate place.
I'm not sure how long this system can last because it took 5-6 people (maybe more) to orchestrate. First you line up going toward the Imperial. The line pretty much reached there the entire 30 mins. Once you get to a certain point one girl gave you a slip and another handed out pencils. You have a small portion of the line to fill it out before getting to the table and then dropping it into a giant bucket. There were 3-4 people manning the table. Not sure if this will happen everyday but they said they would be cutting off the line at 6pm so don't be running late. Based on someone's comment in the other thread there were 704 entries.
If you win, you have to go to the show because you're given a wristband that you have to show with your tickets when you attend. I don't know how the monitor this since I didn't win.
One kind of funny thing that happened was the last person who won last night was Taylor Louderman. I think it was that Taylor Louderman based on the lottery guy's reaction. Seemed kind of weird since she had two 54 Below shows last night.
ETA: Picture from HAMILTON Facebook page.
#2HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 10:35am
Thanks for taking the time out to give us the details ClydeBarrow. I walked by there on my way to have dinner with some colleagues and I was blown away at the turn out. It was very impressive. HAMILTON is most definitely the hottest ticket on Broadway.
#3HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:14am
I was also at the lottery and I'll add one thing to ClydeBarrow's great description of the lotto process.
I was told by one of the people running the lotto that if you hit the lotto and have requested two tickets, but your second person is not with you at the lotto (as was my case as my friend was still at work), they will not give you the second ticket right then and there. Instead, they will put the second ticket in Will Call, and you will have to be present with them at the box office to pick it up.
This is a bit of a change from most lottos where if you request two tickets they will just hand you two tickets, so I thought I'd share.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#4HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:18am
Interesting... perhaps a slight effort to keep folks from resale?
#5HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:32am
Must be. Also takes out the stress of finding a +1 if you win unexpectedly!
In the vid I saw, LMM didn't have a bullhorn -- did anyone? I have an instant dislike for lottos without them.
#6HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:33am
"Interesting... perhaps a slight effort to keep folks from resale?"
I imagine that's just what it is. Plus the use of wristbands, which is unusual. At least, I've never heard of it.
At least they put the second ticket into will call, rather than just say, "Both people have to be present."
#7HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:35am
"In the vid I saw, LMM didn't have a bullhorn -- did anyone? I have an instant dislike for lottos without them."
He didn't have one but the person calling names did. Some people on the sides were initially complaining about being unable to hear but then stopped.
sorano916
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/6/08
#8HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:43am
Oof... I really hope that it's not too insane when Javi is on for Hamilton.
I wonder if they'll announce that Lin won't be on while people are lining up for lottery. I'm just curious who are the people doing lotto for this show... are they theatre people or regular New Yorkers or tourists? Will they care whether Lin is on or not?
Updated On: 7/14/15 at 11:43 AM
brdway411
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
#9HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 12:36pm
The wristband thing makes sense. At BOM, when it was hot ticket, there was a guy that would buy SRO tickets when they went on sale. He would then run down to the end of the street and sell them for double or triple the face value.
VotePeron
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/2/13
#10HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 12:46pm
Kinky Boots during June of 2013 had a huge problem with scalpers. These old men would wait to be first in line everyday, and the tickets always showed up on craigslist for a hefty profit.
MegInManhattan
Stand-by Joined: 3/10/14
#11HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 12:49pm
Sorano, I was at the lottery and got the impression that most of the entrants were not tourists. It seemed like theatre people or in-the-know New Yorkers, I bet most of the would care if Lin-Manuel was on or not.
That being said, if I went to the lottery and found out he wasn't, I would still enter anyway.
brdway411
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
billyelliotfan123
Leading Actor Joined: 10/24/09
billyelliotfan123
Leading Actor Joined: 10/24/09
#14HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 3:24pm
Just checked with the Box Office. There is no standing room for Hamilton at this time. He said maybe after opening but he honestly had no idea. Also while i was on line there were about 5 counter terrorism officers walking out of the lobby and talking with the house manager. Anyone know what was up?
#15HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 3:51pm
I have no doubt that the officers were there to talk about crowd control for the lottery. Yesterday was a mad house. There were so many people that the crowd overflowed onto the street and blocked traffic. Hopefully, today they will have barriers out to separate the crowd from the vehicles driving past. Not to be everyone's mom, but someone could get hurt.
playbill-love
Featured Actor Joined: 7/30/13
#16HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 3:54pm
Wow this sounds insane. I'm hoping to enter a few times while I'm in NYC in September so hopefully it calms down even a little bit after opening
#17HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 4:01pm
It would be cool if they switched to an online lottery
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#19HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 4:11pm
"It would be cool if they switched to an online lottery"
Shut. Up.
#20HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 4:18pm
what is that a pic of ClydeBarrow
MegInManhattan
Stand-by Joined: 3/10/14
#21HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 4:49pm
Crazy thing is they actually DID have metal barricades. But the allegedly 700 people who were there spilled out of them easily.
I'm going today too, hoping for a slightly smaller crowd but but counting on it.
Margo319
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/15
Zzk6126
Swing Joined: 7/14/15
#23HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 5:40pm
Does anyone have any info about getting tickets from the cancellation line? Specifically in the 59 dollar range
SamHoffman523
Chorus Member Joined: 5/26/15
#24HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 5:41pm
Taylor Louderman did her first show, came to Hamilton, then left during intermission for her second show.
jessejaehoon
Chorus Member Joined: 11/16/12
#25HAMILTON Broadway Lottery
Posted: 7/14/15 at 5:49pm
"Just checked with the Box Office. There is no standing room for Hamilton at this time. He said maybe after opening but he honestly had no idea. Also while i was on line there were about 5 counter terrorism officers walking out of the lobby and talking with the house manager. Anyone know what was up?"
Thanks for the update on standing room! Awesome, let's hope they start doing SRO after opening.
Well, Michelle Obama was seeing The King and I the other night, so I wouldn't be surprised if she came tonight to Hamilton.
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