Hamilton Cancellation Line — Page 21

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#501

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 1:19pm

thomaspaine said: "The Supreme Court has banned line-standers, as has the incredibly popular Franklin Barbecue (I waited personally four hours there when I was in Austin)--"[Line-sitting] has gotten out of hand, and we owe it to the rest of our faithful customers to not allow the distraction."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-bar-bans-line-standing-for-hearings/2015/10/06/a309e0e6-6c15-11e5-aa5b-f78a98956699_story.html

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Franklin-BBQ-bans-professional-line-sitters-6549534.php

So the Richard Rodgers can absolutely step in and ban linesitters instead of imposing more and more arbitrary rules on the cancellation line. For example, my family was told the party has to arrive all together and THEN swap out. So my dad who got there at 7 am last week could only get 2 tickets even though my mother arrived at 10 am to relieve him, and they were waiting for 4 tickets all together. Then they were also told that they could not take any tickets they received and sell them or give them to anyone at the end of the line or they would be banned from coming back. ??? Is that not exactly what the linesitters do? Why not ban linesitters if this isn't allowed?

In addition, my parents saw a fight break out, nearly coming to blows, between a linesitter and homeless person who each claimed to have been in line first. This is bad PR for the RR and for Hamilton. They should just ban linesitters before something bad happens and tarnishes Hamilton's good-boy-of-Broadway reputation.

"

The Washington thing was the Supreme Court and they were using homeless people. I'm not sure of the particulars but I would assume that the papers regarding SC filings should be held to a different standard than standing in a ticket line. Once again, I am pointing out that line sitting happens for many things for many years. Just because it's now effecting something that you're interested in doesn't mean that things change.

As far as your family situation, if I read correctly you were trying for 4 tickets but only your dad was in line? The swap has to be a 1-1 swap, so if your mom came to swap with your dad, that's still only 2 tickets. You can't join a person if others are behind you and request 4. If you and your dad were together in line at same time then you were still eligible for 4 tickets when your mom came. It's the same thing with the line sitters, it's 1 sitter for 2 tickets. So even if your mom and dad hired 1 sitter, when they take over, they are only eligible for 2 tickets, not 4.

#502

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 1:24pm

For example, my family was told the party has to arrive all together and THEN swap out. So my dad who got there at 7 am last week could only get 2 tickets even though my mother arrived at 10 am to relieve him, and they were waiting for 4 tickets all together.

I don't understand how you wanted this to work. Is there a person missing here? One person can buy one or two tickets. So your dad showed up at 7am, and he can buy two tickets. How is your your mom showing up three hours later to "relieve" him, yet also trying to buy two tickets herself ("they were waiting for 4 tickets altogether" ) supposed to work?

Updated On: 3/15/16 at 01:24 PM

#503

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 1:35pm

For example, my family was told the party has to arrive all together and THEN swap out. So my dad who got there at 7 am last week could only get 2 tickets even though my mother arrived at 10 am to relieve him, and they were waiting for 4 tickets all together.

With only one family member on line, only eligible for max 2 tickets.

Unfortunately, your mom and dad HAD TO be there together at 7am and be relieved at some point (or not at all like me!) to be eligible for 4 tickets.

The family two slots in front of me, who needed 4 tickets which only had half gain entrance, did so at 8:00pm (the teen kids). The father and son waited from 10pm Thur until 12pm Fri then mother and daughter took over. Father and son returned around 5pm. They worked as a team for 4 tickets but only got 2 cuz the box office ran out.

#504

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 1:44pm

So the Richard Rodgers can absolutely step in and ban linesitters instead of imposing more and more arbitrary rules on the cancellation line. ...Then they were also told that they could not take any tickets they received and sell them or give them to anyone at the end of the line or they would be banned from coming back. ??? Is that not exactly what the linesitters do? Why not ban linesitters if this isn't allowed?"

Thank you. The Hamilton Cancellation Line and RRT PR/Communications are one big clusterfck.

You've made several good points. The main arguments people have to support line sitters is that there is no other way and that it helps people who can't stand in line themselves. But you've shown that lots of, more organized, organizations HAVE banned this practice and see the fault in it, meanwhile the RRT plays with double standards.

I've previously made the argument that line sitting is not different than scalping. As you've shown the theater bans normal people who try to scalp the tix THEY stood in line for, but openly embraces the line sitters. The main company line sitter guy is on a first name basis with the RRT line monitor guy (who I can barely tolerate for this reason). I hate adding "nazi" to to the ends of things, but he really is a line nazi. I think if his supervisor set him straight, stop giving out free tickets, being unneccesarily brash and rude to people and favoring certain line-sitters and professional scalpers while at the same time threatening to "ban" others, the RRT could just possibly be on the right track to being halfway decent at running things like professionals instead of like one big sht show.

#505

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 2:09pm

MyFavoriteBrunette said: "As a witness to what goes on at the front of the line after my 17 hours of standing on it, line sitters are in position for the next days' clients as soon as their clients start arriving for showtime. Observing this myself, I strongly suggest you book your line sitter to start for at least an hour to half an hour before that evenings' show to make sure you're #1 or #2 Good luck ThinkOfLaura and book early!

"

@MyFavoriteBrunette, @HelloB and @BroadwayConcierege - Thanks for the support and advice!

We can afford only a limited number of hours of line sitting -- plus I have a 10 year old with me, so I have to realistically manage what we do. That said, we are seeing a show the night before. After it lets out, we'll head to the RR theater and start waiting ourselves. I guess we'll know at that point how to manage our expectations, based on how many people are already in line. The line sitter from the main company will relieve us at a certain point and we'll return in the early morning to finish up the wait. If that doesn't get us close enough to the front of the line, then it just wasn't meant to be.

congrats to @Jared123 for being so noble as to opt to pay for a premium seat over being "a dope, a cheater, someone trying to game the system." I'll see you on the other side of the war.

#506

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 2:14pm

vdirects said: "So the Richard Rodgers can absolutely step in and ban linesitters instead of imposing more and more arbitrary rules on the cancellation line. ...Then they were also told that they could not take any tickets they received and sell them or give them to anyone at the end of the line or they would be banned from coming back. ??? Is that not exactly what the linesitters do? Why not ban linesitters if this isn't allowed?"

Thank you. The Hamilton Cancellation Line and RRT PR/Communications are one big clusterfck.

You've made several good points. The main arguments people have to support line sitters is that there is no other way and that it helps people who can't stand in line themselves. But you've shown that lots of, more organized, organizations HAVE banned this practice and see the fault in it, meanwhile the RRT plays with double standards.

I've previously made the argument that line sitting is not different than scalping. As you've shown the theater bans normal people who try to scalp the tix THEY stood in line for, but openly embraces the line sitters. The main company line sitter guy is on a first name basis with the RRT line monitor guy (who I can barely tolerate for this reason). I hate adding "nazi" to to the ends of things, but he really is a line nazi. I think if his supervisor set him straight, stop giving out free tickets, being unneccesarily brash and rude to people and favoring certain line-sitters and professional scalpers while at the same time threatening to "ban" others, the RRT could just possibly be on the right track to being halfway decent at running things like professionals instead of like one big sht show.

"

For the last time, it's not even close to scalping. You're paying for their time. Are they supposed to be there for free? The poster cited 2 examples of banning- a restaurant and the Supreme Court. Hardly a bunch of relevant examples. I'm guessing the line "nazi" is cool with the sitters bc they know and adhere to the rules. If a fight breaks out, that's not the RR fault the same way it's not walmart's fault on BF. If you have an attitude like this when you're in line, no wonder the workers don't like you. Calling someone a nazi is pretty offensive. If the RR truly felt like the sitting situation was wrong, they would have addressed it. It's been happening for 9 months. Even without the argument of it helping people, a person is free to admit, I'm unwilling to stand in line for 12+ hours and I can afford to hire someone and that's that. No one should have to justify anything to anyone. Like others have said numerous times, these things aren't a right. You've already gone before and I've pointed out to you that if you were truly concerned about morals/fairness then you wouldn't get back in line and preclude a first timer a shot. Again, I get your frustration but it's just how it goes. The fact is you have been complaining for a month straight and the sitters are more prevalent shows that you have no effect. If anything, you're promoting them which is kind of hilarious. Talk less, smile more.

#507

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 2:37pm

Hellob said: "If anything, you're promoting them which is kind of hilarious. Talk less, smile more.

"

This is 100% accurate. I didn't even know about line sitters doing this for Hamm tix until this board, so thanks!!!! :)

#508

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 2:45pm

"we are seeing a show the night before. After it lets out, we'll head to the RR theater and start waiting ourselves"

An 8pm show? That will let out around 10:30pm, there will definitely be line sitters out there by then, they don't seem to leave. Always booked. It's like a carousel. There were four stationed at 7pm then the family of 4 who only half got in stationed at 10pm. Any way you could book from 7pm to whenever you can afford to take over? I know you have an obstacle with an ten-year old to wait in the wee hours of the night.

I have to be honest and when I arrived at 3am there were two times I felt threatened and unsafe. And I grew up in The Bronx and can handle myself, but with the recent face slashing epidemic going on in NY, when the one homeless chick came up to me so close in my face to ask me what was I doing? What was I waiting for? I didn't feel safe and was ready to hit her with my folding chair if anything. The next time was the two boys who were high and were asking why we were there and looking at us hard.

Its scary because one is carrying a credit card for ticket purchase, an ID incase you win the lottery on line and several hundred dollars in cash incase a scalper comes by with a good deal.

#509

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 2:52pm

@MyFavoriteBrunette, I was #10 behind you on 3/11. Sadness all around for the lack of tix! It was like a day at the beach with the grit, but without the sun and surf. I was never too worried about taking a break from line, though, since so many people were ahead of us! Nice to meet you, and I hope you enjoy seeing the show with your newly bought tix.

#510

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 2:58pm

This is all starting to remind me of when that kid got beaten up in front of Jersey Boys 10 years ago and (I think) they got rid of student rush because of it. I was trying to find the article, but I'm sure other people remember.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#511

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:03pm

I remember that as well. They instituted that digital rush (or lottery) after that incident, I believe.

#512

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:07pm

I've only read part of this thread, but I wonder why the producers aren't doing anything about this. It seems out of character for this to be going on so intensely and for so long. It's only going to get worse as the weather gets warmer, and someone will get hurt.

#513

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:08pm

LizzieCurry said: "This is all starting to remind me of when that kid got beaten up in front of Jersey Boys 10 years ago and (I think) they got rid of student rush because of it. I was trying to find the article, but I'm sure other people remember. "

Couldn't find an article, but did find an old thread. The kid who was beaten comments about halfway down the second page.

eta: that thread reads like they had already announced they were cancelling their rush (because of some other issues?), and this happened on a day between when the cancellation was announced and when the rush actually ended.

Updated On: 3/15/16 at 03:08 PM

#514

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:14pm

Just out of curiosity, if you've successfully scored a ticket after waiting an inordinate amount of time on the cancellation line, how do you have the energy to see a 2+ hr show? I'd be sleep deprived and mentally and physically wrecked. Couldn't even contemplate enjoying a piece of entertainment.

#515

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:30pm

I have done two overnighters for a show (not Hamilton), but both times I lived in Hell's Kitchen. Now that I live in Astoria, I'm not sure I'd do it ever again, for that reason.

(And thanks for the link to that old thread, Anakela!)

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

Updated On: 3/15/16 at 03:30 PM

#516

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:34pm

mpkie said: "Just out of curiosity, if you've successfully scored a ticket after waiting an inordinate amount of time on the cancellation line, how do you have the energy to see a 2+ hr show? I'd be sleep deprived and mentally and physically wrecked. Couldn't even contemplate enjoying a piece of entertainment."

Two words: ADRENALINE and COFFEE

#517

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:39pm

MISH2 said: "Wondering if demand for tickets may be lower on Passover? "

I doubt it because Hamilton's audience is very varied, so many people from everywhere will still be traveling to the city to see the show. Schools may also have off. However, it is a possibility.

#518

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:43pm

Just out of curiosity, if you've successfully scored a ticket after waiting an inordinate amount of time on the cancellation line, how do you have the energy to see a 2+ hr show? You can't! LOL! I was utterly exhausted when I got off the 17 hours in line and that is an understatement! But I would think the excitement and adrenaline rush of making it in is enough--and to finally see the production live and see the cast sing the songs one has been listening to for so long would grab your attention for sure. I passed over 4 hours on line listening to the Hamilton original cast recording, LOL!

Updated On: 3/15/16 at 03:43 PM

#519

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:50pm

MyFavoriteBrunette said: "Just out of curiosity, if you've successfully scored a ticket after waiting an inordinate amount of time on the cancellation line, how do you have the energy to see a 2+ hr show? You can't! LOL! I was utterly exhausted when I got off the 17 hours in line and that is an understatement! But I would think the excitement and adrenaline rush of making it in is enough--and to finally see the production live and see the cast sing the songs one has been listening to for so long would grab your attention for sure. I passed over 4 hours on line listening to the Hamilton original cast recording, LOL! "

I had to wait for 12 hours (got there at 2, got into the matinee), but MyFavoriteBrunette is right about the excitement and adrenaline of seeing the cast keeps you up and attentive. Since the show has so many aspects and is so exciting, I think it would be impossible to fall asleep...especially if you love the show so much that you would wake up at the crack of dawn and spend your whole day on the line.

#520

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 3:59pm

@MyFavoriteBrunette, I was #10 behind you on 3/11.

NUMBER TEN!!!!!! How are you???

Everyone, number ten arrived at 4:30am and didn't get in either. Her friend came in from DC just for the chance!

Thanks so much. I went a wee bit over my limit on resale tickets because after seeing how the front of the line works, I already knew I had to book a sitter at like 5pm for the next day and probably a fight would break out between the sitters or something and my sitter would end up not in the front while I'm paying for him to show up to be #1 so I was just like "AHH! FREAK IT!" LOL! and bought the resale. No fuss no muss and no vacation for us! LOL!

#521

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 4:13pm

MyFavoriteBrunette said: "For example, my family was told the party has to arrive all together and THEN swap out. So my dad who got there at 7 am last week could only get 2 tickets even though my mother arrived at 10 am to relieve him, and they were waiting for 4 tickets all together.

With only one family member on line, only eligible for max 2 tickets.

Unfortunately, your mom and dad HAD TO be there together at 7am and be relieved at some point (or not at all like me!) to be eligible for 4 tickets.

The family two slots in front of me, who needed 4 tickets which only had half gain entrance, did so at 8:00pm (the teen kids). The father and son waited from 10pm Thur until 12pm Fri then mother and daughter took over. Father and son returned around 5pm. They worked as a team for 4 tickets but only got 2 cuz the box office ran out."

I know. That family is my family! They tried to go three times last week and even after waiting 22 hours on the third try, only two of them got in. When you saw them, they had learned this arbitrary lesson about arriving together on the day prior.

I've done the cancellation line a few times, starting back in September. Not once has there ever been a maximum of 2 tickets per person, because the people waiting were average human beings who wanted 2-4 tickets for their party, not linesitters looking to snap up a bunch of tickets. In November, I arrived at 1 pm and was waiting for 4 tickets. Two of my friends came to relieve me during midday, then I came back later, then our fourth joined us after work. It was not a problem at all. It's only become a problem since linesitters started this chaos.

How does this "rule" work exactly? Who's keeping track of who arrives, how many people, and when? What if when it comes down to a minute before showtime, the two people in front of you say they've both been there since 7 am? There's no record to disprove them other than people in line, who have agendas of their own, so it's a he said/she said. None of this would be an issue if they just banned linesitters.

Updated On: 3/15/16 at 04:13 PM

#522

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 4:16pm

"I've previously made the argument that line sitting is not different than scalping. As you've shown the theater bans normal people who try to scalp the tix THEY stood in line for, but openly embraces the line sitters. The main company line sitter guy is on a first name basis with the RRT line monitor guy (who I can barely tolerate for this reason). I hate adding "nazi" to to the ends of things, but he really is a line nazi. I think if his supervisor set him straight, stop giving out free tickets, being unneccesarily brash and rude to people and favoring certain line-sitters and professional scalpers while at the same time threatening to "ban" others, the RRT could just possibly be on the right track to being halfway decent at running things like professionals instead of like one big sht show."

I know exactly the guy you mean, and he is singlehandedly responsible (I would bet my savings on it) for the line moving from inside the box office (if you got there early enough) to outside. He doesn't want you to eat, or drink, or talk to your friends, and I'm pretty sure he would ban phones if he could. He's yelled at other ushers for not sufficiently yelling at the people in line. He's been absolutely horrible to my 14-year-old sister (telling her to wait outside in the rain the first time we went to the cancellation line, because at that point, he had deemed it that only one person from each party could wait on the line-- the polar opposite of now).

He wants the line to be penance for normal people, but gives a free pass to the linesitters. He's awful, and I wish someone would report him. I can't imagine Lin Manuel would be okay with his bullying behavior of people who just want to see the show.

Updated On: 3/15/16 at 04:16 PM

#523

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 4:36pm

MyFavoriteBrunette said: ""we are seeing a show the night before. After it lets out, we'll head to the RR theater and start waiting ourselves"

An 8pm show? That will let out around 10:30pm, there will definitely be line sitters out there by then, they don't seem to leave."

It's actually a 7pm show... FUN HOME. Allegedly let's out before 9pm. So we probably won't be first but hoping to be in in the top 5.

#524

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 4:38pm

I've done the cancellation line a few times, starting back in September. Not once has there ever been a maximum of 2 tickets per person, because the people waiting were average human beings who wanted 2-4 tickets for their party, not linesitters looking to snap up a bunch of tickets. In November, I arrived at 1 pm and was waiting for 4 tickets. Two of my friends came to relieve me during midday, then I came back later, then our fourth joined us after work. It was not a problem at all. It's only become a problem since linesitters started this chaos.

See, and I think what you did is unfair, (but yes, totally allowed under the rules at that time), and I like and appreciate that there is now a cap of two tickets per person. You think that you as one person should be allowed to swap out with however many people and buy four tickets, but a line sitter as one person should be banned and not even allowed to swap out with one person to buy two tickets?

For the record I've only tried the cancellation line once, back in December to try and see Jon Rua go on as Hamilton, and the rule was two tickets per person back then. Which was great, that meant I could count, see that there were so many tickets/bodies ahead of me, and decide if I wanted to wait or not.

I have done two overnighters for a show (not Hamilton), but both times I lived in Hell's Kitchen. Now that I live in Astoria, I'm not sure I'd do it ever again, for that reason.

(And thanks for the link to that old thread, Anakela!)

You're welcome! And ha, we're opposite - I am now in HK, from Astoria. But still not doing any overnighters. :)

#525

Hamilton Cancellation Line

Posted: 3/15/16 at 4:41pm

"How does this "rule" work exactly? Who's keeping track of who arrives, how many people, and when? What if when it comes down to a minute before showtime, the two people in front of you say they've both been there since 7 am? There's no record to disprove them other than people in line, who have agendas of their own, so it's a he said/she said."

And this is how the fights get started.

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