Hamilton Cancellation Line- Page 25

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 2:11pm

REVISED

Brendaisbored said: "So I was there Wednesday when the line got capped...I got into line just after 11pm and was the tenth person in line. About one person an hour showed up until almost 6am...At 11am I was able to purchase two premium seats and my third friend made it in about an hour later."

"Like I've written before, this message board definitely helps with information and planning accordingly.   You waited 12 hours!  That is what is going on now.  Line sitters in place at 7pm for 8pm next day tickets.   You lining up at 11pm for an 11am purchase--was it to matinee or evening?  I hope evening so you could wash up!  12 hours outside leaves one feeling gritty. YIKES!"

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 2:15pm

That wouldn't solve anything because there would just be a line for the wait list.  The issue is the sidewalk traffic the lines are creating. The reason the lottery systems were created in the first place was that the city and the theatre owners didn't like people camping out 24 hours in advance when RENT started. That's the same situation that is happening here. The goal is to get rid of the line of people camping out in front of the theatre - not just the line sitters.  

 

And  I have no idea how an app could create a fair "first come first serve" waiting list. You'd have thousand of people trying to log on exactly at the same minute it opened. The system would crash or you would find people with software to beat the system.  I know people get frustrated by the lottery system but it's the only fair solution.

Updated On: 3/17/16 at 02:15 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 2:47pm

JM226 said: "there should be a waitlist for the cancellation.  first come, first serve. that simple.  why do they need people to wait in line?  just give your name, phone number, email address and card information. at 7:00 or 7:30pm, you are notified if you're eligible for the ticket. you have a certain window of time to CONFIRM what you want and they charge your card.  ticket is waiting for you when you arrive.  what's the big deal?  there are plenty of systems and software that can do it...  "

 

Just run it like they used to to prevent people from queuing up forever at GA concerts. Everyone in line gets a number, and then right before the box office opens, they draw a number, and that person is the front of the line and everyone ahead of them moves, in order, to behind the last person in line. No one would line up early for that, since your odds are the same at 1 a.m. and 9:55 a.m.

[JM226]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 4:14pm

that is a great idea. i like that ^^^

[vdirects]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 12:46am

"Just run it like they used to to prevent people from queuing up forever at GA concerts. Everyone in line gets a number, and then right before the box office opens, they draw a number, and that person is the front of the line and everyone ahead of them moves, in order, to behind the last person in line. No one would line up early for that, since your odds are the same at 1 a.m. and 9:55 a.m."

 

FINALLY! An idea that just might work! That's a genius method that I don't think anyone at RRT would be smart enough to understand, let alone push, though.

 

Adding on to that. They could also just keep the $10 lottery digital and hold a lottery for the full price cancellation line.  There will be fewer people wanting to enter the lottery for $200 tickets, so street crowding won't be much of an issue. The only problem with that is that most cancellation tickets are given out at the 11th hour, sometimes seconds before the show starts.

Updated On: 3/18/16 at 12:46 AM

[Hellob]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 12:56am

I think you're underestimating the amount of people who are willing to pay $177 for a ticket. The crowd might not be as big as the lottery but it would be quite large and factor in the people with tickets who need to be let in and seated. Good idea but probably too much of a headache because of the timing/crowd issues. 

[veerukka]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 9:38am

When you got your ticket at 8:02pm, you paid and went inside ASAP, had the performance started yet or it started a little after 8?  Was just wondering if one misses anything when tickets are distributed so close to showtime."

anyone who wants to share their 8pm ticket experience, please do!

I bought my ticket at 8:02, was rushed into the theater, and the lights started to dim a few minutes later.  I didn't miss any of the show!

Updated On: 3/18/16 at 09:38 AM

[Anakela]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 11:35am

Not really related, but slightly related - there are auditions being held on 45th Street this morning for what appears to be the child edition of So You Think You Can Dance. There are people EVERYWHERE, and when I walked by it ~8:30am on my way to work it was a full crowd blocking the sidewalk in front of BDC and that strip club next to it. Think the Hamilton in person crowd, on a smaller scale, blocking the entire sidewalk, forcing pedestrians to walk in the street. Zero crowd control by whoever is running this audition.

I tried to call 311 to complain (oh yes, I totally did), and the guy at 311 said that the audition people blocking the sidewalk and forcing pedestrians into the street isn't something that they can do anything about. Which, wasn't that the entire point of people waiting in pens in the street for the Hamilton in person lotto, because the RR theatre was being forced to keep the sidewalks clear?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 1:17pm

311 is almost completely useless, so I'm not surprised they said that to you. That's nuts though, that block is pretty residential. 

[vdirects]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 3:59pm

Speaking of auditions, don't forget Hamilton has a casting call, all you performers:

 

http://www.hamiltonbroadway.com/auditions.php

[Bekelly913]

Posted: 3/20/16 at 10:34am

I just walked by the theater and there are only 2 people in line and no line sitters. Is this the apocalypse? Is something going on that I don't know about? If not, get thee to the Richard Rodgers because you might actually get cancelation tickets without waiting 936485 hours!

[ZackSabbath]

Posted: 3/20/16 at 12:46pm

I don't know if the line capping coverage has prompted it, but even the line standing services seem to be laying low on social media.

Can anyone confirm that the box office opening cutoff to swap out is true?

Would appreciate any up to date line reports as I will be making my own cancellation line attempt soon.

[swanjewel]

Posted: 3/20/16 at 1:19pm

ZackSabbath said: "

Would appreciate any up to date line reports as I will be making my own cancellation line attempt soon.

 

"

I will be making my own attempt at the cancellation line as well so any new information would be greatly appreciated!

[bfreak]

Posted: 3/20/16 at 1:21pm

I'm planning on going next Monday, so please wish me luck. I'm keeping fingers crossed.

[chuckydisc]

Posted: 3/20/16 at 4:48pm

Bekelly913 said: "I just walked by the theater and there are only 2 people in line and no line sitters. Is this the apocalypse? Is something going on that I don't know about? If not, get thee to the Richard Rodgers because you might actually get cancelation tickets without waiting 936485 hours"

 

Lin doesn't perform on Sundays, hence the shorter line today.

 

 

[bfreak]

Posted: 3/20/16 at 5:18pm

But still. That's still a small amount even for Javilton.

[MISH2]

Posted: 3/20/16 at 5:35pm

I've seen it with Lin, and I'd love to see it with Javier.  But I can't afford a line sitter in addition to the $177 or whatever.  Wondering if people who are going to pay another $200 or so in addition to ticket prices simply feel that for that kind of money, they want to see Lin - hence no line sitters in evidence today.  So maybe I'll try on a Sunday.

[conojochan]

Posted: 3/21/16 at 12:52pm

my experience this past week.  On March 17 (thursday- one show) I arrive at 2pm and there are 10 people in front of me (at least 7 of them wanting 2 Tixs only) the other 3 looking for singles.  I wanted to get in one or two.  the first 4 in line arrived between 8pm to 11 pm the night before and 3 of the 4 were line-sitters connected with either clients wanting to see show or ticket scalper/s.   the veterans in the line ( excluding line sitters )were nice to share past experience and provide reality . Usually available tickets will range from 3-10 per show.  Best chances are matinee days.  As show approaches if your near the middle to end of line your best chance is most likely someone who is attending the show and had someone who did not show up and therefore they are looking to sell and recoup their cost but usually look for someone they are comfortable sitting next too.   That is how I got my ticket for Thursday night show (tix was Row d orchestra) I bought it at about 10 minutes before show for the normal orchestra price (177).  one other person in the line was able to get in this way and that person got their Tix for free (yes there is a God out there ).  only 5 people in the line got in that night through actual cancellations and those Tixs sold right near showtime when one by one they were called into the ticket office.  Show was fabulous. 

I tried again on Saturday a day with 2 shows.  I arrived at noon that day and was about the 15th  person in line. I wanted two for my wife and sister who were dying to see the show.  once again the people at the lines' front arrived as early as 8pm the night before.  There were at least 7 -8 in line at 1am the night before. While in line again a person with tickets had an extra and approached the middle of the line and sold it to a young lady that was in NYC visiting from Bosnia.  She  was in tears after getting the ticket ( very heart warming to see something like that).  About 20 minutes before the matinee show people in the cancellation line got called one by one or sometimes (2 at a time) to buy tickets.  There were around 13 tickets sold to the people at the front of the line for the matinee  ( i am told that is an above average amount).  after the curtain rose I was about 7th or 8th in line for the evening show (which was the show I thought I had a chance  to attend) 4 people in front of me left to attend other matinee shows or were not willing to wait another 6 hours.  I ended up as 4th in line and each of the 3 in front of me wanted 1 ticket each.  At that time (after the others left the line) the line dropped to  7 people wanting 10 tickets in total at 2;10pm.   The gentlemen who works for the theater and calls people to the box office to buy tickets commented that the size of the line was about right for the tickets that are normally available each night.   Fast forward at 20-30 minutes before the show the first three in the line (each wanting 1) were called to buy their tickets.  15 minutes before show they came out and asked us if I wanted 1 (said no as did the next person in line) so a young girl from Singapore got in then. At 7 minutes before show I was called to window and bought two tickets (center orchestra row G for 177/ each - these are the house tickets that are held I am told by other veterans) .  in the next 5 minutes two more people were called in and both two each - not sure the location - so overall the night show had 10 tickets sold to people in the cancellation line.   (javier was Hamilton on Saturday so do not know if that resulted in upper end of range of tickets available).   

So may wife and sister got in and that show had Amy Schumer (reportedly she dropped a $1000 tip on worker in concession line on approximate $70 bar tab) there with friends as well as Prince.  

my advice to you is pick dates with matinees to do this  and if there are people in front of you wishing to buy tickets that total more than 14 your odds to get  a cancellation ticket are exceptionally low - you are better to comeback and stand in the middle of the line and keep your eye out for someone who has an extra tickets looking to sell and sit next to them

Good luck in your efforts and 90% of those in the cancellation line are real nice and friendly and thoughtful people with a love of Broadway theater - who can probably tell you about all the shows on broadway and many of the actors etc

 

 

 

[thinkoflaura]

Posted: 3/21/16 at 4:19pm

conojochan said: "my experience this past week.  On March 17 (thursday- one show) I arrive at 2pm and there are 10 people in front of me (at least 7 of them wanting 2 Tixs only) the other 3 looking for singles.  I wanted to get in one or two.  the first 4 in line arrived between 8pm to 11 pm the night before and 3 of the 4 were line-sitters connected with either clients wanting to see show or ticket scalper/s.   the veterans in the line ( excluding line sitters )were nice to share past experience and provide reality . Usually available tickets will range from 3-10 per show.  Best chances are matinee days.  As show approaches if your near the middle to end of line your best chance is most likely someone who is attending the show and had someone who did not show up and therefore they are looking to sell and recoup their cost but usually look for someone they are comfortable sitting next too.   That is how I got my ticket for Thursday night show (tix was Row d orchestra) I bought it at about 10 minutes before show for the normal orchestra price (177).  one other person in the line was able to get in this way and that person got their Tix for free (yes there is a God out there ).  only 5 people in the line got in that night through actual cancellations and those Tixs sold right near showtime when one by one they were called into the ticket office.  Show was fabulous. 

I tried again on Saturday a day with 2 shows.  I arrived at noon that day and was about the 15th  person in line. I wanted two for my wife and sister who were dying to see the show.  once again the people at the lines' front arrived as early as 8pm the night before.  There were at least 7 -8 in line at 1am the night before. While in line again a person with tickets had an extra and approached the middle of the line and sold it to a young lady that was in NYC visiting from Bosnia.  She  was in tears after getting the ticket ( very heart warming to see something like that).  About 20 minutes before the matinee show people in the cancellation line got called one by one or sometimes (2 at a time) to buy tickets.  There were around 13 tickets sold to the people at the front of the line for the matinee  ( i am told that is an above average amount).  after the curtain rose I was about 7th or 8th in line for the evening show (which was the show I thought I had a chance  to attend) 4 people in front of me left to attend other matinee shows or were not willing to wait another 6 hours.  I ended up as 4th in line and each of the 3 in front of me wanted 1 ticket each.  At that time (after the others left the line) the line dropped to  7 people wanting 10 tickets in total at 2;10pm.   The gentlemen who works for the theater and calls people to the box office to buy tickets commented that the size of the line was about right for the tickets that are normally available each night.   Fast forward at 20-30 minutes before the show the first three in the line (each wanting 1) were called to buy their tickets.  15 minutes before show they came out and asked us if I wanted 1 (said no as did the next person in line) so a young girl from Singapore got in then. At 7 minutes before show I was called to window and bought two tickets (center orchestra row G for 177/ each - these are the house tickets that are held I am told by other veterans) .  in the next 5 minutes two more people were called in and both two each - not sure the location - so overall the night show had 10 tickets sold to people in the cancellation line.   (javier was Hamilton on Saturday so do not know if that resulted in upper end of range of tickets available).   

So may wife and sister got in and that show had Amy Schumer (reportedly she dropped a $1000 tip on worker in concession line on approximate $70 bar tab) there with friends as well as Prince.  

my advice to you is pick dates with matinees to do this  and if there are people in front of you wishing to buy tickets that total more than 14 your odds to get  a cancellation ticket are exceptionally low - you are better to comeback and stand in the middle of the line and keep your eye out for someone who has an extra tickets looking to sell and sit next to them

Good luck in your efforts and 90% of those in the cancellation line are real nice and friendly and thoughtful people with a love of Broadway theater - who can probably tell you about all the shows on broadway and many of the actors etc

 

 

 

 

"

this was the most helpful post!!!  thank you for your service!!! :)

and for being a great husband - my husband did this for me to see a show 20 years ago.  He still gets points for it! 

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 3/21/16 at 4:50pm

Thank you for sharing your line experience conojochan.  I see that line is still forming early the day before.  Glad you got tickets.  I need to try again --perhaps after I see the show in my with the resale purchase I made after I waited so long and didn't get in.

ThinkOfLaura--def consider the Matinee days because from my Friday experience waiting so long, I wish I had invested the 17 hours of waiting on a matinee day, but REALLY wanted to see Lin as Hamilton.  I hope you manage your plans for your and your ten year old =)

[thinkoflaura]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 12:06am

MyFavoriteBrunette said: "Thank you for sharing your line experience conojochan.  I see that line is still forming early the day before.  Glad you got tickets.  I need to try again --perhaps after I see the show in my with the resale purchase I made after I waited so long and didn't get in.

ThinkOfLaura--def consider the Matinee days because from my Friday experience waiting so long, I wish I had invested the 17 hours of waiting on a matinee day, but REALLY wanted to see Lin as Hamilton.  I hope you manage your plans for your and your ten year old =)

 

"

aah - thank you MyFavoriteBrunette!  yes, we are doing the line for the Wednesday matinee.  we are in NYC now and after seeing a show tonight, Monday (The Woodsman -- I HIGHLY recommend it!!!!), we walked by the RR theatre to scope it out.  It was about 10pm and there were about 6 people in line... three line sitters and 3 young guys/civilians.  The line sitters were from various companies and all very friendly... I went looking for one of the Dudes helping me tomorrow but he had stepped away.  

i'll let you know how it goes tomorrow!  even from standing there chatting for a few minutes, it was a real wake up call about how cold it gets.  i think i'll pick up a pair of leggings to wear under my jeans tomorrow.  and maybe a thick scarf!

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 12:55am

Updated On: 3/22/16 at 12:55 AM

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 12:59am

Yes! @ThinkOfLaura!  It gets surprisingly chilly!  It was warmer in the middle of the night than it was during the day when I was out.  That street was super breezy that day and no direct sunlight made it even cooler.  I wish I had worn my long down coat instead of my waist high down.  The line sitters and line civilians are all nice so makes for a good time to pass on line.   There may be some undesirables that walk by in the wee hours but you should all be okay.  Great luck to you and please share your story here!

[JenVR]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 11:44am

We are coming to NYC for Easter, and I told my 16 YO daughter I would stay out overnight with her this weekend to try and get tickets. I would LOVE to hear how it goes for you, @thinkoflaura I'm thinking it will be similar for the Saturday matinee as your Wednesday experience, except Saturday may be more nuts. I'm thinking we may bundle up in thermal blankets and chairs, hopefully we don't get yelled at, I'm a little nervous since it's been a good 25 years since I slept out for tickets to anything! Good luck!

Updated On: 3/22/16 at 11:44 AM

[Notadiva2]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 1:28pm

Bundle up, take chairs, but be aware that you may be limited as to what you can bring into the theater if you do get tickets. Identify a dumpster just in case your chairs are too big. The Line Dude took ours off our hands. (He offered to pay, but those chairs only cost $5 each to begin with so I just let him have them.) No direct sunlight is the truth! The day we went it was in the high 60s but we were quite chilly because the sun just doesn't reach. Good luck!