Hamilton ticket cost rant - ARGH!- Page 2

[sarahb22]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 2:40pm

I get your frustration and I know I'm being nit picky, but LMM doesn't get comps.

Thanks for the information!

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 2:44pm

Unlike paper tickets and electronic tickets that are freely transferrable from the buyer to another person, non-transferrable paperless tickets require an event attendee to present the credit card that was used to purchase the ticket.

 I had this issue last year with a concert. I bought my mothers tickets for her and then saw that the credit card had to be presented. So instead of her being able to go with her friend, I had to go to the concert and it was one of the most boring things I've sat through.

The issue is a lot of people have genuine reasons why they need to sell tickets. It would make it harder for people coming out of town to see Hamilton as they would have to know for sure that they would be able to attend on that exact date. I don't think this is the best solution.

[Margo319]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 2:58pm

With this show, you should have planned ahead.  I understand that some people are not able to do that, but it was really the only choice for such a huge show.  I was very lucky how I saw Hamilton on Broadway, but at the Public I watched for the SECOND an email said "Hamilton extended, buy tickets now", immediately went to their website and bought two front row tickets.  Apparently, within 15 minutes of my transaction people crashed their websites and the phones were ringing off the hook.  You gotta be on the ball for this show, but I agree with the ridiculous scalper prices but people will pay it.  

Updated On: 3/28/16 at 02:58 PM

[sarahb22]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:01pm

aaaaaa15 said: "For some reason, a lot of people seem to think Lin is responsible for the pricing of this show, who gets comps and for allowing resale to happen.

The only reason I thought LMM got comps was that in the Playbill interview with him and William Daniels, Daniels says he wants to see the show but doesn't think he can get a ticket.  LMM jokingly replies, 'I know a guy, we'll get you a ticket."  And, I figured the star of the show would get a handful of tickets to give to his friends/family.  

That said, I know LMM doesn't have any control over the prices the scalpers are charging.  I guess I'm a little surprised scalping is legal in NYC, but OK.  And I know going to the theater is a luxury, I just didn't expect getting a ticket to cost more than if I went to Disney World, airfare included! $600 for a theater ticket is more than the rest of my NCY budget combined, so I guess I'll just have to skip it.

[sarahb22]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:02pm

Margo319 said: "With this show, you should have planned ahead.  

As I stated before, I didn't even know I would be able to afford to go to New York until this past week.  I live out of state.  Crystal ball was in the shop, sorry.

[Margo319]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:04pm

It will be coming to many cities in the next few years, and you will be able to see it at a much lower cost I'm sure.  

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:13pm

Or keep saving your money and come to NY when you CAN get tix.  

 

I'm not a NYer...and I've seen it twice with a third set waiting for me in July.   Never paid over face value.

 

Fair has nothing to do with it.  Even if they weren't scalping the tix, there wouldn't BE any for you to purchase.  They would have been scooped up by everyone else wanting to see the show.  

[swanjewel]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:15pm

I will say that for yesterday's show I tracked the price of tickets on Stubhub.  At 1pm, tickets started at $550.  At 2:30, they had dropped to under $300 ($271 was the cheapest).  You could always try getting seats at the last minute. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:18pm

sarahb22 said: "How is this allowed? Isn't ticket scalping supposed to be illegal?  How are ticket brokers getting away with charging $2000+ for a ticket that was originally less than $100?"

 

Completely legal. They own the ticket now, and can resell it for whatever they want.

[Margo319]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:24pm

Yes, they can do whatever they want, and if someone is willing to pay, then it seems perfectly fine to me.  I sold a pair for well over what I paid, and I don't feel bad about it all.  No one was forcing them to buy them.

 

 

"As I stated before, I didn't even know I would be able to afford to go to New York until this past week.  I live out of state.  Crystal ball was in the shop, sorry."

 

If you had read my next line, it clearly stated "I understand that some people are not able to do that"

 

[sarahb22]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:24pm

swanjewel said: "I will say that for yesterday's show I tracked the price of tickets on Stubhub.  At 1pm, tickets started at $550.  At 2:30, they had dropped to under $300 ($271 was the cheapest).  You could always try getting seats at the last minute. 

Yeah, I thought about that, but that's a real crap shoot, and our window is limited.  Still, thanks for the suggestion. I'll probably just see if I can get tickets for the Chicago show.

[Dollypop]

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

I assume you'll be in NYC for a few days. Head to the box office as soon as you get to the city. You might get pleasant surprise for a single ticket. You may have to do this a few times but Don't give up.  Good luck.

[ninecrayons]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:40pm

dramamama611 said: "Or keep saving your money and come to NY when you CAN get tix.  

 

I'm not a NYer...and I've seen it twice with a third set waiting for me in July.   Never paid over face value.

 

Fair has nothing to do with it.  Even if they weren't scalping the tix, there wouldn't BE any for you to purchase.  They would have been scooped up by everyone else wanting to see the show.  

 

"

Exactly this. I used to live in NYC and then moved. Now, my teaching schedule dictates my travel, I know well enough in advance when to buy tickets. My summer vacation plans were based off when I could get Hamilton tickets since that is the only thing that 100% needed to be set in stone. 

 

I've seen the show once at the Public and then three times on Broadway, all tickets bought at least 4-5 months in advance. 

 

It's tough and frustrating trying to get tickets that are difficult to obtain, but when you know the constraints you're working with, it becomes a little easier. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:40pm

I believe op needs three tickets, but that would be a good idea if not

[sarahb22]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:56pm

gypsy101 said: "I believe op needs three tickets, but that would be a good idea if not

Eh, we don't have to sit together. I pass the idea along to my travel-mates and see what they think. Thanks!

[SweetLips]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 3:56pm

Everyone here at BWW loves theatre, all different types for different reasons and if for whatever reason one can't get to see a show of choice, there are a million magical things to see in NYC that cost nothing or very little.

Expectations cause disappointments-do as Dollypop suggests-and if unlucky, Hamilton will be there forever so walk in the park, go to a gallery, shop, have a massage, support a struggling show[you might be surprised].

You've saved for this trip, listen to the Hamilton CD and remember-it's 2 and a half hrs you can spend elsewhere discovering something new.

Have fun you lucky person.

SL..........x

[ninecrayons]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 4:15pm

If you don't need to sit together than definitely try dropping by the box office. I took my parents to a Wednesday mat and they had a few single tickets available last minute. My guess is most people doing the cancellation line were waiting for the night show. 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 4:57pm

I just had a friend in the city a couple weekends ago, and he asked if Hamilton would be available at the TKTS booth. I calmly went through the maze of possibilities to get tickets, which to an average theater goer, sounds like mumbo jumbo, and he replied with "So you're saying there probably won't be any discount tickets?".  Lol. This makes me want to hang in the Rodgers lobby and listen to people complain to the box office just like OP is doing on this board. 

When I tell people, like my friend referenced above, that there are many tickets available for re-sale, everybody always has the same reaction, which is to ask how/why/since when ticket scalping is legal. 

My friend also reminded me of the OP because when I told him that I am going to Hamilton this week, his reply was "what! How! You couldn't manage to get us tickets two weeks ago!".  We did the lottery though. We checked stubhub and ticketmater re-sale for tickets under $300 (his limit). And the prices did NOt drop closer to showtime like the legends claim. Neither of us were willing to stand on the cancellation line. But if he had asked me months ago to snag a ticket, I no doubt would have been able to get something cheaper in advance. 

I question the size of the market willing to pay 1,000 dollars and more for a ticket to a Broadway show. I get that there will always be people willing to pay 2 grand to sit in the second row center. Fine. But I really can't believe there are so many people out there willing to fork over close to 1000 dollars and more to sit in the rear mezz. 

 

 

[rodrigo_ca]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 5:20pm

Prices should go up everytime a new thread is opened.

[SueBee06]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 5:38pm

sarahb22 said: "aaaaaa15 said: "For some reason, a lot of people seem to think Lin is responsible for the pricing of this show, who gets comps and for allowing resale to happen.

The only reason I thought LMM got comps was that in the Playbill interview with him and William Daniels, Daniels says he wants to see the show but doesn't think he can get a ticket.  LMM jokingly replies, 'I know a guy, we'll get you a ticket."  And, I figured the star of the show would get a handful of tickets to give to his friends/family.  

 

 

"

Got it - totally understand why you would think that. The production has House Seats that the actors and creators and press people have access to. LMM probably has an allocation of his own that he can use for guests. So while William Daniels would have an easier time getting a ticket than you or I would, he does have to pay full price, and if there aren't any left for the performance he wants, he is out of luck. Comp lists (especially for a sold out show like this) are part of the financial audit and you have to be able to justify any free tickets. It's essentially lost revenue to the investors.

 

And that is probably way more information than anyone wanted to know about comps. LOL

 

[RockyRoadPicks]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 6:26pm

There are only 2 open caption performances and both are sold out. I've contacted Chicago Hamilton and they gave me 2 open caption dates, one in middle of week and one on Thanksgiving weekend. 

Not just impossible to have tickets but impossible for deaf people to enjoy as well. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/28/16 at 8:08pm

What if some of the ticket brokers who are reselling tickets for 1,000+ are actually Hamilton producers?