Is It Safe To Buy Tickets From Scalpers?

[Renthead#1]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 7:39pm

Spring Awakening is currently playing in my town, and I was never able to buy tickets off Ticketmaster or anything. Im sure they are sold out now, but I really wanna go. Im pretty sure there will be scalpers at this show. I've never bought tickets from a scalper before and would like to know if its safe. Will they ever give you a fake ticket or something.

Updated On: 10/17/08 at 07:39 PM

[Broadwaynerd101]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 10:29pm

Only if you want to get ripped off!

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 10:30pm

The answer is in the name!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 10:51pm

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And don't be taken by any of the b_____t that anyone of those sleezebags in the theatre district feed you. DON'T do it, no matter how enticing they make it sound. Often, the "offers" are bogus and you get kicked out of the theatre.

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 11:40pm

2004: My whole family went up to NY for 2 days. We already had tickets for "Boy from Oz" and "Wicked", and our "Wicked" tix were for a Sat. mat, so we wanted to get tickets for another show for Sat. eve. My mom wanted to see Hairspray or Mamma Mia. My dad didnt really care, because all he wanted to see was "Wicked", which we already had tickets to. My little brother was not so into theatre then, but he probably liked BATB and TLK the most. So, we met this scalper who had TLK tix. He was very pushy, and he actually once asked us for an exchange of Wicked for TLK, and my father was like "No, there's no way I'm giving up my Wicked tickets". And then the scalper went on and on about how "Wicked" has very inappropriate themes and would not be appropriate for my younger brother, and then I said to him, "I've seen Wicked 2 times before, and it is appropriate for him." So, then, nearby there was a BATB scalper, and he tried to get us to see BATB, and this was before I did BATB, so we had no real reason to see it (if it had been during or after I did BATB, we would've seen it without question). He was saying that TLK is a bunch of African mumbo-jumbo and that his grandkids fell asleep during it. Then, Mr. TLK said that his grandkids fell asleep at BATB (I was thinking to myself how funny it would be if each of them were selling each other's shows the next day!). We ended up getting TLK tickets. About 1 hour before the show, we realised that they said "Partial View" on them. Then, we thought that they might've been illegal/fake. We went to the New Amsterdam and they were legal, but SEVERELY obstructed and we could only see "Can you feel the love tonight" because they're flying.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 11:50pm

The poster is talking about a touring production NOT Broadway.

In this case I can speak from experience and say you are safe to purchase from a scalper. A scalper would be too harsh a word as what those outside touring cities are simply local ticket brokers trying to 'dump' tickets they couldn't sell. Since they are 'dumping' you'll be able to get excellent seats at 'face value' or even less than 'face value' if there is no demand for the tickets.

New York City is one thing. A city hosting a touring production is a totally different scenario -- especially for a touring Broadway production.

[dalefully]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 12:14am

Did you actually check ticketmaster? You probably should before assuming it is sold out. Also, in New York, you probably should never buy from scalpers, but to be honest, I've really never seen a scalper at a touring show. It's just not a very common thing.

[[tos]fan999]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 12:27am

If you mean Seattle, I just pulled up several sets of 2 orchestra seats on Ticketmaster. Same with Portland.

You should always check to make sure they are sold out.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 12:40am

musicaltheatrefan3, you should have seen Beauty and The Beast.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 1:11am

My cousin bought tickets to TLK off the street in NYC and they got in perfectly fine but just to make sure the tickets were ok they asked for the guys phone number and ID and name but he only had a permit he even had a boss. so i guess he was a reliable person. but you should probly check ticketmaster or ticket exchange. at some touring shows i've been to i've seen scalpers.
Updated On: 10/18/08 at 01:11 AM

[Urban]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 11:17am

In some states (like Utah), Scalping is perfectly legal. Not that I actually ever saw an scalping outside of the one theatre in the state touring productions ever actually went to mind you...

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 11:47am

Musicaltheatrefan, you did get legit tickets though... its not like they were fake. I once got great Odd Couple seats from a scalper.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 12:00pm

"Im sure they are sold out now, but I really wanna go."

Um, how can you make that assumption unless you actually check Ticketmaster? This show isn't a huge sell-out. I'm sure it's not that hard to get tickets.

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 5:15pm

Scalping is actually legal in most states, although with some restrictions for permits and such.

But like other posters have said- there are probably seats still available. Check those first.
Updated On: 10/18/08 at 05:15 PM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 5:47pm

Go down to the theatre the night of the performance. Theatres almost always have last minute opened up seats. Also if it is just you, there is always someone trying to get rid of a single ticket for cheap or sets of two. Always try and avoid the scalpers and or street people. They will hold signs saying they need tickets. They will buy the tickets for $10 and sell for a profit. Your goal is to get to the person unloading their ticket before the scalper/street person gets them. And if there is a doubt if the person refuses to stand there when the theatre person scans the ticket(prior to buying) then you can bet they fake or stolen.