Jersey Boys to suspend Student Rush...

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:14am

...due to scalpers on Sun June 24. The BO guy didn't say when it was coming back.

sorry if this was already posted

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:19am

Was it that one Seasons' son again?

[mll85]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:22am

due to scalpers on Sun June 24. The BO guy didn't say when it was coming back

Umm... did you get the date wrong because June 24th is two and a half weeks away.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:23am

I guess they figure when they can just charge $116.25 for partial view seating, they might as well rack in those bucks and steamroll the scalpers.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:24am

mll85 nope wrote it down and confirmed it twice with them
Updated On: 6/8/07 at 12:24 AM

[little_sally]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:26am

June 24th is the last day the show is having a rush? Is that what you mean?

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:26am

Umm... did you get the date wrong because June 24th is two and a half weeks away.

I think maybe it's supposed to be "...due to scalpers, starting on Sun June 24..."?

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:30am

6/24 is the final day of student rush

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:31am

I don't get why they aren't at least attempting to enact a policy to prevent scalpers from buying the tickets before they suspend student rush all together.

Why not make the person who purchases the tickets leave a copy of their ID at the box office and have them come back to pick them up at Will Call prior to the show? Upon recieving the tickets, they could have the purchaser wear a wrist band to get in with them, which would prevent any scalper from buying through rush (as long as they made sure to actually put the wrist band on the person in front of them.)

Has the "once a month" cap they've put on the rush policy not helped things as they'd hoped?

Updated On: 6/8/07 at 12:31 AM

[mll85]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:32am

Ok just wondering, because stick the subject heading with what you wrote and I read it like "jersey boys to suspend student rush due to scalpers on june 24th." which triggered me to ask. I'm guessing the box office overhead stuff from scalpers in line then. But this freaking sucks because I might be going to NY during September and I wanted to see the show if I end up going. Seen it a bunch of times in SF so I was hoping to see the Broadway production.

Edit: Ok, read the messages that were posted as I was typing this post. I get what your saying now, took me awhile because I've been studying for a final all day and my brain is getting fried. Updated On: 6/8/07 at 12:32 AM

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:34am

yeah sorry about the sucky wording...long day

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:35am

Awwwww I was hoping to try it at least once or twice this summer. I got lucky at the box office and they had a ticket available about 1.5 hrs after they opened, but I couldn't take it.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:38am

When I got a rush ticket last Sunday, the woman in charge of the line was saying how they would write your name down and then check your ID again during intermission to make sure the same people who got the tickets were sitting in the seats. However nothing of the sort happened. (The scalpers did leave the line that day at least, but I guess it hasn't worked most days.)

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:39am

I don't get why they aren't at least attempting to enact a policy to prevent scalpers from buying the tickets before they suspend student rush all together.

I was thinking the same thing. Why not have people show a student ID when the box office actually opens up for rush sales?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:44am

They do. The problem is that some scalpers are paying students to get the tickets.

It's easily solved. When the box office opens and starts selling student rush, the box office attendants will take the money and place their name on a list. About 20 minutes prior to the show, the "winners" of student rush go back to the box office, show their IDs again, and get the tickets. Easy.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:47am

Munk, that's a great idea and it's so simple. I wonder why they've never done something like that.

[mll85]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:51am

if you're going in September, just buy a ticket. It's far enough away that it won't be sold out. (I think...)

If I knew for sure I was going then I would, but the trip isn't set in stone yet. Won't find out until mid/late July if the trip is a go or not.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:58am

I understand why it's necessary, but it's unfortunate. I won't have the money to go in the next few weeks, and it has just gotten warm. I guess I'll never see Jersey Boys. Not anytime soon, at least.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 2:10am

"About 20 minutes prior to the show, the "winners" of student rush go back to the box office, show their IDs again, and get the tickets. Easy."

Well, if there are scalpers paying students to do this, that plan still gives students enough time to go outside and scalp the tickets for outrageous prices. I'm sure they'd go fast even so close to showtime. In addition, if they did implement this plan, it would be so chaotic since everyone is rushing to get their tickets.

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 5:58am

I completely agree Munk, it's what I've thought since I first saw this topic discussed. My idea was to take a student ID and a regular ID, write the license number ON the ticket, and check it at the door. I guess it's just too much work for them, when they fell like they're doing YOU a favor by having rush. It sucks that rather than put in a little effort they'll just screw everyone. There are plenty of ways around it. Guess those Jujamcyn ushers and BO staff don't want to be too put out.

[avab802]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:13pm

The problem is that some scalpers are paying students to get the tickets.

Also, most student IDs now have a magnetic strip in lieu of a sticker with the valid semester on it. So by just looking at the ID there is no way to tell if it's valid or not. I still use my old student ID to get discounts and I graduated a few years ago.

Personally, I think they should have "young and struggling in NYC" discounts. I had a lot more disposable income when I was a student than I do now when I have to actually pay my own bills.

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:18pm

Here here! I like the idea of limiting rush to people who "need" it, but some students just have mommy and daddy paying for everything anyway. I like the "young and struggling" idea. Though I always thought every rush, including lotto, should be limited to NYC residents. I hate when the tourists pass and happen to see the lotto sign and, every time, win. They should be boosting our economy by buying the full price seats!

*note* I am being a LITTLE tongue-in-cheek and sarcastic... but not really

[jewelchk]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:27pm

It doesn't make that much of a difference, as students aren't getting most of the rush tickets because of the scalpers anyway. Maybe they should just have a lotto if enforcing the ID rules is too hard for them... that way they won't be completely getting rid of the few affordable seats they have, though I'd imagine the sidewalk would get pretty crowded.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:41pm

"My idea was to take a student ID and a regular ID, write the license number ON the ticket, and check it at the door."

Would you really want to go through that much trouble when buying a ticket? Yeah, I'm sure it will significantly reduce the scalper problem, but when you are trying to fumble around for your license at the entrance while hundreds of other people are waiting to just get in the show, it's not a great idea. Somehow the box office has to find ways to prevent the scalper problem while minimizing confustion and interference with other people who bought tickets. Right now, this seems to be the only solution until they figure something out. Perhaps when things slow down at the end of the summer, they'll change their policy.

"Though I always thought every rush, including lotto, should be limited to NYC residents."

Even though you say you are being a bit "sarcastic, but not really," that is one of the dumbest things I ever heard. So what if a tourist wins a lotto? Everyone's given a fair chance. Besides, at least NYC residents have the opportunity to go back multiple times to try to win a lotto while tourists might only have that one shot their whole stay. Also, I'm not a NYC resident, as I'm sure are many others here. I wouldn't call myself a dumb tourist, but why should I be denied the chance at student rush because I don't live in NYC?

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:44pm

Oh darn.

I'm assuming they'll still be doing SRO?