(L.A.) Wicked lotto has exploded

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/12/05 at 10:53pm

I know, another W thread. :) I've done the lotto at the Pantages five times over the past two weeks, won twice, and all of the times that I was there (including a matinee and a weekend night) I would say the lotto crowd has been about 50, 60 people. Maybe 75 tops.

Lotto today (Tuesday): I'd say 150 people, probably more. I have never seen it that crowded!

There's a guy in the crowd that I refer to as scalper man, I don't know for sure that he's some type of scalper, all I know is that when I saw him once before the people in his 'group' were talking about how much they'd make for the tix if they won the lotto for two seats together, vs how much they'd get for winning two single seats in the lotto. But they ended up not winning anything! Anyway, scalper man was there again today, and he claims that the increase in the crowd is because he put this up on craigslist:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/tix/83941205.html

I don't know what the reason is- building word of mouth, etc. but the lotto is huge now, it was pretty cool- I felt like I was in one of those NY lotto crowds that people are always talking about!

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/12/05 at 10:59pm

It's rediculous, even in the nyc wicked. i went on june 11th and there were about 175 ish people there and i won, well ym friend won. I was so shocked!!!!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/12/05 at 11:00pm

Yea for Wicked!

[DAME]

Posted: 7/12/05 at 11:12pm

One way to get tickets in LA is to buy them from hotel concierges. they have them. Their mark up is about $35.oo a ticket.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 12:21am

Hey Dame (or anyone else who might know)- random question: do you know about cancellation line tix? (Not specifically for W, I just mean in general). I have heard that if you buy a tix in the cancellation line that you have to pay the orch price, no matter where the seat is. Is this true- like you could get a rear mezz seat and pay orch price for it? Or is it that the cancellation line only handles orch seats, so that's why all their tix are that price?

[Popular]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 1:38am

Ok, please don't get mad at me for not keeping silent with this tip but I just thought that if you want to try the lotto next Thursday matinee might be a good time to go. It's the ONLY Thursday that they are having two shows and I think that at this point people might be used to the weekend matinees and not too many may know about this added one. Just a thought. GOod luck! Make friends!

[noahrp3]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 1:55am

WHy would a scalper post something like that online?

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 2:48am

Thanks for the Thursday tip- I actually heard that earlier today, in fact, from this fabulous guy I met in the lotto line, so I think people are slowly starting to get the word out about it. I like the lotto line- there are some great people there, and I live like three stops on the Red Line away from the theatre so it doesn't take up too much of my day to do it. The friends I make in line don't win, though. :)

And I don't know what scalperman's deal is/was, all I know is that when I saw him and his group of people a few days ago in the line they were talking about "getting $500 for a pair if they're together, but only $250 if the pair is not together" for any tix they might win. And I think now the staff might be not letting him enter anymore or something? No clue, it was all just strange. (And he told the crowd 'you're welcome' today, for his post. Seriously. Strange. Yet entertainment, for a few seconds.)

[Melysah]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 2:51am

:I Updated On: 2/28/06 at 02:51 AM

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 2:53am

you pay if you win: $25 each tix, max of 2 tix, cash only. It's free to enter the lotto, though. :)

[*ClassicVintage*]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 3:18am

There have been about 150 people there on weekends, it just depends on the day that you go.

[DreamFlyer22]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 8:31am

So, basically, scalper man was re-selling the tickets? At least in the New York Wicked lotto, that shouldn't be possible. They check your ID when you show back up to the theater at 7:30 to be admitted, (at least I had to re-present MY identification...)

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 2:46pm

I guess, at least that is what it sounded like he was trying to do. That's interesting about NY lotto tix- the two times I have won here I went with two different friends, and after showing my i.d when I paid at 6pm I never had to show it again.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 4:12pm

Cancellation Tickets are seats that were reserved by the production. They are generally known as "house seats" and aren't always available. Producers hold a certain number of seats per performance, to either sell to the cast and crew or to give away to VIPS (celebrities, politicians, etc.). They are always center orchestra, and usually mid-floor (row H). They can become available at any time prior to curtain. They will never be anywhere but the main floor.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 7:04pm

Cool- thanks for the cancellation info!

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 7:15pm

The re-checking of your ID in NYC's Wicked Lotto must be a new thing. I saw the show in September and we didn't win, but a guy we met in line got the tickets for us because both he and his girlfriend's name were called and they only needed 2 tickets.

I've also seen people win lotto and then try to sell the tickets for $100 a piece.