The Belasco Box Office Staff Proves Yet Again What As%h*l#s They Are

Even worse is at the Music Box. I dealt with some kid last night who ignored me for about the first minute (even though no one else was in line) until I interrupted him, then was a complete jerk when I finally asked about the rush. Needless to say, when they were sold out, I didn't buy a regular ticket as I had considered before I talked to him.

Not as bad as the Marquis box office. We were in line from 7-10 and our school doesn't provide student I.D's but my friends and I brought enough information to pass as a student I.D. I was second in line and when I get up and show him all the information I have, his response? "Great! Now let me see you student I.D." I continued to tell him everything and he kept repeating what he said before and finally he said "Oh well!" and gave us the "shoo-shoo" hand gesture. A simple "Your I.D. is not valid, I'm sorry" would have sufficed. I got an apology the next month, but am still upset by the service.

Sorry to come in here and bother you and ask you to do your job.

LOVE this.

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I just don't think there's any excuse for rude box office personnel. There are friendly young actors who would totally love to sit inside all day and sell people tickets. Why are box offices so overwhelmingly staffed by mean older people?

That being said, I want to give a shout out to the box office people at the Eugene O'Neill and the Cort. They have been nothing be amazing to me over the years, even during high profile productions like Book of Mormon, Will Ferrell, Fences, etc. I would imagine that working a show like that has to be the hardest gig in town for a box office person.

The Belasco box office staff SUCKS. And has for a while.

The grumps at the Imperial aren't much better.

I had a nice experience with the man the OP is writing about. I didn't know there was rush and planned on buying the cheapest ticket in the rear mezz. He saved me $6, got me a fantastic seat in the orchestra AND smiled the whole time.

But he was still a total a**hat during WOMEN ON THE VERGE.

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Updated On: 4/29/12 at 01:52 PM

I'm NOT disagreeing with anyone here as to how b.o. personnel should behave, nor am I defending unprovoked rudeness.

But based on my own experiences working in box offices, I'm afraid the truth is that if people want to see a show (especially a big hit like BOOK OF MORMON), no amount of rudeness will deter them. If they don't want to see a show, no amount of good customer service will make a sale.

At the same time, I've never encountered nastier customers than I did when working a ticket window. I actually got death threats over the difference between 5th row and 10th row center! No, people, there is no conspiracy to keep the "good seats" away from you personally.

The combination, I'm afraid, doesn't provide much incentive for box office workers to behave well. Good behavior should be its own reward, of course, but we are talking about human beings.

(The exception to the above is the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies and, I assume, theaters like it, where they are heavily dependent on repeat business. They treat customers like kings and queens.)

"And I left. Seriously, this guy (50's, mustache...) is such an ass. I hope someone from the Shuberts read this thread and do something."

Maybe you could try contacting the Shubert Organization and telling them you're displeased with their customer service instead of complaining about it on the internets?

Heck, do both.

Box office staff are an odd lot. There is never any rhyme or reason as to how they treat you or what kind of response you are going to get. It's usually when I am very courteous that I get the worst treatment.

For instance, when the Addams Family was in previews and was a hot ticket, I had an open slot and decided I'd see the show. I knew it was a hot ticket and there was no way I was getting a deal. I even thought I might have to pay premium. I went to the box office looking for any ticket for the following night. So I asked the jerk at the box office, "are there any tickets for tomorrow night. I'm open to paying top price." He didnt even check the computer he just responded back. "No", shooed me aside and said "next".

I got the feeling that there were tickets available, so I phoned the Ticketmaster automated system and it offered me several seats.

So I got back in line and had the exact same exchange as before and when I tried explain about Ticketmaster, he yelled "Get out of the line!" So I did.

Well I don't take such treatment lying down, so I waited a little bit to see if he left, went on break or they opened another window. He left and I got in line, got a regular priced orchestra seat, center 10th row. As I was finishing my sale, he came back and took over. I said, "You're a piece of s@#t" and I quoted Edie Monsoon and said, "oh and you can drop the attitude, you're just a box office clerk." He called a dick and we went on our merry ways.

I understand that BO Staff deal with lots of a#!holes but who doesn't?

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Jordan: When you said "Thanks. Sorry to come in here and bother you and ask you to do your job," you forgot to remind him that he also gets paid to do his job.....

I hate rude BO staff. There are terrible staff members at the Foxwoods, as well, and I agree that those at the Imperial are just mean. If they don't want to deal with people, why have a face-to-face service job?