The Bitter Queen at the Booth Box Office

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:09pm

First of all, I want to apologize in advance for this post. I am usually not this mean, but I just wanted to rant about what just happened to me this afternoon at the Booth box office.

While I was at work, I checked playbill.com for The Year of Magical Thinking discounts...and I found one for $60 Mon-Thurs evenings. I checked online to see if any were available and one popped up for Monday, March 26th. I printed out that seat, along with the discount code and went to the box office (to save on telecharge fees).

When I went to the box office, this grumpy man was there and I showed him my discount code and the print out of the exact seat that I had just found online ten minutes ago. His response while looking at the sheet of the seat location was "What is this? I don't know what I'm looking at. There are no discounts." Again, I said that I had just checked online (and printed out proof) so there clearly was still a discount code or it wouldn't have worked online. His response: "There are no discounts." So I asked him if I am only able to use the discount code online (knowing very well that wasn't the case), and he said "I guess so." Then I left...in a bad mood.

I had done this many many time before (printed out the exact seat I had just found and brought it to the box office ten minutes later to get that seat), but for some reason, this guy wasn't buying it. When I was walking by the theater the other night, a bunch of people were selling their extra tickets on the street...I may just have to get a ticket through this method because when I try to go through the proper channels, an old queen dismisses me like I'm some kid who doesn't know what he's talking about. I know a hell of a lot more than he does, that's for sure.

Have any of you ever had a problem with this guy at the Booth box office?

Thanks for listening to my rant...
Updated On: 3/13/07 at 01:09 PM

[Mamamia Sammy2]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:23pm

First off, he's not gay.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:25pm

Wow. Rude.

I never had that problem there, but the Hirschfeld when the Wedding Singer was there, had two rude experiences with people at the ticket window. During the summer, I came to try and get a student ticket and got an attitude from the women behind the counter because my ID was messed up.

The second time I went to attempt to get tickets, the women said the show was sold out and I went, like most teenagers say "For real?" and she responded very angrily and full of attitude "No, I'm kidding." I was caught off guard by her rudeness.

Must they be so rude?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:28pm

He may not be gay, but he certainly is a jerk.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:29pm

What a story...... I've had similar experiences happen to me here in Los Angeles at The Shubert Theatre in Century City. It was torn down 2 years ago to make way for an office building....ARGH!!!!

It was quite well known in the LA Theatre world that the box office people at The Shubert Theatre were nasty, nasty queens. They were so rude, dismissive and nasty......out and out nasty.

I guess their way of thinking, and the guy at The Booth as well, was......I HAVE POWER!!!!! They are in charge of tickets and if they don't want to give you a good seat, they aren't going to. This happened time and time and time again at The Shubert Theatre in LA.

When "Sunset Blvd" was there with Glenn Close prior to it's Broadway run, I was in line to get tickets and the guy at my window was telling people that there were no seats on a Saturday night. Yet, the man at the next window said there were tickets on a Saturday night. Again........they have control issues........their thought process is.......I'm miserable...so, I'm going to make you miserable, too.

Sorry you went through this. I feel for you!!!!!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:33pm

I had no problem using a discount code to buy a ticket the other day. In fact, they were all too happy to accomodate me.

It was the skinny balding guy with glasses who helped me.

I've never had a problem there, actually. I thought they were all fairly nice.

Odd. Updated On: 3/13/07 at 01:33 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:37pm

Yankee, maybe I should give you the code so you could buy my ticket for me then...I can't believe he didn't even check availability in the computer. The seat definitely would have popped up because it's still available right now! Ugh. So annoying.

[Theaterfan555]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:44pm

First off, I'd like to know how MamaMiaSammy knows the box office guy isn't gay. The original poster didn't even describe him. There's more than 1 guy working at the Booth.

I have found that box office personnel on Broadway are EITHER friendly & courteous OR aloof/snotty/curt ... rarely in between! And the bloated sense of self-importance of those who patrol the rush/lottery lines... When you control the Wicked line, you control the world, don't ya know?!

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:45pm

I never had that problem there, but the Hirschfeld when the Wedding Singer was there, had two rude experiences with people at the ticket window. During the summer, I came to try and get a student ticket and got an attitude from the women behind the counter because my ID was messed up.

I never had a problem with her,b ut rather with the man who worked there (thin, bald). He was really mean, to the point where I would try and go to the other window if both were open. He yelled at me one day when I asked for a ticket, and was jsut very nasty to me overall.

Updated On: 3/13/07 at 01:45 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:49pm

Where does it say anything about being gay?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:50pm

my title is "the bitter queen." that implies that he is gay.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 2:17pm

I'm not in any way apologizing for the Box Office employees, but I do have a bit of a theory. Ticket prices are outrageous. On this board, there are daily requests for inforation on how to get into these shows for cheaper. I do it myself. I was in town a few weeks ago and managed to see Spring Awakening, Company and Altar Boyz for less than $100 for all 3. I'm guessing that the employees get exasperated by lotteries, rushes, discounts etc. etc. It's kinda like when a waiter or waitress gets exasperated when you order a menu item and then want it prepared totally differently and with different side dishes. Having waited tables as a 2nd job (since teachers make squat), there were times when I knew the customer had every right to have things made differently, but in my head i'd think, "Lord, just order it the way it is." Perhaps the Box Office folk are in better moods when you just buy the ticket for the posted price. It's less hoops they have to jump through. Again, i'm not excusing anyone, i'm just offering a suggestion.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 2:26pm

WithoutATrace, see if you can get me a JPEG of this guy's face and I'll make myself a "Bitter Queen" avatar.

"He ruled his box office with an iron hand and became a legend...'

[tazber]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 2:31pm

Doesn't this not have a job if there is no show at the Booth?
It would behoove him to sell that house any way he can.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 2:46pm

I may go back later today or tomorrow (after I check online to make sure there is still something available) and try my luck again...

[lisa902652]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:17pm

The guys at the booth are espceially nasty and condescending. There is a woman there who is very nice. If anyone wants a number to compalin pm me. THey really shouldn't treat patrons so nasty, we spend a lot of money for tickets.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:20pm

yeah, I am SO going to write a show called "Bitter Queen at the Booth" now...you can have half my cut when we get to Broadway.

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:26pm

In their defense, they do have to deal with some pretty stupid people. When I was getting tickets to "Grey Gardens," the guy in front of me spent about 5 minutes looking at dates and times, and then said: "What's this show again? And what's it about?" And then he left without buying a ticket. Perhaps you've caught him perpetually on bad days!

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:33pm

When the Pillowman was still at the Booth, I once went to buy tickets at the box office and forgot my discount code (though I did have it memorized) and the guy at the box office was nice enough to give me the discount anyways.

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:36pm

I have never worked at the Booth and have never even bought a ticket there. But here's my two cents:

I used to work somewhere that had a Ticketmaster. EVERY day, people would come in with impossible requests. People would insist that the ticket cost less on line, or there was a discount code or that seats were available to a sold out show. No mater what I told them, they were outraged. And they ALL KNEW that they were right and I had no idea what I was doing. We had no internet connection so we could not look at the same screen they had-- we only had our little Ticketmaster computer that would spit out a location or two. People came in asking for discounts they heard about on the radio, read about in the paper or saw advertised at the theatre. We of course had no idea what they were talking about.

My favorite thing (As long as I'm venting) was when Wicked came to town. We would post a sign ("Wicked is SOLD OUT-- all dates, all performances") and the customer would say "Can you just check?" I would tell them, "I can, but it is sold out." They counter: "Just check-- you never know." So I'd spend 20 minutes checking date after date even though the Wicked screen said "This show is SOLD OUT." After wasting all that time, they would sigh and say "Well, I'll come back and check tomorrow. It doesn't hurt to check."

[courtnyj]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:37pm

I try to be extra friendly to all box office employees, get on their good side you know...
The skinny guy at the Hirschfeld that another poster mentioned can be snotty, but when I was buying a ticket to Curtains opening night the other day I put on the charm he suddenly became really nice. He even smiled and said, "See you opening night!"

Actually this is a useful tactic for many other situations where someone in a thankless job is given a bit of power....the DMV, etc...

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:41pm

<< In their defense, they do have to deal with some pretty stupid people. When I was getting tickets to "Grey Gardens," the guy in front of me spent about 5 minutes looking at dates and times, and then said: "What's this show again? And what's it about?" And then he left without buying a ticket. Perhaps you've caught him perpetually on bad days! >>

I think anyone in any "service" job capacity has to deal with SOME stupid people-

You just have to deal with it--- If you cant deal with it... QUIT !! Taking it out on other customers is not the way to handle your displeasure with a job. JMHO

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:42pm

I have found that box office personnel on Broadway are EITHER friendly & courteous OR aloof/snotty/curt ... rarely in between!

Welcome to NY! I think many people desribe us like that - either people think we're the greatest in the world or the nastiest.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:43pm

I pretty much thought this was another Pirate Queen thread. Thank god it's not.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:43pm

Beware of "The Curse of the Bitter Queen": Each time you call someone one, you increase your chances of becoming one.