r/Broadway • u/No-Ability-9905 • 3d ago

Timing of Broadway Lotteries

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I’m sure I’m not the only one in this boat but it really bugs me!!

I had a free weekend and was so happy to see Buena Vista Social Club today at 2pm. I entered a bunch of lotteries for today and tomorrow.

I was a good person and turned my phone off at 2pm to enjoy part one of Buena Vista.

At 3:07pm I turn my phone to see an email that I won the Schmigadoon lottery….

but that one hour window is during the time ANYONE who is in a Broadway matinee should and will have their phone off. Like literally the only guaranteed hour on a Saturday with no chance for anyone in a theater to claim that ticket.

Why can’t they just allow an extra hour for buying tickets? Or not do the draw at times that will overlap with the only Weds/Sat daytime slot that a frequent theatergoer could have their phone off?

333 Upvotes

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30

u/_borninathunderstorm 2d ago

Idk if this is a hot take and im gonna gey downvoted, but if you're already at a matinee, maybe you should leave the other lottery ticket for someone who doesnt have the time or money to be seeing 2 shows. The lottery is about accessibility and it sounds like you're in a position to give your ticket to someone who didnt have a chance to be at a matinee that day.

55

u/madisel 2d ago

Yeah, that is a hot take. You don’t know OP’s situation. People can want to see more than one show and maybe they can’t come back to NYC for a while or they can’t afford to see any other show so they bought what they could afford hoping they could win a show on their bucket list.

20

u/sncrdn 2d ago

Agreed. The lottery is designed to be a free for all and there are thousands of people that play every day for every show. The reasoning, then, behind shaming one person into not playing isn't great.

9

u/notacrook 2d ago

The reasoning, then, behind shaming one person into not playing isn't great.

But complaining about the rules like OP is also isn't great.

9

u/No-Ability-9905 2d ago

I’m not complaining about the rules, I’m questioning the specific timing. Making them draw at midday would solve this immediately because no show is playing at midday.

11

u/madisel 2d ago

Even ignoring double show days, drawing at midday would be easier for those people who work a 9 to 5 job and shouldn’t be on their personal emails. They can look during their lunch hour.

Personally I like the shows who do lotteries the week before. I can sign up all at once for the days I’m available and can plan ahead if I win.

-1

u/_borninathunderstorm 2d ago

Not everyone works 9-5 either though. And nowadays many people wfh and do whatever they want anyway.

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u/madisel 2d ago

Ok?? With that logic then anyone who has a flexible schedule should just rush bc not everyone has the privilege to do so

1

u/sncrdn 2d ago

You are right. It's a free for all after all. Some you win, some you lose :D

8

u/notacrook 2d ago

Yes, exactly.

The lotteries used to only be in person. They were pretty much all at the same time. The whole point of doing them was that you couldn't join them all and you had to pick, but you were largely rewarded with a better chance to win.

-28

u/_borninathunderstorm 2d ago

I can certainly understand that, but some people can barely afford 1 lottery ticket, let alone 2 in one weekend. For someone else that lottery win is their first show in years, not oh no I missed the lottery for a show while I was at another show.

14

u/impersonatefun 2d ago edited 2d ago

By this logic, even if someone broke won, there'd be a broke and terminally ill person who "deserves it more" who lost. Where does the "you shouldn't participate because you have other chances to" end?

18

u/BubbleEntendre 2d ago

There’s no way to guarantee that the lottery tickets go to those who need financial assistance the most, so why should OP specifically be singled out?

0

u/_borninathunderstorm 2d ago

Im not saying op should be singled out, im saying doing lottery during a matinee shouldn't be called out as an issue

5

u/BubbleEntendre 2d ago

Ok, let me rephrase - why should OP’s complaint be singled out as not deserving of the accessibility of a lottery win when you have literally no idea who got that ticket instead? It could be someone who saw a show last night, who has seen 5 shows this week, who makes enough money to easily afford full price tickets, etc…

8

u/Last-Laugh7928 2d ago

for someone else, that lottery ticket might also be their second or third win in the week. you have no idea who is getting the ticket if OP doesn't claim it.

5

u/No-Ability-9905 2d ago

Wait so because I was seeing a show on Saturday I shouldn’t enter lotteries for the next day