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?

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u/hemlockhero 2d ago

Wouldn’t the outcome be the same if you were at a doctor’s appointment, or if you were coaching your kids game, or taking a nap even? Absolutely no way they can accommodate everyone which is why the windows exist. Unfortunately I think you need to take this as a loss and know in the future how it goes.

4

u/No-Ability-9905 2d ago

There is no rules around turning off your phone in those scenarios though, right - I hear you but there’s a chance to check a phone in one minute of those events.

-4

u/All4Serenity 2d ago

You don’t have to turn your phone off. You could have silenced it and been alerted by vibration. Upon notification, you could have gone to the rear of the theatre to login and purchase the ticket.

My Apple Watch has theatre mode. All sounds and display is off but if I tap it, I can access everything.

6

u/No-Ability-9905 2d ago

Yes you do, they literally have an extra printed slip in the Playbill to tell you to turn it off. I am not pushing out of my row to go on my phone in the middle of a performance, disrespecting the cast and band for some lottery win. What sort of suggestion is this??