I bought a travel package to NYC that includes a ticket to "The Lion King" but I don't really want to see it. What are my chances of selling an extra (single) balcony ticket at face value? Where can I find interested buyers, and when? Should I hang around the ticket booth? Are there laws that I need to know before trying this? Any advice is welcome.

If I understand it correctly, NY state law prohibts "scalping" but does allow indoividuals to resell tickets legally, provided they don't go more than a few $$ over face value(the few $$ allows one to recoup the onerous Ticketmaster fees that are often a part of the cost). You could probably sell it quite easily on the afternon of the show by standing near the ticket window with the ticket in hand and offering it to folks who are approaching the window.

Owen is quite right. You are free to sell the ticket at face value. And further, his suggestion about selling it in front the theater is a good one. I would think that if you want to do it in the shortest amount of time, you go there at around 9:30-10 a.m. as there are likely to be people waiting in line for the box office to open at 10.

The following is a post from earlier this from from a charitable organization that resells Theatre Tickets - perhaps you could contact them and sell it to them for face value (plus your expenses) Two advantages - they raise funds and you don't have to stand in front of the theatre on your holiday!


Author: M.Pagnotta ([email protected])
Date: 1/23/2001, 2:31 pm ET

Message: I work at the Cancer Research Fund of the Damon Runyon Walter
Winchell Foundation. We sell Broadway tickets for double the price. We are not
brokers, because the extra charge goes towards Cancer Research and is tax
deductible. If interested you may call 1-800-445-2494 and ask for Broadway
Tickets.

Thank you, Owen and Howard! I appreciate your information, and I feel much more assured that "I can do this" now. (If anyone has additional information, it's welcome, too, of course.)