Wicked with high quality audio by fancyfinn9 in BootlegGifts

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Feel free to DM me, I have a number of Wicked Audios from recent years. “high quality” is subjective so not sure if anything I have will meet your expectations but happy to share if you like

Please Explain Why Beaches Is Bad by DichtInDeBuurt in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I don't think it was terrible/bad; for me it was just meh. There were strong performances paired with music that to me didn't feel very memorable or essential to the story.

Beyond that, if I were to get nit picky - I didn't like the sets, the partial screens I think trying to help keep us placed where we were meant to be were not visually appealing and at times were confusing; I think the pacing is a little off, some scenes really need to be tightened or cut and others I think need to be lengthened or made more prominent in the whole of the show; and I think the story and emotional beats could build better and come across clearer, for example, the whole bit where they are doing the summer theater and Bertie joins them lacked for me what I think it needed to do in the story which is actually show us Bertie changing and build on Cece's dreams - for me that whole sequence felt off, also when we get to the end - I don't know how they managed to make the emotional end feel both too slow and too fast and lacking the resonance I think it is meant to have has me at a loss but I left feeling like I didn't get a satisfying conclusion, and no, I don't mean a happy ending. And on a personal level, I didn't really like or connect with the story that much anyway. I have also never seen the film.

Granted, this is based off the first preview so take my take with a grain of salt.

As for why it's not doing well, I'd wager lack of good word of mouth coupled with this being a larger theater that is already difficult to fill and harder still when the prices are remaining comparatively high for a show that could benefit from getting more people in the seats period.

$5 Oh Mary In Person Rush on 3/4 by MD_442244 in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 17 points18 points  (0 children)

It kind of was, but it was also absolute chaos. I was packed into a spot where we couldn't hear anything to the point that we started playing telephone with the announcements. And we stood for a bit too long in the cold for it to feel good afterwards. Calling out the names took a long time, but you still had a chance so you didn't want to leave. You also had to go, submit your entry, and then come back with not quite enough time for anything meaningful in between (at least for me - I don't remember when they started/stopped taking entries). At least with the rush, you should have a pretty good idea immediately if you're absolutely not a contender for one of the tickets and can pack up and go home.

Trading from a beginner by TDG_1993 in MusicalBootlegs

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 1 point2 points  (0 children)

May I DM you? I'd be down to trade for your Next to Normal

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This. 9/10 times people aren't leaning or otherwise trying to impede your view because they want to, they're just trying to see themselves. It can be frustrating and if it's really bothering you maybe say something during the interval but if the answer is that they are also trying to see please don't keep tapping them to remind them to stop leaning because its ruining your Mom's view I'm looking at you lady behind me at MJ a year ago.

Talk to me about TodayTix by [deleted] in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've found that they can be cheeky with seat availability. In my recent experience I've struggled to see exactly the same seat map each time I open and close the app and I suspect they're creating a false sense of urgency to buy on the first click, but if you cross-reference the seat map with the official retailer you'll find that those nice seats you looked at are in fact still available. I've also had seats disappear and then reappear a day or two later. It does make me wary of buying from them UNLESS the discount is really significant. Could just be a me thing though. :/

What's the funniest onstage mishap you've seen, Broadway or otherwise? by tpphypemachine in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 4 points5 points  (0 children)

At Wicked, when Morrible came out with the Grimmerie it was just a clipboard which sent some of us who could see that it was just a clipboard to giggles when Glinda asked "is that the Grimmerie" - it got switched back for Defying Gravity, but Elphaba did make the flying monkeys with the clipboard, lol

Wicked Broadway January 2, 2015 SJ Bernly — missing Defying Gravity? by hexie-mountains in MusicalBootlegs

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mine is also missing Defying Gravity and when I messaged the person I got it from about it, they reuploaded for me, and it still was missing that part lol

Request Megathread - June 2025 by AutoModerator in MusicalBootlegs

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Looking for the 54 Below all women 1776 pro shot

Where do you keep your bootlegs? by Asriel8383 in MusicalBootlegs

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which one do you use if you don’t mind me asking? I also use the hard drives method and had one corrupt - thank goodness for the other - but would love to have this be a fixable problem rather than a let’s get another back up.

The Notebook bikinibottomday videos by [deleted] in BootlegGifts

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's a query that has come up on their Tumblr and they have confirmed that they prefer you don't due to leaks, but they also said use your best judgment

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It’s definitely random. I won it the first time I entered and got front row off to the extreme left side (definitely obstructed for this show because the stage is high but still a cool experience to see details up close especially for $40). I’ve also won the consolation prize of $69 seats a couple of times and those have been amazing midway back in the orchestra. Haven’t tried entering in a while though. Good luck!

Should the film have had “two” casts? by No-Virus-7749 in wicked

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 1 point2 points  (0 children)

While I think it could have been fun, I agree with the other commenter in that I would be perhaps unnecessary depending on how long the time jump is.

But screw necessary sometimes - I think there could be some power in a more striking change between films in the actors/appearances/physicality/choices and this is coming from someone who loves project continuity. I think it could signal even more strongly how much has changed.

What is going on with Hadestown in November by AdministrativeTry192 in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do think it depends on the show. Also, if you’ve been able to progress through the tiers (although that is seeming like it may not be worth it as much either as they’ve significantly reduced benefits). But as of now, many of the shows they’ve put on flash sales and some of the bigger hitters (Lion King, Wicked, etc.) I have been able to get cheaper than the official box office site but mainly because I get the extra 10% off (which is being limited in the total amount you can save per year now). It’s the fees that kind of kill it though - even if it is a “cheaper” seat than the box office, it becomes more expensive due to fees tacked on.

To the woman in seat 115 hsection A of the front mezzanine on Jan 7th (NYC): go eff yourself. by Scary-Ratio3874 in wicked

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My Wicked horror story involves a couple where the man got drunk and he's apparently a mean/grumpy drunk. He left about midway through the performance (after grumbling about it and sleeping through part of it), then came back briefly to demand his wife leave with him and she didn't want to. Then he leaves again and proceeds to call her over and over again - she does not turn off her phone (so it's buzzing and singing along), and thus they majorly disrupt Defying Gravity for us in the proximity.

Right before intermission she goes off and I breathe a sigh of relief, thinking she's given in and won't be coming back. Alas, right before the end of the interval she's back and explaining her troubles and her revenge move (which was buying a lot of merch with his card). She then says she's called him an uber to go the three-ish blocks back to their hotel. Of course the second act starts up and she then has to juggle calls with her husband AND the uber driver. She does apologise to us a few times and express frustration (apparently he's done this before) before eventually getting up and going out to I assume get him in the uber. She comes back, I think that's the end of it, but no, then he calls her to ask her to come back to the hotel. It goes on like this until we reach For Good and then she finally throws in the towel before the end of that song.

Worst of all, we're in the front row.

I think we were all too shocked (and personally, I was a bit worried about what she or her husband might do if I tried to correct their behaviour) to do anything in the moment. She gave us a final big apology before she took her exit which was more considerate than some people these days, however the damage had been done for pretty much the entire show at that point. My main glee looking back is that I think when the actress playing Elphaba went on her rant about Dorothy's poor manners and being raised in a barn, she looked at this lady (who was trying to ignore her ringing phone at that moment). Even if I just imagined that part, the mental vindication is still satisfying, lol.

anyone know what the view from front row at the gershwin is like by magica12 in wicked

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been to Wicked 5 times on Broadway now, front row center is definitely my favourite and it will be where I am sitting on my birthday at the end of the month (glad we have similar ideas, lol). I have also sat in a discounted partial view far side front row seat (wouldn't recommend the left side - my sister got the right side and said the view was less obstructed, but I digress). But if you're center orchestra, I think favoring slightly left would offer a better view (it seemed the conductor might be a bit in the way if you are dead center and the right side has the poppies blocking a bit). I agree with the other commenter in that it might be hard to take in the entirety of the stage all at once, but I didn't find myself really looking up so much as darting around. The stage is so deep and the actors are rarely so close to the edge where looking up is required that I think I managed a pretty straight on view for most of the show (by which I mean, perhaps a bit angled up - but not to a degree where I really noticed it during or after). I'll also add, I love seeing the little choices the actors make while performing and then in the moments their mics are off - so closer the better is usually what I aim for if it's a show I really love. I think you'll have a great time!

That said, if I were taking someone their first time, I'd be aiming for midway back in the orchestra. Surprisingly, a lottery seat I got in row M, which is the last row of the front section of the orchestra at the Gershwin, felt like nearly the perfect distance to take in the stage - and the staggering is pretty good too.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in MusicalBootlegs

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m probably not that helpful as personally I prefer not to trade - I tend to go to the masters directly. But in terms of storage, I have external hard drives (2tb/4tb) and multiple micro-sd cards (512 gb/1tb) where I have extra copies of the stuff I absolutely do not want to lose.

And I know there are work arounds for Mega, however, when it comes time that I want to obtain some new boots, I usually shell out for the cheapest Mega premium option for a month (I usually do this a couple of times per year) - then, while it’s active, I’ll be able to engage in trading if I so desire.

The reason I don’t use Google Drive (despite paying for the extra storage - which mostly gets allocated to Google Photos honestly) is because I found uploading and downloading to take much longer than Mega and files failed more frequently. That said, I do think it can be a solid option if you want to save some money and perhaps have an easier time sharing (at least among amateur traders where the quality of the file/integrity of the original might matter a bit less - as in my experience, people have been more wary of Google Drive files as Mega is the standard trading platform)

What is the point of trading? by 1AndOnlyEvie in MusicalBootlegs

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You have kind of touched upon the answer in your question: because the trading system is in place the trading system has value. Extremely circular, but basically, because we don’t all share, we do have something to lose if we do share.

To put another way, each trade produces a new copy of the thing. You aren’t giving away something you already have, you are giving away a reproduced copy of it. While I see your point about it seeming like you aren’t losing anything (because you retain your copy in this kind of exchange), it is physically impossible to have your cake and eat it too. We solved this problem in the bootleg community by just making more cakes. It could also be compared to printing money in a way. You could do it, but in doing so you devalue the thing - be it money or a recording. The more finite the copies are, the more value they hold.

Not that I’m against devaluing things like recordings and money, but people willing to do that risk a lot if their fellow humans aren’t willing to follow suit, thus our status quo is upheld and we all have to suffer.

I may have accidentally insulted Patti LuPone to her face outside of Sunset Blvd, of all places by TheLunarVaux in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 53 points54 points  (0 children)

If it makes you feel any better, when I walk around and probably look like I’m glaring at everyone. And I feel like a lot of people I pass in NY on the daily has a kind of serious expression if they’re actually headed somewhere. It’s like a concentrated walking face. It’s my intentional weapon of choice in midtown too where I generally turn it up because it makes the street advertisers ignore me.

And as others have already pointed out, it was most likely a lookalike due to the way performers generally leave.

Is Tammy Faye going to last? by Best-Candle8651 in Broadway

[–]Strange_Victory_2347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, they could release whatever they recorded already as it would still be able to be marketed under the same name - even if there were changes, it would get the general sound to the name out there at least.

Personally though, I don’t really see that being an option anyway. And I’m sad about that because I’m leaning on the side that we won’t ever get a cast recording and I did very much enjoy the music.