How is it physically possible for an act to sell out a show at massive Overture Hall in just a few minutes? Flight of the Conchords did. They're performing Sunday, April 26.
Management for the HBO stars demanded that 70% of the 2,251 Overture Hall seats be set aside for sale to fan club members. Media partner WMMM-105.5 FM got 250 tickets. Overture set aside another 250 for its own advance purchasers.
At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, what was left went on sale. Demand was instant and enormous, crashing Overture's phone system. Tickets were yanked on the spot for everyone standing in line, and Internet sales snapped up the last seats. It was over in moments.
Did scalpers scoop up the seats? "There are methods that we have to curb ticket resellers," says Overture spokesman Rob Chappell. Purchasers were limited to eight tickets - except in the first 14 rows, where purchasers were limited to four tickets. The tickets will be released only at the box office to those who bought them, with valid identification.
On their HBO comedy program, the New Zealand mock-and-roll duo has a single fan and hapless management. In real life, it seems, the group has lots of fans.