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Squadron raps ‘Hamilton’ on the Senate floor to fight ticket scalpers

May 12, 2016 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
State Sen. Daniel Squadron performed a modified version of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical “Hamilton” on the Senate floor to draw attention to ticket scalpers. Courtesy Sen. Daniel Squadron’s Office
State Sen. Daniel Squadron performed a modified version of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical “Hamilton” on the Senate floor to draw attention to ticket scalpers. Courtesy Sen. Daniel Squadron’s Office
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On Tuesday, state Sen. Daniel Squadron rapped an abridged and modified rendition of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical “Hamilton” on the Senate floor to draw attention to flaws in New York’s ticket reselling laws.

“What’da we need? A ticket revolution!” he cried.

Squadron has called for the Senate Majority to hold oversight hearings following a report by the Attorney General’s Office showing scalpers jacking up ticket prices outrageously.

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Ticket resellers are using automatic ticket-purchasing “bots” to buy and resell thousands of tickets to popular shows before living fans can get their hands on them. Scalpers snatch up tickets to charity events as well.

“Whether it’s profiteering off the Pope’s visit, a Sandy benefit concert, or even just getting a ticket to the great new American musical, it’s clear that our broken ticket law has been caught up in the Benjamins,” Squadron told the Senate.

“Tickets go on sale, at the very same time

Real suddenly they begin to climb

How to account for this rise to the top?

Maaaaan, the bots are

Non-stop!” Squadron intoned.

 

Squadron’s “Hamilton” speech pulled from numbers including: “Alexander Hamilton,” “Aaron Burr, Sir,” “My Shot,” “You’ll Be Back,” “Non-Stop” and “The Room Where It Happens.”

“For those who have been able to score tickets, you may recognize some of this,” Squadron told senators. “For those who have not seen the musical, rest assured, the real thing is better,” he joked.

Here are some of the lyrics Squadron dropped on Tuesday:

Alexander Hamilton

What’s my name, Senator?

State Senator Squadron

My name is State Senator Squadron

And there’s a million fans havin no fun

But they just wait, they just wait

In New York

you cannot be a

real fan

Oh no,

In New York

you cannot be a

real fan

 

Aaron Burr, Sir

While we’re talking let me offer you some free advice

Extend less

Reform more

Let’s let them know what we’re against and what we’re for

 

My Shot

We’re just giving away

our shot

We’re just giving away

our shot

New York’s law is junky

old, rotten and clunky

And we’re just giving away

our shot

 

You’ll Be Back

Bots rise, fans fall

We have seen no reform through it all

And when push comes to shove

Lobbyists will send a fully armed battalion to remind Sens of their “love”

Ba ba bap ba

 

Non-Stop

Tickets go on sale, at the very same time

Real suddenly they begin to climb

How to account for this rise to the top?

Maaaaan, the bots are

Non-stop!

 

I know I talk too much, I’m abrasive

Bots’re incredible at tix. They’re speedy, evasive

The fans need a strong defense. Not this solution.

What’da we need?

A ticket revolution

 

(From here on, it’s the real lyrics)

Corruption is such an old song that we can sing along in harmony

And nowhere is it stronger than in Albany

 

The Room Where It Happens

No one really knows how the game is played

The art of the trade

How the sausage gets made

We just assume that it happens

But no one else is in

The room where it happens

The room where it happens

The room where it happens

 

 


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