Are you seriously asking for the bootleg of Hamilton? Even though Lin asked people to just wait for the official copy? Some Hamilton "fan" you are.
Yes, I’m asking for a copy. I’m just as much of a fan as the people making gifs of the bootlegs, which the fans who ‘don’t want the video’ are reblogging like hotcakes. Let’s get one thing straight, Hamilton fans are the worlds biggest hypocrites. They ALL say how much they hate bootlegs because Lin hates them but the second they get them, they reblog the audio and gifs like they are going out to style.
I have ZERO ethical issues about bootlegs, especially for a show as popular as Hamilton, Wicked, Rent, etc. Lin-Manuel Miranda is NOT losing any money on a bootleg of Hamilton being circulated around the broadway community or the Hamilton fandom. His show is sold out. People are buying a shitload of merchandise. He makes money off of people streaming the cast recording on places like spotify and amazon. He makes money off of the cast recording which people are still buying in droves, I have a digital and a physical copy of the cast recording, which I bought. I’ve already bought over a $150 worth of merchandise for the show. I paid to see this show. I already pre-ordered the Hamilton book he is releasing next year. Let’s not pretend I’m not a fan of this show because I would like to see it again and don’t want to wait for an official video, which I will own the second it comes out.
Lets not pretend people who download bootlegs are “bad fans.” I have multiple bootleg copies of my favorite shows. I’ve given a lot of money to my favorite shows. I’m one of those people who will buy a different shirt each time I see the show. I’ll get a mug, the cast recording, a poster, a program, etc. I’m lucky enough to live close enough to New York that I can go up to see my favorite shows live. I got lucky enough enough to see Hamilton and don’t want to wait to see it again. I have and have seen multiple bootlegs of In the Heights. I have no issues with that. I’m not a broadway fan who looks down or feel bad for downloading bootlegs. I do support my favorite performers by seeing their shows, by buying merchandise for the shows, by buying cast recordings, etc. I may download bootlegs of the shows but when official videos and recordings come out I buy them because they are better quality.
Also lets be very fucking clear about something, bootlegs are NOTHING compared to live theater. They are something to hold fans over who cannot see a show. Most shows NEVER get an official recording that is released to the public. Some shows do not tour. Hamilton won’t tour until next year but that doesn’t mean it will be in a city close to all the fans. Some fans cannot even afford to see the shows when they tour and those tickets will sell out like hotcakes for Hamilton. Yes, tour tickets tend to be cheaper than shows on broadway but some fans literally cannot afford to the $50 cheap seats. Also, don’t give me that shit with the “the lottery seats are only $10!!!!!” Unless you live in NY or close enough to get up to the city/waste a day in the city if you lose, that means fucking nothing. So while that is great advise for someone living in NY who can get to the lottery, it’s really useless advise for most fans. Also, lets not pretend all the tour stops will have lotteries. I doubt most will. Some theaters on tour will have student tickets but if you aren’t a student, that advise is again, useless. Yes, I have been very lucky to be able to afford Hamilton tickets and have been lucky enough to see the show live. I will be lucky enough to buy tickets when the next batch goes on sale or get my dad to buy them if I am at work (he can get them while he is at work). However, most fans are not as lucky as me.
So long story short, go take your anti-bootleg crap to someone else. I have no ethical issues with bootlegs and I’ll still throw money at this show despite not being a real fan for wanting a bootleg.
