Taylor Swift and a group of improv comedians pretending to be wizards may seem like an unlikely duo, but they share one surprising similarity – the ability to sell out Madison Square Garden. However, alongside this impressive feat, both artists have also garnered some hate from their fans towards their ticket provider, Ticketmaster.
But now, adding to the list of big names who can boast ticket sales in the famous 19,000-seat venue, is Dropout’s Dungeons & Dragons actual play show, Dimension 20. In a matter of hours, ticket sales for their upcoming show have skyrocketed, causing some confusion among outsiders. As one Redditor commented, “This boggles my mind. When I was playing D&D in the early eighties, I would have never believed that there was a future where people would watch live D&D at Madison Square Garden. It’s incomprehensible to me.”
While it may seem absurd to some to watch people play a tabletop game in a massive sports arena, the success of this genre is undeniable. However, this momentous achievement for actual play shows is overshadowed by a common frustration shared between sports, music, and now D&D fans – Ticketmaster.
As the Taylor Swift-Ticketmaster scandal highlighted, the company’s mishandling and failures have resulted in a large number of new anti-monopolists, especially among Gen Zers, as stated by Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan.
In Dimension 20’s case, the source of frustration is Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing. As more and more people try to purchase tickets, the prices continue to increase. Just an hour after ticket sales opened to the public, the few remaining tickets in the upper bowl were already priced at a whopping $800. And three hours later, those same tickets were still inflated at $330.
A frustrated Redditor posted, “Went onto the presale, tickets were $500+ for the worst ones, we assumed they were scalpers and that the actual sale today would have normal priced tickets… $2000 for the lower bowl!? I know it’s not dropout setting the price but wow is that a LOT of cash.” As another commenter pointed out, thanks to dynamic pricing, Ticketmaster itself is essentially acting as a scalper. It’s no surprise that Dimension 20 fans are upset, especially considering the anti-capitalist themes often explored in the show’s content.
Nevertheless, despite this pricing debacle, the high demand for the show is a great sign for actual play shows and the creator economy as a whole.
Shows like Dimension 20 and Critical Role, which recently sold out the 12,500-seat Wembley arena, are not the norm for all creators. However, a decade ago, these pop star-level productions for online content creators were unimaginable. In 2013, it was a significant accomplishment for YouTubers John and Hank Green to sell out Carnegie Hall, with a capacity of around 3,000. But now, the line between internet celebrities and traditional ones has become increasingly blurred.
Even the story behind Dropout, the production company responsible for Dimension 20, is a testament to these changing tides. After comedy website CollegeHumor folded, executive Sam Reich acquired the company, which has since evolved into Dropout. Today, Dropout produces various comedy shows, including Dimension 20, that capture the same magic typically found in more traditional shows like Saturday Night Live. In fact, Dropout’s cast members are as captivating as the shows themselves – if you find Lou Wilson amusing on Dimension 20, you’ll likely enjoy his episodes on Game Changer and beyond. This beast of Dropout feeds itself, creating a cycle of success. Moreover, four cast members from Dimension 20 have begun their own creator-owned actual play podcast called Worlds Beyond Number, which now boasts over 30,000 paid subscribers on Patreon, each pledging $5 per month towards the project.
This milestone for Dimension 20 is further proof that the relationship between Silicon Valley and the creator economy’s “hype cycle” is entirely insignificant to creators’ actual careers. Sure, the venture funding for creator companies may have decreased since its peak, but ultimately, what does it matter? Creators can now sell out Madison Square Garden. It’s a remarkable achievement that highlights the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry and the growing power of online content creators.
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