Student enjoys her sales job at WPU Ticketmaster outlet

By Allison Leisz
Staff Writer

Alima Hawthorne, a William Paterson sophomore, works at one the university’s most secretive of locations – Ticket Master.

William Paterson has its own Ticket Master outlet, but not many people seem to know it exists.

“I didn’t even know that there was a Ticket Master on campus until I started working here,” said Hawthorne. “I needed a job on campus that was convenient for me, so I ended up coming to the Rec Center and they had an opening here.”

Hawthorne has worked at Ticket Master for a year and a half, and says that things are typically quiet around the outlet.

“We don’t really get a lot of action here.”

For big-ticket sales, however, students are advised to show up before 8:30 a.m. to reserve a spot in the raffle that determines the ticket line order. Tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis, and there are no student discounts. Some of the bigger stars were shows have generated larger ticket crowds are Cher, Aerosmith, Summer Jam, and Hootie and the Blowfish. Broadway tickets are also sold at the outlet.

Hawthorne said no one has ever gotten out of control over sold-out tickets. She said that people have called the outlet from outside wanting it to open so they can get their tickets, but the clerks can’t help anyone until the store opens.

“People mainly tend to be disappointed when they come and can’t get the tickets they wanted,” Hawthorne said.

Are there any special perks for students working at the outlet?

“No, we really aren’t allowed to do that,” Hawthorne said. “We basically have to stand on line like everyone else, but knowing when the tickets are going on sale helps a lot.”

The Ticket Master outlet is located in the William Paterson Recreation Center and is open 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For further information, call the Rec Center at (973) 720-2776.

March 27, 2003 Issue