Paying Others to Wait: The Rise of Professional Line-Standing
In the U.S., waiting in line is a common experience, but not everyone wants to do it. A recent study shows that:
- 85% of people wait in line at least a few times a month.
- 65% feel negative emotions like boredom and frustration while doing so.
This frustration has led to a new business trend: professional line-standing.
The Business of Waiting
People can now hire others to wait in line for them. Rick Piel is one such professional. He arrives early at popular spots like the Washington Monument to secure free tickets. These tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis, and only 200 are available each day.
Piel works for Skip the Line, a company founded by Jennifer Goff in 2017. Goff started the business after noticing a long line outside a "Game of Thrones" pop-up bar. She thought it would be an experiment, but it quickly became a successful business.
Services Offered
Skip the Line employs a team of people who wait for various events, including:
- Restaurant reservations
- Book signings
- Concert tickets
- Congressional hearings
- Supreme Court cases with limited seating
Cost and Demand
Customers pay between $30 and $40 per hour for this service, with higher rates for:
- Overnight waits
- Bad weather
Other companies, like TaskRabbit, also offer line-standing as a paid task. From 2023 to 2024, TaskRabbit saw an 18% increase in bookings for this service nationwide.
The Debate
The rise of professional line-standing has sparked a debate about the value of waiting. Dr. Maggie Mulqueen, a psychologist, argues that waiting can have value and that not everything is worth skipping. She worries about the fairness of commodifying waiting, saying it creates a divide between those who can afford to skip the line and those who cannot.
Transparency and Ethics
Skip the Line emphasizes transparency in its services. For concerts, their linestanders can hold spots for up to three people and inform those behind them in line. They also advise clients not to bring too many people forward, as it can hurt their business and reputation.
Public Opinion
Most people waiting in line do not mind the service. Jerry Bennington, who was waiting in line at the Washington Monument, said:
"It's fine with me. I mean, you gotta make money somehow."
Piel's longest assignment was 138 hours for a high-profile Supreme Court case. Skip the Line has also received requests for:
- Fourth of July parade seating
- Holding parking spots
