Waiting Not for View of Parade, But for Cash

Friday, June 19, 2026

As New Yorkers prepared for the Knicks' NBA championship parade, some people were hired to wait in line early for prime viewing spots, with services arranged through platforms like Airtasker and companies such as Same Ole Line Dudes. This growing trend highlights a new market for paid line-waiting, driven by demand for exclusive access at major city events despite uncertainties around crowd management.

As New York City prepared to celebrate the New York Knicks’ NBA championship with a parade in Lower Manhattan on Thursday, some individuals found a unique way to profit from the event by waiting in line on behalf of others. One such individual, Samuel Powell, 30, who lives in New Jersey, was hired to secure a prime viewing spot early in the morning in exchange for approximately $600.

Powell began waiting from midnight until about 7 a.m., occasionally passing the time by working on his phone and coordinating with friends who could temporarily hold his place. He was hired through Airtasker, an online platform connecting clients with people willing to perform various tasks, including waiting in lines. Powell said he maintained regular communication with his clients to inform them of any changes, especially if law enforcement authorities imposed restrictions on crowd density in certain viewing areas.

The concept of paid line-waiting services was also facilitated by companies like Same Ole Line Dudes, led by CEO Robert Samuel. The company typically provides staff to hold spots for major events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Halloween parades, and Pride parades, but the Knicks’ ticker-tape parade marked their first experience with this particular type of gathering. Samuel described the operation as experimental, given the uncertainty about the best locations and timing for securing optimal spots.

Same Ole Line Dudes charges clients a standard rate of $25 per hour plus a $15 overnight fee. However, on certain platforms where line sitters set their own rates, some listings for securing premium viewing areas reached prices as high as $1,000 for two people. The services offered can include hourly updates and photographs verifying position in the crowd to reassure clients.

Samuel planned for his team to hold their positions until around 5:30 a.m., when clients would arrive to experience the parade firsthand. Both he and Powell acknowledged the unpredictability of crowd control measures and density, factors that could influence how effectively their arrangements would function.

This emerging market for paying others to hold parade viewing spots reflects a blend of entrepreneurial initiative and growing demand for exclusive event experiences in high-profile urban celebrations.