Crashing the Gate

[Lady Day]

Hmmm...
Ive always though of an event as a well rounded thing.
The ticket was to get in and hear/see the band. But that was it. I have always thought it a courtesy to buy a drink (two if they are good ) or buy an appetizer to support the staff/cook who are actually working the event. Anything less would just be rude. You are a patron at the establishment. They have something you want, you have something they want. This isnt as one sided as event goers make it out to be.

I mean its a *night* out. That use to be a special thing, that encouraged a simple splurge here and there. I guess now a days people are apt to try 3-4 events a week be it a movie a dance or a concert.

LD

 

[Miss Sis]

I agree with you, Lady Day. I'm not out a couple of times a week. It's more of a special event when I do go, so spending £10 - 20 every now and again is ok.

I also agree that I don't go to an event to drink alot. One or two drinks is about what I'm willing to consume, or non-alcoholic, mostly. But I'm happy to pay the ticket price if I want to go and dance/enjoy a band/socialise.

If you don't want to pay, then don't go! It's a very simple decision.

 

[DecoDahlia]

The other thing about "gate crashing" is that it's not only unfair to those who have paid to attend, but also ruins an event for for everyone; the people who have paid and have to witness an unfortunate scene, especially if the gate crashers become belligerent, the organizers because they have to deal with these cretins, and, if it's a charity, in particular, the sense that these people are trying to cheat a charitable cause.

This isn't about "knowing your place," in the old sense; although maybe it is too; rather, it's about doing the right, honorable, classy thing, so it's really appalling when people who are supposedly so obsessed with the notion of how much manners, the quality of life, and public deportment have deteriorated since "The Golden Era," would contradict what they claim to be their values. A sense of entitlement, presumptuousness, selfish chutzpah, and gate crashing may be as old as time itself, but that still doesn't make them right.

Some charities make even their volunteers pay for tickets to their higher end fund raising events, either at full price or a slightly reduced rate, thus, it's an insult to volunteers, whether they've paid for their tickets or not, to have people gate crash. Trying to "slip one by" a charity is like spitting on all the people who put in hard work to create an event, and the charity's cause.

With charitable events, the people who run them don't want their event to seem like a police state, they just want their attendees to have a good time and to raise funds for worthy causes, but, oh, how to keep the gate crashers at bay! If an event is such a hot ticket that people want to gate crash it, and the gate crashers keep saying how expensive the event is, that they're too poor, then why don't they save up their money; it's called living within your means, not trying to get something for nothing.

Due to my involvement with the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, both as a board member and a regular member, I've been asked to "set dress"/add atmosphere at events other than ADSLA's events, however, at these events, we never stuffed ourselves with free food and drinks unless we were invited to do so by our hosts. We also were invited to be at these events, and were being volunteers for our organization. Just showing up at an event "dressed," even if it's appropriately so, shouldn't get you into an event if you haven't bought a ticket or been invited to it; you're not contributing to an event just with your presence, nor elevating its atmosphere, if anything, you're demeaning yourself and denigrating the event. The, "I don't care if I'm not supposed to be here, I'm going to gate crash because I want to be here, shall do what I want to do..." attitude really gets my goat, as, it's selfish, rude, and inconsiderate towards others. Rant over. Sorry, I'm just sick of having to deal with the dolts in question.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

at these events, we never stuffed ourselves with free food and drinks unless we were invited to do so by our hosts.

You are lucky.

I have never been invited to stuff myself.

 

[Paisley]

Isn't it better for the club if people come and pay but don't drink than if they stay home? If they can't break even, maybe they should charge a higher cover or reduce their costs.

If they know that dancers don't drink, why not offer something else? I'd buy juice or Vitamin Water if it were offered. I see people bring in Jamba Juice (I've done so, too)--why not offer something similar? Some restaurants offer tasty little desserts in shot glasses for $2. The waiters bring them to your table and show them to you--they don't wait for you to ask for them.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

^
Excellent point Paisley. I have been to many, many "sober" dances. Although I rarely, if ever, even drink soda and never juice. I always bought something. I knew the performers or DJs had to get paid.

 

[Paisley]

I seldom order anything at the Mercury Cafe (I've had bad experiences with their food), but always throw a buck or two in the tip jar. The Turnverein has an honor bar, and I always buy a water or soda.

For the record, I'm not totally cheap. The other night I stood in line at the movies for 20 minutes to buy water and popcorn for $10. So yes, I'm willing to buy food and drink I want to consume. I'm not willing to spend money just to help someone else's bottom line, and probably the vast majority of people are the same way.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

If they know that dancers don't drink, why not offer something else? I'd buy juice or Vitamin Water if it were offered.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the dancers tended to bring their own bottles of water to the events.



.

 

[Paisley]

What were they charging for water? I vaguely remember reading years ago that LA clubs were charging quite a bit. Around here the Turnverein (admittedly, a nonprofit) charges $1 or $2 for bottled water and sodas and $2 for snazzier drinks like SoBe. I've never seen anybody filling up bottles in the ladies room.

 

[Trickeration]

It's not the cost of water at dances venues, it's the entitlement thing again. "I paid to get in and you expect me pay to for water too ?" And if you raise the cover too much, the dancers do quit coming.

I agree with what others have said. If someone doesn't have the money to go out all the time, they should stay home. Pretty simple concept.

 

[Miss 1929]

Some events are way too expensive for a lot of people to go to.

For instance, at the Queen Mary Art Deco Weekend, they have amongst other fabulous events the Gala Dinner and Ball, with Dean Mora's orchestra playing. So wonderful. But, so expensive! If you are not an attendee at the weekend, it is about $100 per person for the dinner and dance.

So I am not surprised that a few people sneak in (you know who you are!). What would be great would be if in addition to the regular ticket, there could be a "dancing only" ticket at a reduced price. It's all more gravy in the end, and they buy drinks which makes the venue happy. Just don't let them in until the first hour is over to prevent them freeloading on the dinner.

I don't know if the ADSLA is having the geriatric problem that the ADSC battles all the time - we are always looking for ways to diversify our attendees, and making events so expensive that young people can't come makes for a much older, duller, not-so-cute crowd. With present company excepted of course.

 

[SGT Rocket]

Freegan

Wow, I love this place.

In reading this thread, I came upon a work I didn't know: freegan. I quickly turned to Wikipedia to figure out what one was.

Weird, I have seen this type of person before, in Austin (I like Austin, don't get me wrong). But, my parents would have called people like this "bums." Except most "bums" in my parents eyes were people who lost their jobs and down on their luck. They were to be helped, by giving money to organizations that could help them.

However, the freegan type of people I knew in Austin lived that way of life as a lifestyle. A lifestyle I felt was just as pompous as the one they "hated." It's a much more exclusionary lifestyle too. Very much an us vs. them attitude. If you didn't beleive the entire "party line" you were one of them. To be the cooler in the group, you had to be more extreme.

To me, most were searching for an identity, something to give themselves self-worth or something. Like, they didn't know where they came from or where they were going. Not lost, but going around in circles with a make believe angst. [huh]

 

[Charlie Noodles]

That's why shoplifters always anger me so. They steal without thinking of the effects, like on the employees. When the company loses money, they start making cuts - usually on their wages, or benefits!

I don't shoplift, but have no problem at all with the idea of stealing from certain chains down here. Monopolies and record profits; and a garuntee that those prices would not go down if shoplifting took a smaller than forecast bite out of said profits.

 

[Foofoogal]

 

[Lorrel Mae]

A lifestyle I felt was just as pompous as the one they "hated." [huh]

fftopic:

All "lifestyles" are pompous, in my opinion. Everyone gets caught up in their own kind of "status".

 

[Paisley]

It's not the cost of water at dances venues, it's the entitlement thing again. "I paid to get in and you expect me pay to for water too ?" And if you raise the cover too much, the dancers do quit coming.

I agree with what others have said. If someone doesn't have the money to go out all the time, they should stay home. Pretty simple concept.

But as you said, prices affect behavior. Just as you can't raise the cover charge to the sky and expect dancers to keep coming, you can't raise beverage prices to the sky and expect people to keep buying them.

Going by what Marc C. said, many of the dancers have, indeed, decided to stay home.

 

[Paisley]

I don't shoplift, but have no problem at all with the idea of stealing from certain chains down here. Monopolies and record profits; and a garuntee that those prices would not go down if shoplifting took a smaller than forecast bite out of said profits.

Then why don't you shoplift?

 

[Feraud]

I don't shoplift, but have no problem at all with the idea of stealing from certain chains down here. Monopolies and record profits; and a garuntee that those prices would not go down if shoplifting took a smaller than forecast bite out of said profits.

Just an fyi, it is not o.k. to steal from someone (or company) that is successful.
Rationalizing it as "they won't miss it" is incorrect.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

I don't shoplift, but have no problem at all with the idea of stealing from certain chains down here. Monopolies and record profits; and a garuntee that those prices would not go down if shoplifting took a smaller than forecast bite out of said profits.

This is one of the most inane statements I have ever read. The prices would undoubtedly go up Mr. Noodles. Ya see if everyone had that attitude the business concern would have to raise prices to compensate for your kind. shakeshead

 

[Foofoogal]

All "lifestyles" are pompous, in my opinion. Everyone gets caught up in their own kind of "status".

Lorrel Mae. Welcome to the FL.

Will you be my new BFF. The most honest statement I have read this year. lol :eusa_clap