Who missed the ballet?
(Second of two parts)

What's also funny is that weeks before the show, friends of the Luce earnestly promoted the show with its P1,000-or-so tickets. Now after buying their tickets, is that the way to treat one's patrons and supporters?

What's not so funny is that the tickets sold to the patrons instructed them on the proper dress code, and nowhere on the face of these tickets did it say that jeans or maong or corduroy or ankle-length pants, or shoes other than leather, etc. were not "proper attire" for the show. (Rule no. 5 says: "Proper attire is required. No tank tops/sando on men, rubber slippers, and short pants/knee level are allowed." Period.)

So who played God and changed the rules?! Or who played the fool and failed to communicate the proper instructions on the acceptable dress code?!

The best that could have been done is to encourage the wearing of formal attire and what-not, but never to enforce it. Afterall, dressing, too, is a form of personal _expression. Besides, which fool would want to be underdressed like trapo in the midst of the high-heeled, elegantly dressed, perfumed set?

And then, there's that whole foul-up on the season tickets. During the first semester of Silliman University's school year, patrons, students, and members of the community were encouraged to purchase season tickets to enjoy some discounts and, most important, to guarantee that they get the seats of their choice for the shows.

The ballet was a season offering in the first semester, and many bought season tickets mainly because of it. However, the organizers postponed it because they failed to raise the amount enough for the talent fees of the ballerinas.

Of course, the first season patrons were assured that their tickets would be honored; but then, again, not really. The student season ticket patrons were actually downgraded to a matinee, although their tickets entitled them to a gala performance -- as is always the case until now.

Incidentally, many college students still had classes that Saturday; even the SU School of Basic Education -- some of whom are season ticket patrons -- also scheduled special classes that Saturday. Apparently, they could have only watched the show if they had to be absent from their academics. Isn't it that cultural shows in campus are always worked around the students' academic activities so as not to disrupt them?

Some season pass holders I hardly know came up to me to complain that they were accommodated in the gala performance alright, but they didn't get the seats they had reserved earlier in the year. Why the shabby treatment? Or did the organizers realize what they had just done?

Some physically missed the ballet because of the funny and not so funny mishaps surrounding "Carmen". The Luce can learn from this experience so that it may continue to improve its service, and ensure sustained patronage and support from the community.

Something that can be done is to offer an apology to the displaced patrons. Just as in any business, even high brow culture, patrons must be given the utmost courtesy; although we sometimes think they're wrong. This is the whole point about promoting culture and the arts.

And those who don't get the point are the ones who really missed the ballet.

(And you're right, Ian. We haven't even mentioned about the dirty black curtains of the famed Luce Auditorium, maybe unwashed since you were born about three decades ago?)*

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