The following appeared in support of Rockford Dance Company in a thread on this blog. Anybody else find this offensive?
ROCKFORD
IS A TERRIBLE PLACE TO MAINTAIN AN ARTS ORGANIZATION!!!!
This is Rockford,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AMAZING!! Geez! Where do you think you are, New York?
There is just no where to go in Rockford.
It's nearly impossible to hold together a consistent board, convince a school director to come here. Good luck getting any young, overly-qualified, unexperienced directors for the school, company, or finances to settle for our current administrative positions with even a 50% pay increase. No artist wants to beat their head against the artistic wall of this community.
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14 comments:
What da ya'll xspect from ole Hicksville IL?
Yes this is offensive, particularly if it was in defense of arts programs in Rockford.
Tell Cheep Trick that Rockford is a lousy place for the arts.
Things are only as good as you make them.
RDC charges Chicago pricing for their productions. Do they expect the rockford hicks to buy into that?
I would be happy with Chicago pricing. You can get a ticket to a Joffrey performance for a little as $25 a seat.
What happened Najinska?
Do you not want to edify us?
Does nobody really understand? Do you not see that others maybe do have an idea what they are talking about?
Maybe it is you and the current RDC that is out of touch with students, parents, the audience, and of course all the hicks in Rockford.
Rockford does have a decent, if not small, arts community.
But let's face it...the majority of Rockford doesn't even know we have a talented dance company OR a dynamic arts council OR a wonderful symphony Orchestra OR a large variety of theater programs.
How many of you have ever heard of the Reindeer Monologues? It was a wonderful production put on by a fledgling theater company in Rockford. But sadly... few people came to see it.
That's the sad reality of our location... few people come to see our performances. It's a sign of the poor economy. When money's tight, the arts are the first to suffer, especially in suburban communities. It's also a sign of the area in which we live. It has nothing to do with the good people of Rockford. They are simply trying to make ends meet most of the time. Most of us are struggling with this.
And the Dance Company charges fairly decent rates for tickets. Did you know the CHEAPEST teicket at the Joffrey is, yes $25 and the most expensive about $100ish. But at RDC, tickets go from $15-$40. Not the best comparison.
This also has a lot to do with the fact that the Coronado Theatre has become the Coronado Performing Arts Center. They are a wonderful organization that has worked very hard to keep Rockford full of art. But because of this new status in the arts community, they nearly doubled their rental fees and also require a lot of paper work to use their amazing facilities. PLEASE NOTE: since this happened in 2007, you have NOT seen a subsequent doubling in RDC ticket prices. They are trying their best to provide affordable art to the Rockford Community.
I am terrible sorry to offend you lovely people. I was simply stating what I consider to be cold, hard facts of this area. Rockford will always hold my respect. And their are hundereds of underappreciated, very talented artists in this community. Please make an effort to go and see such people as the Bonzi Productions, the Mendelsohnn Concert Series (including Maria Castello's performance at Court Street United Methodist this Friday)....
Honestly...if you want to improve Rockford... Start a thread where people can post any performances in Rockford that people can attend. The artists in Rockford need all the support and love they can get.
Finally, I will not be posting in the future.
But thank you for your critique of my writing. It helps me hone my ability to create a stable arguement, and prevent the repetition of irrationality.
Best of luck to all of you with whatever you hope to accomplish!
Sorry to hear you leave this site, but glad to hear you own up to some less than intelligent statements about Hicksville IL.
I did notice a section on this site called positive gossip only.
Seemed nobody had any. This is/was too bad.
You opinions are valuable and help offset some of the bitching. But, you and RDC staff and RDC board do need to hear, and perhaps react/change based on what has been written here.
Take most comments as positive criticisim and become better.
I find it sad and pathetic that most of you are hiding in the dark like roaches, writing your rantings to each other not having any affect on RDC at all. If you want to change these things, then have the balls to say it in the open so that the powers to be can understand the issues and do something about it. If your not part of the solution, you ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. I'm sick of this. Grow up.
So, how does one have an affect on RDC?
I have mentioned issues (problems to me) to staff. Cindy just giggles and shrugs her shoulders. Pam laughs. They both say "...well that's the way it is." Chris is really nice, and does what she can, but she has very little power in that office.
I have tried talking to Doug Mark. No luck their either. He just makes excuses for the office staff.
I have written ALL board members, at least three times. Only ONE board member on ONE occasion replied. Nothing specific, just that he would look into my question.
I would love to find someone who listens, reacts, and does something other than offer up excuses.
So.... how can I change things.
ps. Sorry no balls here, never was, never will be. Blame God.
Hey anonymous, look who's hiding also.
Us anonymous people are afraid of the repercussions inflicted on our kids. Just ask Tabitha Benson what can happen when you try to save the job of a beloved teacher.
What are you afraid of?
I like the anonymous aspect. It allows people to tell it like it is. I think you may get some unpleasant information. Sometimes the truth hurts.
You people defending RDC sure have a lot of sorry excuses for everything. For instance, your arts organization can't make it because of your location? You have the nicest studios in town, the best theater, the biggest costume shop, paid staff, and you can't sell a ticket if you life depended on it. It is either poor Promotiom or too high of a price. The RSO can sell tickets to the Nutcracker just fine. They have it figured out. Maybe you should ask them for a lesson. When you can't sell something, either you aren't telling the right people about it (promotion) or the price is not right for the marketplace (rockford) If your expenses are too high then address that. Don't blame your geographic location! If you keep doing the same thing, you will get the same result. If you change how you do things you will get a DIFFERENT result.
Najinska, you need to get your FACTS correct.
Joffery tickets range in price from $140 to $25. The reality is probabally like $90 (next step down) to $25.
Cinderella tickets are $40 to $22.
A fair comparison might be:
$90 is to $40
as
$25 is to $11
or, reality is
$140 is to $40
as
$25 is to $7
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