TommyZ

Didn't Colbie Calait and Nora Jones both sell out? Same with Chevelle with Finger 11 and other small acts. The reason they can't bring in bigger names is because they sell out larger venues, so they charge more, which makes places like EJ with 3,000 seats or whatever it is lose money, especially when they can easily play at places like the Wolstein Center or Blossom right up the road. If they're having money issues they need to bring in more acts like that that, stuff that will sell out without breaking the bank. Even the JAR is too small to have a "Big Name" concert. Now the Info on the other hand.... Yes Colbie Calait, Nora Jones, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Steely Dan (two shows) all sold out. I remember tickets for these events ranged between $30 and $65 per (Calait being the least expensive and Jones and Dan being the most expensive) My tickets for Nora Jones and Steelye Dan were around $55 and $60 dollars. These concerts by no means lost money. They in fact created a net profit for the promoter between $250,000 and $600,00 (conservative estimate). While UA did not reap any of these profits, it also did not lose money on these concerts. So shows other than "high brow" "blue hair" events do make money in Thomas Hall even if the profit is not reaped by UA. My point is that high brow stuff is almost designed to lose. This is a fact all over the country and is no surprise to UA or its E.J. The arts are a losing venture for the most part in this country and that is just the reality. Keep in mind EJ's Budget is almost completely made op of UA student fees and the hall knowing spends and loses those dollars on programming geared to the non-UA student. As a student, if the hall is going to lose my money no matter what, at least it could lose it over shows that I as a UA student would want to see. Dan Dahl's desire to see UA foundation money "diverted" to E.J. is a dishonest position on his part. He knows that UA foundation dollars are meant to be earmarked to specific campus efforts and that no one in high places at UA including Dr. Proenza has the authority to "divert" funds from the many specified accounts at the UA foundation. There is nothing stoping Mr. Dahl from creating such an earmarked account within the foundation or from stepping up efforts to fund his "Flying Balcony Club". He is the managing director. He has the authority and obligation to do just that or to create an endowment for the hall like any responsible director does. He's been at this job for over 15 years in all now and the hall is nearly 40 years old. I know of animal shelters who have better fiduciary standards and practices than this sacred cow on UA's campus. BTW, stage door shows and local rock bands on the hall's pation w/hot dogs and pizza impress no thinking UA student and neither do silly Halloween parties. Anyone can see that these efoorts are desperate acts of tokenism that serve no more than 1 or 2% of UA's student body. The only things Thomas Hall has provided the UA student body over the past 39 years are excuses. IT IS NOT A CAN'T DO SITUATION. IT IS A WON'T DO SITUATION.