For several years, my wife and I were season ticket holders. We gave up our seats a couple of years ago when the management change and the quality of performers coincided. For the past couple of years the series has been riddled with repeats of previous years acts or acts that really don't have the drawing power to create much interest in attending, much less trying to fill the place two nights in a row with some tired artist. I know that it is no easy task booking acts as far out as the Fred has to. So many variables come into play. The whole idea behind the two night gig is to attain the talent for less money when it's averaged. When you do this you better have the talent to back up back to back nights. So, book better talent and raise ticket prices by $10. run the acts to back to back nights and start making money. I'm just saying...

Sadly enough, when the Tennis Center was bleeding red ink with losses of $200,000 per year, it was the Amphitheater that footed the bill. Now, the Amphitheater is struggling and the Tourism Authority throws its hands up in the air and slashes the budget. The Amphitheater has proven that it can be operated at a profit. The Tennis Center has proven that it can be operated at a profit. Where's the leadership to keep both of these on track?

"If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it."
- Thomas Jefferson

For what it's worth...

I've casually attended shows at the Fred - one or two or three a year, up until two years ago.

It was the first time that I went to a "community theatre" performance at the Fred, and tickets were $15, I said "well, it's for the good of the community-based actors; so I'll pony up $15 and head out to the Fred."

HA, was I fooled. NOT $15. It was at least $21 due to the Ticketmaster override fee. Guess what? That was disheartening. I was SO happy that my family was unable to attend with me that evening at the last minute, because the planned $60 night out suddenly was becoming a $84 night out.

Two years ago, I went to another community-based show. Same thing with the Ticketmaster Upcharge -- it had not go away. I DID. I left that night without dealing with Ticketmaster.

Bottom line, you FRED producers ... be up front about ticket prices. Period. I've had several former FRED afficionados tell me they had the same reaction I had. They just left.

Well -- now you know what's going on folks. Are you really that surprised?