Jan McNulty Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 I've just had a horrified phone call from a friend to say she has received a letter from Northern Ballet stating that the current Friends' scheme (£70 pa) is being discontinued with effect from 1st December. There are 2 options given - to join the Patrons at £250pa or become a Friend for free with the only "benefits" being priority booking and some ticket discounts (usually the same as a seniors discount). I hope Northern Ballet are fully aware of the goodwill that they will be losing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 So I was not incorrect when I said that the attitude at ROH towards frequent audience members is not unique! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanartus Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Sad... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Interested to know what they used to get for their money. To be honest, i’d happily be a friend for free if it guarantees booking priority and occasional discounts. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 If they advertise this new free friend scheme well enough perhaps everyone will be given priority booking 🤣 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Blossom said: Interested to know what they used to get for their money. To be honest, i’d happily be a friend for free if it guarantees booking priority and occasional discounts. A lot less than when I first joined but basically we could watch class most Saturdays when the company was performing. It used to be every Saturday but that changed to a specified Saturday when performing in one city for more than one week and not when performing at Quarry Hill. For Friends the day of open rehearsal used to be free but has been a chargeable event for the last couple of years. Patrons still enjoy the benefits currently listed but for how long.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 The Patrons' scheme is very expensive. I wonder if they'll attract many people to it. If not, they'll lose money as well as good will. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 10 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said: A lot less than when I first joined but basically we could watch class most Saturdays when the company was performing. It used to be every Saturday but that changed to a specified Saturday when performing in one city for more than one week and not when performing at Quarry Hill. For Friends the day of open rehearsal used to be free but has been a chargeable event for the last couple of years. Patrons still enjoy the benefits currently listed but for how long.... The price of success... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 That's so sad, Janet, and it reminds me of what happened to Friends of Festival Ballet at the end of the 80s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 What happened? I was a member of the Associates, I think it was called, I think from some date in the 90s, after they'd changed their name to English National Ballet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 2 hours ago, bridiem said: The Patrons' scheme is very expensive. I wonder if they'll attract many people to it. If not, they'll lose money as well as good will. Quite!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheilaC Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 The membership fee was expensive for the level of benefits, as they were reduced at the time that the fee level was raised significantly to £70. Many NB supporters thought at the time that the motive for raising the fee to that level was deliberately to put people off. Ironically the letter starts by thanking Friends for the key part in helping the company to grow and for our loyalty. It refers to the 50th anniversary next year. Some of us Friends, not least those of us helping in their archive work, are frustrated that so far there seems to be no planning for the golden anniversary. Yet Scottish Ballet which also celebrates 50 years next year (the 2 companies developed from Bristol-based Western Theatre Ballet when it folded) has announced an impressive programme celebrating this landmark. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 4 hours ago, alison said: What happened? I was a member of the Associates, I think it was called, I think from some date in the 90s, after they'd changed their name to English National Ballet. It used to be the Friends. When it became the Association prices increased significantly and benefits were greatly reduced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 I thought Western Theatre Ballet simply moved to Scotland and changed its name, not that it folded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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