[SABRMnLgs]

Hi Grace:

Maybe in some places that is true. If so, you are correct. But that is only so with things like props, backdrops and the like. Chairs are (at least in most places) consided as "conditional" items". That is, they come with the package.
Think of a cab driver, who rents his cab from company X. Company X rents him the cab and also takes a percentage of his receipts. The cabbie has to pay for gas. This is the usual arrangement. But now Company X also wants to have him pay rent on the tires and headlights?? Nope. When you have rent the cab, your supposed to get the whole cab.
Or.... how about going out to a restaurant for a nice dinner.
You sit down to eat your food. Your server then asks if you'd like silverware for an additional charge. Huh? Your silverware and that cabbie's tires are "conditional" items. They come with the package.
TV Savannah Center argues that since they are "on the stage during the performance", they are a prop and considers a charge normal. I would say back to them, "I too am on stage during a performance, does that make me a prop also?"
Anyway, the point I am trying to make is, yes there are certain items which should be considered rentals. But others should not be. A venue that does this is not high class by those who have been on stage elsewhere and know a bit about business etiquette. (I am NOT a world travler and have not played in large venues but I have been on a number of stages over the past 40+ years, and have absorbed a bit of experience in this type of thing).

[Just Susan]

My husband and I attended a performance at the Savanah Center last April when we were in TV. Now I will qualify our impressions by saying that we are on the tall side Tom is 6'4" and I have long legs. Also we are City people, San Francisco, Minneapolis, etc, and are used to top notch entertainment. And as I have stated we saw one performance.

That said, I was very excited to attend the performance, and we really had to search to purchase tickets before we arrived, as the show was sold out.
The show was mediocre at best, we have seen better High School performances. The seating was horrible...folding card table chairs lined-up touching each other and leg room similar to mid-row airplane when the person in front of you puts their seat back.

We can get past the quality of the show...you get what you pay for and if we went with lower expectations next time we would enjoy ourselves just fine. The seating however is a big deterrent and may prevent us from ever attending anything at the Savannah Center again. Too bad, it is such a pretty building......but oh so uncomfortable.

[collection6]

I would like to know why there is not a fire department presense at Savannah Center events. I would be curious to see if there is any state law concerning seating and overcrowding at these venues.

[ConeyIsBabe]

Folding card-table chairs

Unfortunately, I have a "bad back" and would not be able to sit on such chairs for more than 5 minutes without feeling discomfort.

[Bogie Shooter]

With all this whining........ I have one question. Why do these shows sell out?

[Just Susan]

I don't know, do you?

Maybe it is the socializing, or curiosity or hunger for culture of some sort.
Maybe the seating is not always so bad. Maybe people settle.

Personally, I want to be wrong. I want it to have been a one time discomfort thing. I'm just not trusting that it will be.

I don't know, what do you think?

[ConeyIsBabe]

Originally Posted by Just Susan

I don't know, do you?

Maybe it is the socializing, or curiosity or hunger for culture of some sort.
Maybe the seating is not always so bad. Maybe people settle.

Personally, I want to be wrong. I want it to have been a one time discomfort thing. I'm just not trusting that it will be.

I don't know, what do you think?

AND.... they don't have bad backs, maybe they bring their own cushions maybe ?

[villager99]

some of us remember worse seating before savannah was built and performances were held at hacienda or paradise.
as with so many things i imagine the next performance center will be an improvement.
the villages is forever growing, changing and for the most improving.

[Just Susan]

As you say Villager99, things seem to continue to grow and improve in TV. I would expect you will be right in this area also.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the link to the Performing Arts Alliance:

http://www.vpaa.org/

I check in occasionally to see how they are doing. During our visits I was very disappointed with the lack of a decent performing arts center. Seems I am not the only one that thinks this is needed.

end quote

There seems to be rumblings even as we speak.

Coney, I did see people carrying seating pads into and out of the theater. Maybe that is why.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

With all this whining........

Since when is expressing an opinion about a very real problem, "whining." I would hate to think that moving to The Villages means that people must give up their right to express an honest opinion about a real issue.

I am pleased that you are happy with less than mediocre seating. Others have the right to expect better.

[roadwarrior]

Personally, I would like to see the seat cushions banned from Savannah center. I am of average height and when some person 6ft.+ sits in front of me, and many others similarly situated, it is quite disturbing. Not only must I keep moving around to see the performer but those behind me are equally distracted. BAN THE CUSHIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

Since when is expressing an opinion about a very real problem, "whining." I would hate to think that moving to The Villages means that people must give up their right to express an honest opinion about a real issue.

I am pleased that you are happy with less than mediocre seating. Others have the right to expect better.

I'm sure the group working to get a new performing center in TV would be glad to hear of all the concerns.....and accept your offers to help on their project.

[renielarson]

Although this sounds like a legitimate complaint, I'd like to ask if Talk Host ever posts anything positive? If so, please tell me what it was and when it was posted.

[JohnnyM]

I remember he liked the noise of the trains going by and also liked hearing the doggies at the doggie park. It was something like that. Maybe it wasn't exactly positive

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by brightspot01

Although this sounds like a legitimate complaint, I'd like to ask if Talk Host ever posts anything positive? If so, please tell me what it was and when it was posted.

Did you take the time to read all of my previous posts, or is this a generalization that you have made in order to try to publicly chastise me?

Part of my job as administrator, founder and co owner is to stimulate conversations here at Talk of The Villages. If you wish to have completely rose colored conversation, I would direct you to "The Villages Daily Sun" and "WVLG"

In some cases, the threads that I have started over the past two years, have two or three hundred replies, and thousands of views. Some of the most popular have been, "where are you from", "what did you do for a living," and "what is your favorite restaurant." Some of the least popular include "what is friendship" "very interesting and creative idea"

The worst was "day trips from the villages." That received ZERO replies.

At the risk of sounding defensive (actually insulted) I will tell you that I have been in the communications business my entire life. I have hosted radio and television programs in every major city in the US as well as London, Moscow, Yerevan, Armenia and Dublin, Ireland. The high point was 1987/88 when I hosted "WorldTalk" a radio program that to this day holds the record for the greatest number of listeners in the history of broadcasting (over 300 million people worldwide). I know what people respond to and I know what they don't respond to.

I would suggest that if you don't like the tenor of my posts, "don't read them."