The SCCA states things are looking up in the same way Obama said the recession is almost, nearly, just about, close to, approximately, practically over except for…. It is obvious the Director is turning every trick to lower expenses, keep his job, and reduce the embarrassment of the board after this many years attempting to amount to something. A contingent representing the SCCA shows up annually at Council to plead their case. Obviously the intent is to provide “culture” to a community they believe is short of it, or provide those interested a place where they are more comfortable. It is unfair to say the SCCA is primarily a watering hole for the local affluent...there is a very nice bar in the Hilton and it is not too crowded either. All those nice words by the mayor help get the tax dollars but that’s it. Just once, and we may have missed it, we would like to see an audit, even a balance sheet, understandable to the laymen showing how much of the tax dollars they don’t use. Show each year since the beginning so we may learn how much progress has not been made. It is a nice place and contributes to visible city assets but what else has it accomplished---really, isn't it very much like the Bureau of Tourism?Tuesday, December 7, 2010
IT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO
The SCCA states things are looking up in the same way Obama said the recession is almost, nearly, just about, close to, approximately, practically over except for…. It is obvious the Director is turning every trick to lower expenses, keep his job, and reduce the embarrassment of the board after this many years attempting to amount to something. A contingent representing the SCCA shows up annually at Council to plead their case. Obviously the intent is to provide “culture” to a community they believe is short of it, or provide those interested a place where they are more comfortable. It is unfair to say the SCCA is primarily a watering hole for the local affluent...there is a very nice bar in the Hilton and it is not too crowded either. All those nice words by the mayor help get the tax dollars but that’s it. Just once, and we may have missed it, we would like to see an audit, even a balance sheet, understandable to the laymen showing how much of the tax dollars they don’t use. Show each year since the beginning so we may learn how much progress has not been made. It is a nice place and contributes to visible city assets but what else has it accomplished---really, isn't it very much like the Bureau of Tourism?
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I know of dozens of people, some insiders, who think the SCCA is a huge flop being marketed deceptively to the City and public to hide basic, fundamental mismanagement and glory seeking by a small group of domineering people who basically manage the Executive Director and most staff into confirming absolutely stupid business/financial decisions and culture/arts programs that have virtually lost all public appeal.
First, no one now continues to believe the press releases Tracey Agnew so lazily just copies for the Suffolk News as she is directed.
Ticket sales are a joke, and shows with less than 40% or so ticket sales should be dropped in advance for kack of interest rsather than "comping" dozens of tickets to "insiders" to pump up the audience. Notice how on the web sites free tickets in the worse locations suddenly appear as "sold" in a large group in just a matter of minutes when no other tickets are being sold.
Ticket prices and discounts are notoriously confusing to anyone calling to make sense out of a web site that is several months out of date.
The shows this year are the least impressive of any arts organization in Hampton Roads and consist primarily of unattended little theater-type presentations not requiring anywhere near a $20 Million Dollar building and $425,000 annual City taxpayer subsidy in addition to hundreds of annual "membership" donations from individuals and "sponsorships" clouded in mystery as to cost (one listed "Season Sponsor" has been out of business for two years, and it has been suggested that others so listed are just listed as "complimentary" and without consistency by a controlling or perhaps negligent staff operation.
The restaurant is tragic and has gone from being supported with hope of improvement to being openly criticized and rejected by most locals and even some more "captive" visitors who have written local officials to complain.
In summary this is an albatross or house of cards at best that's existence appears to be vitally dependent on preventing full disclosure and promoting "high roller" parties.
In spite of all of this, I think the situation could be saved to bring the organization back to life by giving full City support, moral and financial, to the Executive Director but throwing out all of the more elite and self annointed "leaders" and turning the operation over to a more City-wide and accepted group related to operating the programs with as much general support as possible.
The City, dozens of churches, several civic organizations and even private arts and historical activities in iur community have acheived the desired successes in programs to appeal to the public and with nowhere near the "subsidy" the SCCA demands with no measured signs of success.
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