I heartily agree with John von Rhein’s article about noise and coughing at musical performances (Tempo, Dec. 4). As a former member of the CSO Chorus and other singing groups around the city, I have witnessed how many performances have been spoiled by these explosions of noise.
As a frequent audience member, however, I must comment on the suggestion that ill persons simply stay home rather than attend a concert. With the cost of tickets so high, and no opportunity for a refund if one is ill and cannot attend, the incentive and inclination is for ticketholders to attend concerts even if they are sick.
Further, if one is ill and cannot attend a performance on a particular night, the possibility of attending on a future night is slim–either because some events have a short run or because performances are sold out well in advance.
Last year I lost $160 because I had the flu and could not attend a Lyric Opera performance. (The value of the tax deduction for donating the tickets is relatively small.) This economic loss will only increase. In the past six years I have seen the price of my Lyric ticket increase by 50 percent–or a 7 percent increase per year versus inflation of less than half that rate.
With rapidly escalating ticket prices reducing the incentive to “call in sick,” the coughing problem will probably only worsen. If management institutes some sort of refund program, then ill ticketholders would be more inclined to stay home. This could be offered as a subscriber bonus.
Suggestions include (1) a voucher for either merchandise and/or reduced-rate tickets for future events, or (2) a hot line or separate ticket line at the box office to purchase last-minute tickets for subscribers who previously called in sick.
