Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Not Hyperbole


War Memorial Opera House
Photo by Lisa Hirsch


The banner on the San Francisco Opera web site looks like something Matthew Shilvock wrote (he loves the word "incredible," which I say with affection):


However, in the case of the SFO Box Office, I will say that their staff is fabulous. They are patient, professional, helpful, accommodating, and all-around great. I think that pretty much everyone who has ever swapped a ticket or had a complicated subscription request is likely to agree with me.

3 comments:

Floyd Ross said...

Totally agree Lisa. I just donated my summer 20 tickets to the opera. With 53 SFO seasons under my belt, I'm already looking forward to next season and Season 100 in a couple of years. Not everyone will be in the position to make a donation under the current circumstances and that's just fine. I spent my entire adult life working in the performing arts, culminating in the creation of the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University where I was the founding executive director. Artists of ALL persuasions, as well as all of the thousands of people behind the scenes working tirelessly in support, are suffering along with everyone else across the Earth during this pandemic. Together we will overcome these challenges, doors will reopen, lights will be turned back on, smiles will welcome patrons back, but it will be different. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy, do what you can to help others (see Lisa's earlier postings on ways you can help), and spread the love for our fellow humans.

David Bratman said...

I haven't dealt with SFO, but I'd like to say pretty much the same about the SF Symphony box office. I've never had a question or a complicated issue that they haven't dealt with cheerfully.

With lesser organizations' box offices, employee attitude is rarely a problem, but competence sometimes is.

Lisa Hirsch said...

Hi, Floyd, hi David,

Apologies for the delay in replying - I'm just catching up with the last several weeks of comments.

Yes, I've also found the SFS box office excellent. I have a number of complaints about the design of the ticketing web site, but that's another story entirely.

I didn't know your professional history, Floyd! I go back to SFO summer of 1981, but I was an intermittent subscriber to fractional seasons until 1994.

At this point....I fear there won't be live performances until some time in 2021.