A couple of days ago, a news story REALLY caught my attention.  It seems a fundraiser is being held for one of the Presidential candidates.  If you would like to enjoy dinner and listen to the scheduled speakers, a single ticket will cost you $28,500.  Upon hearing the story, I immediately scrambled for my cell phone to call home.  My enthusiasm was quickly dashed when my first lady indicated she did not think she could set aside $28,500 from grocery and gas money for me to attend.  I told her, I didn’t want to go alone.  She had to come with me.  I do not recall much of the remaining conversation.  Not sure if it was the disappointment in thinking I had found the perfect date night or the numbness in my right ear but one thing was certain, we were NOT going!

I then began thinking about the BeckRidge Chorale and our ticket prices.  Perhaps the $25 ticket price was too low for Musical Feast – Part Deux.  Our event includes dinner but we don’t have speakers. Instead, we serenade the audience with some great French music.  Throughout the year, BeckRidge Chorale members donate more than 10,000 hours of service.  We invest $5,000 in scholarships to high school and college students.  We have supported the work of the Salvation Army, Angela Hospice and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and a number of other worthwhile charities.  Therefore, it seemed, our event should be worthy of a $30,000 ticket price.

I quickly put pencil to paper and determined if we sold the 192 available seats, we would raise just over $5,750,000…before expenses.  (The BeckRidge Chorale jet is getting closer to reality.  What a joy to avoid the Sheldon Road construction and the traffic on Beck and Ridge Roads.)

Despite my best effort, I could not convince the Board of Directors to agree with my suggested ticket price.  They seem to believe no one would pay $30,000 for dinner and a concert.  I allege music has a greater and longer lasting impact than a few speeches.  I wonder if the Board would approve a $29,000 ticket price?