One dollar too many

As the economy slams shut many of the contributed revenue sources the arts relied on, I'm concerned that many of my brethen are trying to get that boatload of cash out of our patrons.

"Let's raise our (already high) ticket prices by $3, they can afford it."

"Let's do less discounting, we need the extra revenue."

I totally understand the impulse.  It is going to be really hard to keep a balanced buget for the next few years.

But let's remember that ol' economic rule of diminishing returns.

Every dollar we raise our prices runs the risk of making the art less accessible.

And if those of us in the nonprofit arts can't make our work accessible, then that's a pretty big risk we run.

So raise prices if you feel like you absolutely must . . . but do so with extreme caution.  Make sure your AD's and Board's understand the long term impact of the decision.

Make sure they remember that sometimes, the extra dollar just isn't worth it.