mayball

[killbill]

I see that the Mayball is on - 5th of May according to the website.

I, for one, cannot wait. I only hope there is a VIP option this year. Equality is a nice idea but I do think there should be a more decadent option for those of us out there who can afford it (drop in the ocean etc).

[Steveo]

VIP tickets were worth the extra in 2004, but I'd say less so in 2005.

[hr]

Set your goals way too high so I can laugh when you fail.

[The Jaspar]

I think it costs ten pounds more to get the VIP ticket.

[killbill]

Quoting The Jaspar from 22:58, 1st Mar 2007
I think it costs ten pounds more to get the VIP ticket.

How do you know that?

I, personally, think that a VIP ticket costing only ten pounds more than a regular ticket is absurd. Why bother at all? - all that will happen, is everyone will go VIP, thus rendering no one very important at all. The fashion-show has made this mistake in the past and it serves to make the VIP's less exclusive, and ulitmatly resent the fact that they've paid any extra in the first place.

People might not agree with exclusivity, but if you pay for it, then I think there should be a marked distinction between those going first-class, and those not.

[theyahyahyahs]

Quoting The Jaspar from 22:58, 1st Mar 2007
I think it costs ten pounds more to get the VIP ticket.

Looks like everyone is a Very Important Person this year then!

[Frank]

They could always dish out VIP invitations alongside a suggetsed contribution (ie the ticket) price. Ie only VIPs can be in the VIP bit (and thus not an 'if you can afford it' but 'only if you're a VIP and can afford it').

Of course, it'd be excellent to make it not an 'only if you can afford it' thing, but I suspect there's a problem inherent in that somewhere.

Edit: By 'Dish Out' I mean 'decide who gets VIP ones other than just by who buys them'. This, of course, could lead to cliques being invited, but I'd like to believe the organisers could exercise a measure of restraint and actually invite people they 'impartially' (or as best as they can, in that respect) regard as 'Very Important'.



[hr]

"There is only ever one truth. Things are always black or white, there's no such thing as a shade of grey. If you think that something is a shade of grey it simply means that you don't fully understand the situation. The truth is narrow and the path of the pursuit of truth is similarly narrow."

[ONeill]

This is where I just turn my head and laugh. Fair enough if you want to pay for VIP status then that is your choice. It is possible for anyone to pay to gain VIP status and therefore discounting any financial issues there is an equality. On the other hand outright picking people as 'important' is illogical. All that ends up doing is upsetting people who can't obtain VIP status because apparently they aren't equal in some sort of status to those who are chosen.

I do however agree that there should be a big enough incentive to choose VIP that really sets it apart from the regular ticket. Equality, while getting what you paid for. Surely the way to go?

[novium]

Definitely not worth it in 2005. It wouldn't have been worth it even if it had only been 10 pounds. And yes, I am still annoyed...

Quoting Steveo from 22:50, 1st Mar 2007
VIP tickets were worth the extra in 2004, but I'd say less so in 2005.

[hr]

Set your goals way too high so I can laugh when you fail.

[hr]

tamen ira procul absit, cum qua nihil recte fieri, nihil considerate potest.

[The Jaspar]

I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the KK guy who told me it was ten pounds extra said that you get a priority bar where it's supposed to be less busy. If you get a lot of drinks (they're free), a VIP ticket sounds like it's worth it.

[god_hand]

Meh and meh! VIP tickets or no, I'm not holding out much hope for the May ball. If the opening one was anything to go by the KK would be hard-pressed to organise an orgy in a brothel!

[killbill]

Quoting The Jaspar from 01:22, 2nd Mar 2007
I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the KK guy who told me it was ten pounds extra said that you get a priority bar where it's supposed to be less busy. If you get a lot of drinks (they're free), a VIP ticket sounds like it's worth it.

Quoting god_hand from 01:41, 2nd Mar 2007
Meh and meh! VIP tickets or no, I'm not holding out much hope for the May ball. If the opening one was anything to go by the KK would be hard-pressed to organise an orgy in a brothel!

Let us not allow this subject to degenerate in to an anti KK thread.

I think the 2004 Mayball was outstanding so I think its fair to say it is possible to hold hope. The opening Ball has nothing on the May ball so don't let that dissuade you from going.

I think they can keep the ticket prices high, as long as the evening merits it. VIP should be more than just shorter queues, and htose who have normal tickets should be able to get to a bar easily.

Most of my friends - certinaly all of my flatmates - can afford atleast £120 for VIP, and they are important people, so deserve their place, however I do feel there should be some level (proportiante) of enjoyment for the lesser mortals also attending.

[god_hand]

Quoting killbill from 01:50, 2nd Mar 2007

Quoting The Jaspar from 01:22, 2nd Mar 2007
I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the KK guy who told me it was ten pounds extra said that you get a priority bar where it's supposed to be less busy. If you get a lot of drinks (they're free), a VIP ticket sounds like it's worth it.

Quoting god_hand from 01:41, 2nd Mar 2007
Meh and meh! VIP tickets or no, I'm not holding out much hope for the May ball. If the opening one was anything to go by the KK would be hard-pressed to organise an orgy in a brothel!

Let us not allow this subject to degenerate in to an anti KK thread.

I think the 2004 Mayball was outstanding so I think its fair to say it is possible to hold hope. The opening Ball has nothing on the May ball so don't let that dissuade you from going.

I think they can keep the ticket prices high, as long as the evening merits it. VIP should be more than just shorter queues, and htose who have normal tickets should be able to get to a bar easily.

Most of my friends - certinaly all of my flatmates - can afford atleast £120 for VIP, and they are important people, so deserve their place, however I do feel there should be some level (proportiante) of enjoyment for the lesser mortals also attending.

Oh I am in no way anti-KK. I just don't think the opening balls for the past two years have been worth their salt. I must confess; I haven't been to any May Balls.

As for the last paragraph; I've got better things to do than to feed the fancies of some sad-act with nothing better to do at 2:30 AM than post provocative trite on The Sinner!

[MacMan]

£120 which can go to something much more useful, like a bike, or a hard drive, or new set of tyres for the car etc.

Knowing the St Andrews "lets hike the price this year" mentality, it will probably be around £400 for a standard ticket and £600 + your left testicle for a VIP ticket.

[Nymphomanic]

Are there any other balls - balls which don't cost £120 maybe?

[hr]

I read most of the night and go south in winter - wasteland

[Freaker]

Here's an idea - since this is meant to be a "Charity" event (along the same lines as Oktoberfest and Fashion Show, I presume), why don't they make VIP tickets at least twice more expensive than the benefits they are worth. The extra money could go straight to the supported "charities" and the people who are "important people" and feel they can dish out the money anyways can actually do some "good" that goes just beyond pleasing their own egos that evening.

Or did I completely misunderstand that charity and VIP are seemingly considered to contradict one another by some people?...

[hr]

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.

[MacMan]

I think the word "charity" is a buzz word that is used to extract more money out of people (in St Andrews anyway). It pulls what I call the sympathy plug. £120 for what is basically an over-blown night of drinking in suits and kilts is absurd. I have had far better nights without spending any money (if you know what I mean).

Last years May Ball was really good for me because I didn't go. Myself and some friends met up and had a glorious night in St Andrews in the near-deserted pubs. It was gratifying to go into Aikman's late at night and not have to struggle past 12 students at the door smoking, and then avoid several drunk Americans only to wait for 15 minutes at the bar to get served. No. We went in, a few locals, a couple of other non-conformist students and got served right away and got seats. Ahh, good European beer. Bit expensive mind, so a trip to Europe at Easter is on the cards! You know you've got a problem when you plan holidays devoted to beer sampling!

Yes, the May Ball should be re-named the May Balls. Or something similar...

[Steveo]

How can you pass judgement on the quality, or lack thereof, without ever going to the ball?

Like myself, and killbill, have said, it was worth £100 for the VIP ticket in 2004. It can be worth the money.

[hr]

Set your goals way too high so I can laugh when you fail.

[box_of_delights]

I paid what must have been £60 or so for the standard ticket in 2004 and had a great night - most of the time the queue for the standard bar was less than 10 mins and they were giving two lots of "triples" each time - so I ended up with the equivalent of 6 shots of alcohol for 10 mins queueing time.

I know people criticised the 2005 and 2006 balls, but I can't fault the 2004 one. Being my final year I would happily spend more for a "VIP" ticket and get some decent extras - like the castle hog roast and helicopter rides of 2004.

Thank goodness it's still going ahead though! My biggest fear was them pulling the plug on it.

[hr]

http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37101440

[flarewearer]

Quoting killbill from 01:50, 2nd Mar 2007
Most of my friends - certinaly all of my flatmates - can afford atleast £120 for VIP, and they are important people, so deserve their place, however I do feel there should be some level (proportiante) of enjoyment for the lesser mortals also attending.

It doesn't matter if you've got £120 to waste in your back burner and you feel the need to shout about it, that doesn't make you important. It is very unbecoming to a Gentleman to flaunt his (or his Daddy's) wealth, shows absolutely no decorum. One day you shall find out that it just makes people think you are a prick.

[hr]

[hoopy froodette]

I queued for about half an hour in 2004 and I only got 2 doubles. And it was cold, muddy, overcrowded and lacking in places to sit. The toilets were few in number and disgusting in quality.

[hr]

Nothing succeeds like a toothless budgie.