I'm being frugal these days, trying to keep a close eye on my expenditures, as I'm still oriented to the idea of taking off for SE Asia in November. Well, I suppose I could be more frugal, turn off the land line, but that's the one that's out there in the world as far as getting me gigs, so I think I need to bite the bullet there. But as far as going out for dinners or spending money on entertainment, I'm playing it tight to the vest.
How then is it possible for me to have seen two great, and big ticket shows within the last ten days? Last week I saw the touring production of Wicked, which was fantastic. And last night I saw Johnny Clegg and his band at the Shedd Auditorium in downtown Eugene, another wonderful show. Total face value of the tickets was $120, and I paid a total of $20.
I was downtown picking up my mail at the Post Office when I saw a big crowd heading into the Hult Center. I asked what was going on, and found out that there was a matinee of Wicked starting in about half an hour. My immediate thought was that I could find a way to sneak in. I rarely think in those terms, but that was my first reaction when I saw all these groups of seniors and high school kids showing up en masse. I went into the lobby to survey the scene, hung out near 'will call' and even went up to a guy I kinda know who was working the booth to ask if there were any freebies. No luck there, but I did find someone who was leading a seniors group outing, and he was trying to unload a couple of unused tickets for half price ($35). A friend of mine actually bought one of the tickets but I held out and kept looking around.
Just before the show was to begin and the last stragglers were making their way into the theater, I offered the guy $20 for the seat. The thing is, I had no attachment to going, so there was no need to have a back and forth negotiation. It was more a case of 'do you want $20 for the seat?'. He took it and I made my way down to a great seat in the 10th row on the aisle, dressed in my workout clothes, but who cares, it's Eugene. Fantastic show, I had no idea that it was so good, and it was all the more sweet for having found a cheap way into a great seat.
Last night I called my friends Rob and Janice to say hey, and Janice mentioned that they were going to the Johnny Clegg show downtown. He's a great South African musician whom I had seen back in the 80s. Clegg is a white guitarist and songwriter about my age, who has always played in integrated bands, very progressive and a big star around the world. Not so much these days, but he's still got it, and what the heck, maybe I could find a way in. (This is my new theme apparently). I went down to the theater, looked around, saw one guy whose wife couldn't make it and he was trying to get $35 for the second row ticket. I said, no thanks, good luck. (I figured I'd do the last minute $20 offer if nothing else came along.
The crowd was definitely my peer group and it was good to see us out and about, rather than home on the couch, say. Some woman who I know very peripherally found out that I was without a ticket, and she mentioned that while she was picking hers up at will call, someone handed in two tickets, saying 'give them to the next person who shows up looking for a ticket'. I made a dash to the booth, quietly said that I had heard there were a couple of free ones that had just been donated, and asked if I could have one. The woman handed me a ticket, and I got the feeling that she likely wouldn't have given it away unless someone knew it was there. I could see someone showing up to buy a ticket and she'd have been happy to take the money. Can't blame her, but I was in the right place at the right time, so I got to see and dance to a great show for free. Hmmmm I wonder what's playing tonight? (he said mischievously).
Am I proud of being a cheapskate? Not exactly, but maybe a little bit. It's just a new little wrinkle that I haven't experienced before, the idea of just showing up and seeing if there is a way in. cheep cheep cheep
