I have been working for the McIntire Department of Music in Old Cabell Hall since my first year at the University. I started out as a clerk at the Old Cabell Box Office, but after the consolidation of all University box offices into the new Arts Box Office, I became a House Manager for events in Old Cabell. Needless to say, I know a thing or two about the Music Department. My first and second year I knew the ins and outs of the Arts Dollars system, and now I'm learning the new system to obtain free student tickets. It is clear that this new system allows students to receive many more free tickets than the old system did, and students should take full advantage of this improvement.
In years past, each full-time (undergraduate and graduate) student was given 60 "Art$ Dollars" to use to purchase tickets at University sponsored events (including events in the Drama Department, Music Department, and the Virginia Film Festival). With the new system (still sometimes referred to as Arts Dollars), there is no longer a dollar limit. Instead, all full-time students are allowed to reserve one free ticket for eligible events. In theory, students could attend every single one of these University events for free - a value of upwards of $500.
Not only does this new system allow for students to attend more University fine arts events, but it makes it easier for students to do so. Students are now able to reserve tickets for these productions online in addition to over the phone and at the Arts Box Office. In addition, the new system reduces the wait-time in lines; previously, lines for students using Arts Dollars were often longer than the lines of patrons paying with cash or credit card. Now, since all free student tickets must be reserved by the end of the day prior to the event, the only line that students must wait in is the Will Call line - a line that often moves quickly.
According to Joel Jacobus, Production Manager at Old Cabell Hall, there were several reasons to transition to this more helpful system. Jacobus stated administrative costs as a large reason for switching systems. "The old system cost money. We paid $1700 for card swipe and printing machines, and then yearly data-line fees. It took a lot of money to support the infrastructure of Arts Dollars; it was a lot of money towards administrative costs," he said. Jacobus also argued that the switch made the system "more accessible to students. Now students can reserve free tickets at any time of the day, as long as it is before midnight of the day before the production."
This heavily considered change has afforded students many more opportunities to attend these types of events, and has made the system easier for students. The new Arts Box Office has made a big effort to provide complimentary tickets to a wide array of events, and students should take advantage of these opportunities. Undoubtedly, there is at least one University sponsored event appealing to every student at the University. Whether you enjoy jazz, klezmer music, or prefer classical, this new system can provide you with a free ticket to one of these types of concerts. If music isn't your thing, and you prefer plays, you can get a free ticket to all six of the Drama Department's productions. And still, if neither concerts nor plays appeal to you, there's always the Virginia Film Festival, which offers complimentary student tickets for a number of the events throughout the four-day festival. Finally, full-time students also receive discounts and free admission to exhibits at the McIntire Department of Art, and students also receive free membership to the University Art Museum.
Students should milk the new system for all it's worth and go to as many free productions as possible. There is no longer a $60 limit to what we can see for free; we now have the opportunity to see as many of these fine arts events as we want. So, next time you want to take someone on a nice, free date, or want to impress your peers with your knowledge of classical music, consider taking the Arts Box Office up on its offer: go see and experience something new, exciting, and classy - on someone else's dollar.
Claire Shotwell is a Viewpoint writer for The Cavalier Daily.
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