My wife and I had the opportunity to watch the Nutcracker
Suite performed at the Musical Arts Center at Indiana University. I am a big
fan. I have seen it many times in St. Louis and in Chicago. What does this have
to do with economics? Well, for starters, there is pricing. There are four
different prices based on location. But it does not take into account the big
bar strategically constructed to cross the orchestra or stage. Bah! I wonder why
seats are not priced more specifically. For example, the first few rows of the
mezzanine are deprived of viewing the orchestra completely. And then the rail
bar. I want a discount, or at least a coupon to a chiropractor. Come to think
of it, I noticed a few prominent doctors in the leading donors section. Hmmmm.
Finally, I was impressed with the production’s efforts to
fill the seats. There were definitely more children dancers than adult
performers. Just think of all those proud parents, grandparents, and jealous
siblings sitting in the audience. In spite of the unprecedented number of
children ballerinas and ballerinos, there were no falls. The adult performers,
however, decided to improvise a new Tchaikovsky movement, Beer (Irish Dance).
