I wish I could have attended this event. I have been an admirer of Dr. Caldicott since 7th Grade, when I saw her film, "Eight Minutes to Midnight".

I did hear her speak a few years ago at the Del Mar. As I recall, that event was free, or a small ( < $5 ) donation was requested.

To attend her latest appearance, one had to buy a ticket. The ticket price was $20, plus a $4.40 Ticketweb (=TicketMaster) service charge. (According to Pokerface Productions, corporate promoter for Dr. Caldicott's visit, a "limited" number of tickets were available without the $4.40 service charge, cash only, from a local bookstore.)

The picture above shows a not-full auditorium, and it's no surprise. $24.40 is too much. I'm glad that Ticketweb (=TicketMaster) and Pokerface got paid, but folks like me will have to be content with listening to the MP3 (thanks for posting it, Bradley; I'm curious how long it will be before Pokerface Productions, LLC sends a cease-and-desist letter or sues for a copyright violation) and borrowing Dr. Caldicott's (unsigned) book from the public library.

Dr. Caldicott's activism kinda loses its edge when the national monopoly ticket vendor and a corporate concert promoter get involved.

I've gotta agree with the previous post. I did not attend this event specifically because someone is trying to make a buck off it instead of benefitting the community with the proceeds.

I have seen Danaher speak on a donation scale in SF and he is very good. I won't be at these events however. I'm not gonna participate in the commodification of participatory democracy. Drop the corporation profit scheme and go non-profit.

It's true that forking over 20 dollars to sit and have someone talk at you for an hour and fifteen minutes is tough to bring yourself to do. But that doesn't mean it's tough to justify. I don't know either of the authors of the 1st two posts but i'm probably not overstepping my bounds in assuming that, at one time or another, they've spent at least that much money on a CD, a book, a dinner or a couple of movie tickets. Now compare the net gain of insight into the political realities facing us today garnered from a brilliant lecturer and author like Dr. Coldicott with the perpetuation of myths and stereo types handed down to us in virtualy all other forms of media. If your the kind of person who cares enough to be pissed about the ticket price of political lectures in the first place then certainly you're the kind of person who can consider it money well spent. I agree, it would be nice if it were free. maybe it should be. maybe there are people who are shamelessly making a buck off of it but isn't that secondary to the real issue??? isn't the real issue the missuse of a volitile source of energy and the proliferation of the deadliest invention in the history of human kind? I for one will fork over the money- if i must, then so be it- not to miss something that can change my life, help me become a more responsible citizen and consumer, and do what i can to make the world a safer place.

You are missing something, here. I don't know the particulars, but its expensive to fly in an auj=hor like Dr. Caldicott. The Vets hall probably cost a few hundred.... yeah, 20 is alot, but how much are rolling stones tickets?

I am certainly not arguing that activist events must be free. Obviously costs have to be recovered.

I am arguing that activists shouldn't work with the national monopoly ticket vendor (TicketMaster/Ticketweb) or with a corporate concert promoter (Pokerface LLC). Dropping Ticketweb and Pokerface would probably have made the event affordable. The next step would have been to hold the event in a school auditorium or at a library, where the room rental cost would have been negligible. When you want to involve as many people as possible, you make these sorts of concessions.

Regarding concerts, I don't go anymore -- precisely because the ticket prices have risen so high.

Actually, Pokerface is a small, local business consisting of about two people. And, they aren't a middle man. The lectures were their idea- start to finish. Maybe the event could have been held at the library. But maybe it lacked certain necessary accomodations in terms of seating, equipment, etc. But you got me on the ticketMaster thing, not sure why that would have been absolutely necessary. Still, the lecturers themselves don't come free. There's hotels, meals, special audio/video equipment rentals, plane tickets. maybe they could have gotten it down to fifteen or twelve but then, aren't we splitting hairs?

Santa Cruz Community Television will be airing this event sometime soon. You should inquire at Community T.V. and let them know that you would like to see this event.
Feel free to respond to this posting; I would love to get feedback about your experience.

Free. Limited seating.

Fri, 22 Oct, 7 pm Monterey Institute of International Studies
Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. 372-5477

www.radicalendar.org/group/SC-IMC/all/display/20190/index.php

Thanks alf. I was just gonna post that. People over profit!