2016 DASH Gala Survey Results
Thank you to all those who filled out the DASH Gala survey!
Overall responses were very positvie. The 2016 Dash Gala overall was rated a 4.0 out of a possible 5. While the event was generally well received, the EMACT & DASH teams have heard your feedback. There were a number of areas for improvement that came up repeatedly, and we would like to let you know how we plan to address some of those issues.
Issue: The venue was too small and/or crowded.
Answer: We are looking into other possible venues, considering not only seating capacity, but also accessibility (both parking and location), cost, technical resources (sound, lighting, etc.), and suitability of layout for cocktail hour.
Issue: The layout of the cocktail hour spaces and food and bar areas were crowded and difficult to access.
Answer: As above, we are considering alternate locations that could alleviate the crowding issues.
Issue: The hosts’ opening bit and the slide montage were too long.
Answer: We hear you, and we’ll work on shortening them both!
Issue: The Lifetime Achievement Award presentations were nice but there were too many of them.
Answer: We had not presented this award in several years, so there was an unusually large number of candidates this year. We do not expect as many in the future.
Issue: Best Play nominees should be better represented with more photos or a scene presentation.
Answer: We are brainstorming ideas to present the material in a way that is compelling but will keep the evening moving along. Do YOU have any creative suggestions? Send them our way at dash@emact.org.
Issue: The ticketing process needs improvement.
Answer: We agree, and we are researching online ticketing options to make everyone’s life easier. We are also considering whether pre-purchase of drink tickets might be an option, to be picked up at the door along with nametags. This would also help alleviate the issues at the bar lines.
Issue: The ticket price is too steep.
Answer: As many of you know, venues are expensive. Merely renting the space eats up a good deal of the ticket price. And we haven’t raised the ticket price in more than five years, despite increases in costs during that time. The annual Gala serves to raise operating capital for EMACT which we then put back into YOUR groups in the form of capital grants, educational workshops, and Festival. Without the Gala, there would be no Festival, no grant support, no technical assistance, and no DASH Plus feedback. The EMACT “coffers” have stayed steady over a number of years, which reassures us that the Gala price is at the lowest reasonable level which still allows us to offer our current level of programming and support.
Issue: Can we add an after party?
Answer: This will likely depend on next year’s venue, but we will look into the possibility of either an official or an unofficial after party location.
Overall responses were very positvie. The 2016 Dash Gala overall was rated a 4.0 out of a possible 5. While the event was generally well received, the EMACT & DASH teams have heard your feedback. There were a number of areas for improvement that came up repeatedly, and we would like to let you know how we plan to address some of those issues.
Issue: The venue was too small and/or crowded.
Answer: We are looking into other possible venues, considering not only seating capacity, but also accessibility (both parking and location), cost, technical resources (sound, lighting, etc.), and suitability of layout for cocktail hour.
Issue: The layout of the cocktail hour spaces and food and bar areas were crowded and difficult to access.
Answer: As above, we are considering alternate locations that could alleviate the crowding issues.
Issue: The hosts’ opening bit and the slide montage were too long.
Answer: We hear you, and we’ll work on shortening them both!
Issue: The Lifetime Achievement Award presentations were nice but there were too many of them.
Answer: We had not presented this award in several years, so there was an unusually large number of candidates this year. We do not expect as many in the future.
Issue: Best Play nominees should be better represented with more photos or a scene presentation.
Answer: We are brainstorming ideas to present the material in a way that is compelling but will keep the evening moving along. Do YOU have any creative suggestions? Send them our way at dash@emact.org.
Issue: The ticketing process needs improvement.
Answer: We agree, and we are researching online ticketing options to make everyone’s life easier. We are also considering whether pre-purchase of drink tickets might be an option, to be picked up at the door along with nametags. This would also help alleviate the issues at the bar lines.
Issue: The ticket price is too steep.
Answer: As many of you know, venues are expensive. Merely renting the space eats up a good deal of the ticket price. And we haven’t raised the ticket price in more than five years, despite increases in costs during that time. The annual Gala serves to raise operating capital for EMACT which we then put back into YOUR groups in the form of capital grants, educational workshops, and Festival. Without the Gala, there would be no Festival, no grant support, no technical assistance, and no DASH Plus feedback. The EMACT “coffers” have stayed steady over a number of years, which reassures us that the Gala price is at the lowest reasonable level which still allows us to offer our current level of programming and support.
Issue: Can we add an after party?
Answer: This will likely depend on next year’s venue, but we will look into the possibility of either an official or an unofficial after party location.