Inaugural Ball

[deadlymonkey]

Has anyone here ever attended an inaugural ball before?  Expensive, but since I am located in the area, am strongly considering attending one.  Any way to score free/discounted tickets?  I have some other questions for anyone that has attended one before.

[iris lily]

Has anyone here ever attended an inaugural ball before?  Expensive, but since I am located in the area, am strongly considering attending one.  Any way to score free/discounted tickets?  I have some other questions for anyone that has attended one before.

Some balls are "better" than others.

I know that an acquaintance who had a paid job on the Obama 2004 campaign was regulated to a lesser ball because she and her team failed to bring in this state for O. I think  she did get 2 free  tickets, though.

[marty998]

Has anyone here ever attended an inaugural ball before?  Expensive, but since I am located in the area, am strongly considering attending one.  Any way to score free/discounted tickets?  I have some other questions for anyone that has attended one before.

Some balls are "better" than others.

I know that an acquaintance who had a paid job on the Obama 2004 campaign was regulated to a lesser ball because she and her team failed to bring in this state for O. I think  she did get 2 free  tickets, though.

Sounds slightly unfair if you are working in a non-blue state.

The organisers in California must be laughing... they just have to turn up?

[iris lily]

Has anyone here ever attended an inaugural ball before?  Expensive, but since I am located in the area, am strongly considering attending one.  Any way to score free/discounted tickets?  I have some other questions for anyone that has attended one before.

Some balls are "better" than others.

I know that an acquaintance who had a paid job on the Obama 2004 campaign was regulated to a lesser ball because she and her team failed to bring in this state for O. I think  she did get 2 free  tickets, though.

Sounds slightly unfair if you are working in a non-blue state.

The organisers in California must be laughing... they just have to turn up?

We were a swing state. She didnt work hard enough.

But "fairness" would be an issue for everyone in the  O camp, I'm sure. Wonder how they spin it.

[yuka]

I know that an acquaintance who had a paid job on the Obama 2004 campaign was relegated to a lesser ball because she and her team failed to bring in this state for O.

[iris lily]

I know that an acquaintance who had a paid job on the Obama 2004 campaign was relegated to a lesser ball because she and her team failed to bring in this state for O.

Do you have a point to share?

[marty998]

You wrote "regulated". I think Yuka is fixing the typo :D

Interesting that my mind ignored it and still instantly understood it as 'relegated'

[2buttons]

Most people don't pay for tickets, at least not directly.  Tickets are hard to come by unless you are in the organization or have donated heavily. 

Not all balls are created equal and you want to make sure the one you are going to will be one that the Prez-elect stops by. 

[iris lily]

I know that an acquaintance who had a paid job on the Obama 2004 campaign was relegated to a lesser ball because she and her team failed to bring in this state for O.

you are right, thank you!

[deadlymonkey]

Best I can tell, there really isn't anything out yet about the balls except a few high price non sanctioned ones (prez doesn't visit)  I guess information really doesn't come out until after the election?

[acepedro45]

I went in 2012 after having worked on the winning side in a swing state. IIRC, we paid something on the order of $150 a ticket.

The experience was meh. It was cool to go to a fancy grown up party with the POTUS stopping in but....considering the high entrance fee, I would have expected more than an overpriced cash bar and Chex party mix as the only available food.

Fun story: a fellow co-worker I knew from the campaign eventually got disgusted by the high drink prices and lifted an entire bottle from one of the bars when the bartender wasn't looking. He secreted it in a jacket pocket and kept drinks topped off for the rest of the night with his illicit booty.

It was fun seeing friends and colleagues from the campaign - and a nice triumphal note to the whole campaign experience - but not something I'd repeat unless I got comped tickets to some super VIP area.