True, but they do all right in donations at the event. If I recall, it actually works out to more than $2 a person!
The "free" performances draw traffic to the city and raise the profile of the various groups involved. I think that it is a win-win for everyone.
8/15/2007
Bayview Residences Victoria Symphony Splash reaches new fundraising levels!
Victoria, BC – On Sunday, August 5, 2007 more than 40,000 people gathered in Victoria’s Inner Harbour to enjoy the 18th annual Victoria Symphony Splash presented this year by Bayview Residences. The concert is both a community event and fundraiser for the Victoria Symphony.
Several fundraising initiatives helped secure Splash as a financially viable community event and ensure that the Symphony continues to offer superior orchestral music to audiences in Victoria and throughout the island. The combined generousity of numerous sponsors, including title sponsor Bayview Residences, increased sponsorship revenues by 47% to $156,500. Onsite donation totals increased by 50% to $60,000. A new fundraising initiative, introduced this year, the Splash Grandstand, was a success with 147 seats sold raising almost $10,000.
http://www.victorias...rticleIndex=232
So I guess it's up to $1.50 or so now. However 147 people paid $10,000 total. So only 39,853 people cheaped out. That's a 99.6% cheap-out-rate. Projecting that percentage over the entire regions population, that means we have 328,680 cheapos in our midst.