FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about DP2A (2010-2011)
1. When do I receive my passport?
You will receive your passport via mail prior to the opening DP2A performance, Friday, October 22, 2010. If you do not receive it by Monday, October 18, please contact the DP2A office at 248.559.2095.
2. How do I get my tickets for each event?
The physical passports have information on how to redeem your tickets for each event. However, for the most up-to-date information for each performance, read your “Ticket Reservation” email, typically sent out 2-3 weeks in advance of each perforamnce. You may either reserve your tickets in advance of the performance by calling the venue’s Box Office or you may bring your passport to the door on the night of the performance and show it to the Box Office staff. Each venue will have a list of passport holder names.
3. NEW! What is a Platinum Passport?
A Platinum Passport provides you with the opportunity to support the DP2A program. For $209, the Platinum Passport will receive great seats, complimentary parking at each venue and listing on the inside back cover of the passport.
4. Is my passport transferable?
YES! You own your passport, but you may give it to anyone of your choosing to be used for any of the six events. If you know you will miss two performances, you may transfer it to two different people. We encourage this so more people can experience arts and culture in Detroit AND because collecting six passport stamps, enables you to enter the raffle at the season end for prizes.
5. If I transfer my passport, how does my guest reserve their ticket?
The best way to reserve tickets is for your guest to say “I’m using John and Sarah Smith’s passports tonight.” I’d like to reserve two tickets.
6. HELP! I lost my passport. Now what do I do?
In most cases, you will be able to tell the box office representative your name and they will have you marked as a passport holder. You will be able to reserve your tickets without using your passport. Additionally, Email Itineraries are sent out the week prior to each performance. You will receive all the pertinent information that exists in the passports. If you would like to purchase a replacement passport, please contact Brook Hoplamazian by emailing hoplamazian@detroitchamberwinds.org and you will be able to do so for $10.
7. Can I switch the date I use my passport?
YES! Each participating organization has provided an alternative date or in some cases, several dates, for passport holders to switch their tickets. Your passport contains information on each organization’s destination page with date exchange options. DP2A staff will also email ticket redemption and exchange information for each venue 2-3 weeks prior to the upcoming show.
8. Are their age restrictions for who can buy a passport?
No. There are no age limitations. Children under 18 should be accompanied by an adult. Adults not of drinking age will be unable to purchase or be served alcohol. Although this is an audience development program aimed at attracting next generation audiences, there are currently no age restrictions regarding people outside of that demographic. We ask everyone who buys a passport to help us market to the target demographic of 20-50 and/or people very new to the arts.
9. Where can I find the most up-to-date information for dp2a?
The most up-to-date information can be found on the dp2a website at www.dp2a.org. If you do not find what you are looking for or if something appears to be outdated, please call 248.559.2095 for clarification.
10. How were these seven organizations selected for this program?
The three organizations that founded Detroit Passport to the Arts are Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival and the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. The DP2A Steering Committee looked to create a well-rounded passport experience that featured a variety of arts in metro Detroit. While there are many wonderful arts organizations in this area, for the initial two years, the organizations selected had to have marketing staff and formal ticketing processes. Extensive research, and data profiling will be key to tailoring the program in the future, so the ability to track and analyze data was an important requirement of participating organizations.
11. How can my favorite arts organization be considered for a future passport event?
If you would like the DP2A Steering Committee to consider your favorite organization or if you think there is an organization in metro Detroit that would work well as a stop on the passport tour, please contact Natalie Bruno at bruno@detroitchamberwinds.org with the name of the organization and a website address. All organizations will be considered. If you are interested in participating in our research where you can voice your opinoins, please contact Evelyn Chan at evsolutionsnow@gmail.com
12. Where do I park at each event?
Parking methods vary from event to event. In some cases, the venues have free lots. In others, inexpensive lots or meters can be found. Each Email Itinerary will reference parking options. For complimentary parking privileges at all venues, consider purchasing a Platinum Passport for $209.
13. Where do I sit at each event?
We have asked each partner organization to offer passport holders what would normally be considered “subscriber seating,” otherwise known as the best seats available. If you reserve your seats in advance, you are more likely to receive better placement than if you wait until the last minute on the night of each production. However, as ticketing goes, even if you wait, it may still be possible to receive really great seats. To be guaranteed great seats at every venue, consider purchasing a Platinum Passport.
14. What if I don’t like the seats I’m given at a particular venue?
If you don’t like your seats once you arrive at the evening’s venue, you may return to the Box Office and request a change of location. Most venues will honor seat changes if other options are still available.
15. What do I wear to each event?
Business casual/business is certainly safe. Or, wear what you might wear to dinner at restaurants such as Andiamo’s, Sweet Lorraine’s, Maggiano’s or The Melting Pot.
16. Why do you ask for so many personal details when I order a passport?
Detroit Passport to the Arts is a new program; one that was created to begin changing the face of future arts audiences. One of the longest standing perceptions of the last century is that the arts audiences are aging, and in time, they will exist no longer. We hope to change that belief here in metro Detroit. In order to determine successes, benchmark against goals and create a program that could be replicable in other cities, gathering accurate and plentiful data is essential. Thank you for your patience. Your willingness to help us evaluate a new program is greatly appreciated.
17. Who will receive my name and address information if I buy a passport?
We share the following information for each person who purchased a passport with the seven participating organizations: name, address, phone number, email (if provided), number of passports purchased, birthday (if provided) and which venues you have visited in the past. We DO NOT share donation or credit card information. We also ask that no organization solicit you for funds UNTIL you have purhcased a ticket through their venue on your own.
18. Why do you share my information with the seven partners?
By purchasing a passport, you have essentially purchased a single ticket to six different organization’s events (seven total organizations). We have packaged these for you and provided you many benefits that do not normally accompany a single ticket purchase, but you are still buying a ticket to each performance. We are just taking away the hassle for you of doing that through 6 different methods at much higher prices. As you know, if you buy a ticket for an event (concert or sporting event) the organization gets your information. This also ensures that you can reserve tickets in advance of each performance because each venue will treat you as a ticket purchaser to their organization.
19. What will each organization do with my information?
Each partner organization is likely to market future events to you, most likely through email blasts and mail brochures. They have been asked NOT to solicit you for money UNLESS you continue to buy tickets from them directly. The seven partner organizations WILL NOT share your information with other organizations or any outside vendors. DP2A will not share ANY of your credit card information.
20. How do I remove myself from an automated Email blast list from one of the organizations?
If you wish to opt out of email correspondence from the partner venues, you can usually push reply to the email blast and include the word “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. If you don’t want to receive print material, please contact the organization’s Box Office and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
21. Are there social events at each participating venue?
YES. Barring some major unforeseen challenge, each destination night will have a social event either before or after the regularly scheduled performance.
22. How do I get more involved in DP2A?
We love this question. Fill in the survey passed out at each event and indicate that you would like to volunteer. A DP2A Steering Committee member will contact you. You may also contact Natalie Bruno at 248.559.2095 or by email at bruno@detroitchamberwinds.org
23. Do I have to stand in line with my friends in order to sit with them?
YES and NO. If you reserve your tickets in advance of the performance, you will not need to stand in the “will call” line with the people you are sitting with. If you wait until the evening of the performance to redeem your passport tickets, then you need to stand in line with those people you want to sit with, just as you would if you were buying tickets to any other event.
24. Can anyone come to the event after each production?
NO. Because the cost of an event increases with each person who attends, the events are not open to the general public. If you have a special request, you must contact us directly by calling 248.559.2095. There is typically a small fee of $10 for non-passport holders to attend the after parties.
25. Can I come to the event even if I can’t come to the concert?
YES. If you are a passport holder and you can’t make a concert, but can make the event, you will still be welcome at the event.
26. I’m a passport participant. My [insert here: boyfriend, best friend, parent] is in from out of town the same night as a DP2A performance. Can I purchase an extra ticket for him/her?
YES. Subject to availability, another ticket can be purchased and arrangements can be made for your guest to attend the DP2A performance. Here are some quick and easy steps we’d like you to follow:
–Call the venue’s box office to reserve your ticket and mention you’d like to purchase another ticket seated with your own.
–Call the DP2A Office at 248-559-2095 to add your guest to the DP2A reception list.
27. Is the alcohol free at each event?
NO. We have worked hard to secure donated food and beverages for all events. That said, we cannot guarantee that all six events will have free alcoholic drinks. Please do not expect this. We will negotiate with our vendors to bring alcohol to you as inexpensively as we can.
