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Masquerade Ball Approaches

Oct 25 2008 12:18

Bugsy Malone

CGCU's Annual Ball takes place on Friday 31st October. Dinner Tickets have already sold out with Entertainments Tickets catching up behind.

The Masquerade Ball Posters

The Annual CGCU Freshers' Ball has taken on another new twist this year as it has been marketed as a 'Masquerade Ball' rather than just the run of the mill Freshers' Dinner. Once again CGCU have teamed up with their colleagues in the Royal College of Science to run two dinners and joint entertainments all on the same evening.

Choosing to rely heavily on individual branding for the event rather than the names and brands of the two Unions, Presidents Mark Mearing-Smith and David Charles hoped to reignite the dwindling interest in a traditional 'Ball' that has been shown over the past few years. Last year the CGCU Autumn Ball sold less tickets across the nine engineering departments than the RSM did over two departments. RCSU took a different angle altogether and did not host a Freshers' Ball arguing that this was not the type of entertainment that students were looking for at the beginning of the year.

However, the gamble appears to have paid off with Dinner tickets for both meals having completely sold out ahead of timetable. CGCU and RCSU had planned to stop selling Dinner tickets on Tuesday 21st October, ten days before the event, as this was the deadline for raising a purchase order for College Catering. However, ticket sales ceased before this dealine as all of the tables had been filled, a great success for both Unions. The popularity of the event has surprised CGCU Vice-President (Activities), Matthew Taylor, who told Live! "People have been coming into the Office saying 'I've bought my mask for the Masquerade Ball, can I buy a ticket now please?'. The theme really seems to have inspired people."

Another success for CGCU is that the majority of students attending the Dinner will be first years. Tickets were advertised to incoming students in a letter sent out to their home address during the summer and the take up from this was exceptionally high. The only thing worrying Acting Honorary Secretary, Kirsty Patterson, is that nobody will know the Boomalaka and the Guilds hacks on top table will be left looking very silly. Not everybody shares this optimism however, commenting on the ticket sales from his new home in SAC, ex-Deputy President (Finance and Services), Chris Larvin, joked "You'll still make a loss", presumably in reference to his own Summer Ball.

If you still haven't bought a ticket for the Masquerade Ball then Entertainments Tickets are still available online, on the Sherfield Walkway between 12-2pm or from either the CGCU or RCSU Office. For only £15 students can take advantage of the two late licence bars, excellent DJ in the Great Hall, Jazz Quartet, Casino, Chocolate Fountains and much more. Guilds advise that you get hold of your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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Discussion about “Masquerade Ball Approaches”

The comments below are unmoderated submissions by Live! readers. The Editor accepts no liability for their content, nor for any offence caused by them. Any complaints should be directed to the Editor.

1. Chris L

Oct 27 2008 11:02

Thanks Bugsy, when did I say this?

Nice petty little snipe there. Well done.

2. Kirsty Patterson

Oct 27 2008 13:33

Speaking to the person who provided the quote to Live! they maintain that it is accurate.

It does say that you 'joked' Chris. It is fairly ironic that you can't take a joke that you made yourself...

Live! has reported for as long as it has been in existance on events that have or have not made a loss. I fail to see how this instance is 'petty' in comparison to any of the rest.

3. Chris L

Oct 27 2008 16:27

So where was the article on the Guilds Ball making a ?2.5k loss last year as a result of lying and subterfuge on the part of Guilds? Someone bias me thinks.

Perhaps if you were around in the last month of your Sabbatical term instead of rearranging furniture in the Guilds office you would have been involved in the discussions as to why the Summer Ball didn't make any money this year.

Grow up and stop using Live as a ego-inflating organ for Guilds hacks.

4. Meow

Oct 27 2008 17:15

Ouch! Touched a rather raw nerve there, apparently...

5. .

Oct 27 2008 19:02

This event is ridiculously overpriced, especially the ents-only ticket.

6. umm

Oct 27 2008 20:53

Yeah but it's going to be just like that bit in 'Eyes Wide Shut' with loads of shagging and whores, right? Right?

7. This post is awaiting moderation or has been suspended.

Oct 27 2008 23:58

8. Me again...

Oct 28 2008 00:54

I sincerely apologise to anyone who didn't want to read the above post. I didn't really want to say it either. I just got a bit upset and feel I probably deserve the right to defend myself.

Heyho. I'm sure I'll regret this in the morning.

9. .

Oct 28 2008 10:16

Just f**king email each other if you wanna bitch.

10. getalife

Oct 28 2008 10:46

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha what a bunch of children!

11. loldfdf

Nov 01 2008 21:36

Oh dear, a couple of ugly people arguing about a non-issue, typical politics.

So the ball, very sparsely attended but everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves. It seems that they get smaller every year though!

12. WTF

Nov 02 2008 16:42

May I just point out that over 800 people attended the ball!

13. Ears on the ground

Nov 02 2008 17:50

I know of quite a few freshers who gatecrashed. There was lax security/nobody on the door I believe!

Although the need to gatecrash is usually a sign of a good party I believe the price also played a part.

14. Gatttecrash

Nov 02 2008 20:47

I know at least 5 people who went to ents without paying. No one gave a s**t. There was zero checking.

15. Gatttecrash

Nov 02 2008 20:49

Party was fun though.

16. Ashley Brown

Nov 03 2008 11:17

Could the reason that there was poor checking on the door be because the union stewards seemed to spend quite a bit of time putting up posters (with sellotape, on glass - both against union poster rules) advertising free entry to the Colin Murray event at the union?

Using stewards to try and attract people away DURING the event (there was a minimum bar spend in the College bars) is VERY bad form.

17. Ears on the ground

Nov 03 2008 12:21

Those I know who gatecrashed were at the Colin Murray event and then realised he was c**p and liked playing Feeder a little too much. Also having realised the gatecrashing potential of the ball they ran home to halls to pull on their tuxes!

18. HA HA

Nov 03 2008 14:04

So is this why I'm getting stupid emails from DPCS reminding all club officers of poster rules...? I hope she cc'd the Union staff in too!

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