[Cagdu] twice shafted

[robert stigile]

Hello Ken and All,
I would definitely call on Monday and explain to the Management, 
what happened.
In the future, even though they want to see your tickets, it is 
best to hang on to them.
In all of the events I have gone to, with my guide dog, Baseball 
games and concerts, I have never been told I have to sit 
somewhere other then the seat I chose.
I am sorry to hear that this happened, and look forward to 
hearing the outcome.
Take care,

Robert Stigile


> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ken Volonte" <kenvolonte at comcast.net
>To: "Cagdu" <cagdu at nfbcal.org
>Date sent: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:43:31 -0700
>Subject: [Cagdu] twice shafted

>Hi all.  Last night, Velvet and I went to a Josh Groban concert 
at the Stockton Arena.  We had bought tickets well in advance 
because Velvet can't climb steps.  We had seats at floor level 1 
section 9.

>    When we showed our tickets to the arena staff, we were 
repeatedly told, "You're up front on the floor".  We walked 
through accompanied by an usher, but when he realized who we 
were: a blind man with a guide dog and a lady with a cane, our 
section magically didn't exist any more.  "I can't tell if 
that's...  see how this here is underlined...  Kathie will take 
care of you.  She's a supervisor", and off he went into the 
crowd.

>    Kathie instructed us to follow her back the way we'd just 
come.  She just left us standing and took off with our tickets.

>    Finally, Velvet couldn't stand any more and I was getting 
more irritated by the minute.  There were six chairs near to 
where we were, and we sat down.  After maybe fifteen minutes, six 
women approached us and demanded that we move.  Kathie was with 
them, and she insisted that we again follow her.  We were seated 
on the far right of the arena sitting sideways to the stage.  
Velvet kept insisting that this wasn't right, that we had paid 
for floor tickets and that they had been taken from us.

>    Finally, Josh Groban's security man came up to us and 
demanded to see our tickets.  "This is where you're supposed to 
be.  What's the problem"?

>    Velvet explained that these were not our assigned seats, that 
our tickets had been traded out for these seats.  The security 
man then questioned me.  "You bought two seats?  With the dog you 
didn't buy three?"

>    A reasonable man would have just pulled out his law card, but 
to my shame, I lost it.  I really lost it.  His question cast me 
right back to the 70s.  I think that the reason it had such an 
effect on me was that all control and hope for what should have 
been an orderly entrance and enjoyable evening were dashed.  "If 
you want to enjoy the rest of the show", Mr.  Security went on, 
"then you're going to have to speak to me with the respect I've 
shown you".

>    "I'm sorry", I said.

>    "What was that, I didn't hear you."

>    "I will enjoy the show", but the experience was just wrong.

>    Velvet and I have been to many venues and we've always had a 
good time.  Where accommodations have had to be made, they have 
been undertaken with grace and good will on both sides.  All we 
wanted was to be shown to the seats to which we were assigned.  
Instead, we were marginalized.  I admit some responsibility for 
this because I lost my temper; but sometimes, when you have been 
warn down, all you can do is yell.

>    On Monday, Velvet and I shall attempt to talk to the 
management of the Stockton Arena.  We will present our arguments 
in a reasonable fashion.

>    This is not the first time something like this has happened 
to us at this venue.  The first time, Velvet fell amid a whole 
scrum of people and nobody helped at all.

>    Progress can be hard even when the law and common sense are 
on your side.