(Photo Courtesy of Jacobs School of Music)
Picture this: you’re a fresh-faced post-grade sitting confidently in the office of the head hauncho of your dream job. You’re feeling confident but anxious, fiddling with your clothes and trying to let the confidence win over the anxiety as much as possible while answering the questions of the intimidating figure before you. Everything is going well, until the employer asks if you had seen one of the legendary shows that were held in either the Musical Arts Center or the Auditorium in your time as an IU student. Truthfully, what can you say?
If your answer is like that of many of IU’s students, you can’t say that you have seen very many, if any, of the productions put on by any the Jacobs School of Music’s world-renowned performing groups. Not to worry, you aren’t alone. And even if you’re a senior, you still have time to catch up culturally here at IU. Not only do you still have time to catch great shows, but you also can charge your ticket price to your bursar! (If you’re a member of the Greek community, ask about the Greek discount!) It may initially seem intimidating to have to go to said performance, but these steps are here to help make your trip to the MAC or Auditorium fun and enjoyable, rather than intimidating and awkward.
Dress Codes. Be sure you’re aware of the dress code before you arrive. As a rule of thumb, in general, operas and ballets are cocktail attire. So for ladies, a nice dress your grandmother wouldn’t be ashamed of, modest pumps, and simple jewelry. For gentlemen, a nice business suit and tie are in order. Unless otherwise noted, don’t assume you need to wear a tux to a performance at IU. You’ll run into that kind of attire in bigger cities, but here, plan to dress one notch below that.
Know which seats are best for the performance you are enjoying. Not all seats are created equal, as I’m sure most of you know from sitting in Assembly Hall. Seating in the MAC or Auditorium is very similar to seating in Assembly Hall, when you look at it this way: close doesn’t always equal “good”. Being right up front might be fun for a pop concert, but not for an opera, ballet, or concert at the MAC or Auditorium. In general, go for seats in the middle of the middle in Orchestra level and the front center for Mezzanine and Balcony. Avoid wings if at all possible. While you’ll get used to the odd angle, you’ll enjoy the show more from the center, even if you’re a bit further back.
Look into the show before you arrive. You don’t want to get to a show and have no clue what’s going on. In lower level Italian and French classes, you may be required to see a performance. The shows are subtitled, but reading the whole time takes away from the production. Look into what the show is about and check into the background of the performance and the players before you arrive to ensure you understand what is happening and appreciate the performance.
With those three simple tips, you’re ready to go see a performance! Whether it’s a ballet, opera, or orchestra, these three simple steps can help you immensely when you’re heading to your first performance! Take this opportunity while you’re still here to enjoy the great performances we are fortunate to have and to add to your cultural resume! You never know when that will come in handy!