How to assure your seat in Weill Hall at the Green Music Center

Current SRS subscribers will be the first to be assigned seats for the Symphony's 7-concert Classical Series concerts. New subscribers will choose their seats next. Then, beginning September 1, 2012, anyone may purchase individual tickets on a space-available basis.

The Santa Rosa Symphony understands how important seating is to our subscribers. To ensure the smoothest possible transition to the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall at the Green Music Center, the Symphony has carefully constructed a fair and equitable Priority Seating Policy. This policy treats subscriber and donation history as “investments” in the Santa Rosa Symphony, and recognizes longevity and cumulative investments as well as volunteerism.

Each and every subscriber’s investment in the SRS will be carefully researched and measured in terms of three factors:

1. Subscription Investment
2. Donation Investment
3. Volunteer Investment

These factors together determine each subscriber’s priority position, which will be used to assign seats in the inaugural season in Weill Hall

You have been determining your seat location since you first “invested” in the SRS. Our Priority Seating Policy measures the following three areas of support, each vitally important in helping establish the Santa Rosa Symphony as one of the most respected regional orchestras in the country.

Subscription Investment: 55% weighting
We value the loyalty of our patrons and believe that continuous length of subscription is the single most important factor in determining seating in the new concert hall. The success of the SRS is based on the faithful support of our subscriber audience. This loyalty is the foundation upon which other forms of support are built, and for most people, the most accessible way to support the Symphony.

Donation Investment: 40% weighting
The SRS is a non-profit arts organization that relies on the support of the community to operate as ticket sales represent only 45% of our operating income. Because our donors help close the gap between ticket revenues and expenses, and help ensure a strong artistic future, the Priority Seating Policy recognizes cumulative donations to both the SRS and the GMC. That is why making monetary contributions is the second most significant action you can take to improve your seating priority.

Volunteer investment: 5% weighting
Ongoing support from our volunteers is also crucial to the Symphony’s success. Credit is given for volunteer support of SRS Association activities as well as serving in the Symphony League.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following was updated – November 2011

The Santa Rosa Symphony subscriber priority seating policy treats subscriber and donation history as ‘investments’ in the organization, and recognizes both longevity and cumulative investments.

Is Weill Hall larger or smaller than the current hall?
The Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall at the Green Music Center has been designed to become one of the great concert halls of the world. To optimize acoustics, the 1,400-seat hall will be smaller than the current hall which seats 1,560. In addition to its brilliant acoustics, a signature feature of the hall will be the rear wall, which, on warm summer evenings can be opened to lawns accommodating up to 3,000 additional concert-goers with direct views of the stage.

Why do we need a priority seating policy? Why can’t I just have my seat?
The layout of Weill Hall is completely different than the current hall. The new hall is a classical ‘shoe-box shape’ compared to the ‘fan shape’ of the current hall. It contains fewer seats overall which are dispersed throughout a main floor, box seats and two balconies. A priority system is vital to an equitable re-seating of all patrons.

How do I get the seats I want?
Loyalty counts! The most important thing you can do is subscribe and maintain your full-series subscription. When you donate and volunteer as well as subscribe, you improve your place in line for seating in Weill Hall for Santa Rosa Symphony concerts..

What is the procedure for measuring seating priority?
We have carefully constructed a priority seating policy that equitably rewards patrons based on subscription history, donation history and volunteer commitment. Each and every subscriber ‘investment’ with the Symphony will be researched as far back as our computer records go. This is a very similar approach that has been used by other major national orchestras when they moved to their new halls. Specifically: subscription history accounts for 55%, donation history for 40% and volunteerism for 5%.

When can I order my seats for the 2012-2013 Opening Season?
Subscriber open houses are now being planned. These will allow subscribers an opportunity to view all seating options inside Weill Hall and state their preference in writing. In Spring 2012, the renewal time period for the inaugural season, subscribers will receive their renewal forms with seats based on their preferences and seating priority (see guidelines above). Renewing subscribers can expect to hear back from the SRS office in May/June. New subscribers will be assigned any remaining seats after that.

How many seats may I order?
You may order as many seats as you wish, but your seating priority position will only extend to the number of seats you purchase for the 2011-2012 SRS season. For example, the Weill Concert Hall is going to open in Fall 2012 and you purchased two seats for the 2011-2012 season, and want four seats for 2012-2013 (the first season in the new hall. The first two seats will be assigned based on your priority position and the last two seats will be assigned after all the other renewing subscriber requests are satisfied. You may choose to give up your seating priority in order to get all your seats together. In this case, your seats would be assigned after all the other renewing subscribers but ahead of any new subscribers. It makes sense considering that it would be unfair to displace other subscribers with equal priority because one subscriber wishes to increase the number of seats in Weill Hall.

What if I dropped out for a year and returned this season?
The priority seating procedure rewards continuous subscription, but we also look at your complete history with us as a patron, which we greatly value. It’s not too late to improve your priority over the general public. Subscribing and donating this year will improve your priority.

Does it help if I have more than one series or have been a subscriber for many years?
Yes. The more subscription tickets or concert series packages that you have and the longer that you continually subscribe and donate, the better your place in line for seating.

Must I be a donor in order to get the seats I want in Weill Hall at the Green Music Center?
While the most important factor in your seating priority is your continued subscribership each year, your continued or increased donation will enhance your priority. The orchestra is a non-profit arts organization that relies on the support of the community to operate as ticket sales represent only 45% of our operating income.

I’ve donated to the Santa Rosa Symphony but not the Green Music Center. Does that matter?
Donations to both the SRS and Green Music Center concert hall are considered in the priority seating policy. Your priority improves as your donation increases as contributions receive a 40% weighting.

How much do I have to give to get great seats?
A contribution of any size is greatly appreciated and assists you with moving up in priority. Some subscribers do not contribute, hence a first-time contribution or an increased contribution would be helpful in enhancing your priority.

I also volunteer for the SRS. Do I get credit for this?
Absolutely. We greatly appreciate your time and talents and credit is given for volunteering to the Symphony Association. SRS League members receive credit for their volunteer activities as well.

Can I get my friends to subscribe?
Yes! It’s not too late for new subscribers to ‘be there from the beginning’. We anticipate subscriptions reaching near-capacity levels, so single tickets will be scarce. We recommend new concertgoers subscribe today to our 2011-2012 season to assure the availability of seats in Weill Hall at the Green Music Center. Although the 2011-12 season has begun, Mini-Series subscriptions are still available.

How does accessibility compare to the current hall?
Weill Hall has improved access for patrons. There are wheelchair seats located on the main floor and first balcony. The hall has an elevator in the lobby which provides access to the balconies.

 

Board Approved:  September 25, 2007

Updated: November, 2011—subject to change.