American Music Ball(s) Canceled
This is huge. American Music Ball(s) have been canceled due to lack of interest. The Post reports:
"The American Music Ball has been cancelled, according to a rep for the Marriott Wardman Park hotel where it was to have been hosted.
However, some of its big-name entertainers will find a home at another struggling inaugural fete — the Heroes Ball, which suffered a sudden loss of its talent lineup over the weekend. Among the names headed to the Heroes Ball are George Clinton, Ben Vereen and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, according to a rep for the Heroes Ball.
And whither the AMC's biggest names? Dionne Warwick and Ludacris were set to host the dual "Legends" and "Urban" parties. We'll let you know if we find out. . ."
Maybe they should have returned Washington City Paper's phone calls for our Balls preview piece!
9:44 pm
Somebody should tell the Washington Post that Harold Melvin died in 1997 and will not be appearing at any balls. His band continues on as Harold Melvin's Bluenotes though.
10:47 pm
Where is Dionne going. We should go there. Where do I go now. I paid my money, and all the other ball are filled
11:08 pm
Maybe your ticket will get you into the Heroes Ball? Let us know if you can't get your money back!
2:20 pm
I am absolutely disappointed.If it wasn't for the fact that some of our friends had VIP tickets for the brunch earlier that day and inform us that the brunch and ball were cancelled.We would have never known of the cancellation and shown up at the ball that evening. Poor, poor planning and all on our expense.They really ruined the moment!How and when did you find out it was cancelled?
2:49 pm
Dionne Warwick's Legends ball was cancelled as of late Monday night, and ticket holders were never notified. However, ball organizers, "The Friends of Dionne Warwick" had ticket holder's email addresses and phone numbers and never bothered to contact anyone. consequently, many did arrive at the Marriot Wardman Park hotel last night only to be informed by Marriot staff that the ball was cancelled. Marriot staff were told by Dionne's ball organizers to refer ticket holders to their web site for more information. However,as of Tuesday they took down their web site and checked out of the hotel before ticket holders began to arrive! However, they managed to notify all the VIPs who planned to attend. Poor planning, inconsideration, and management on their part and very tacky.
5:59 pm
I was not pleased to say the leastl I thought it to be very tacky to find out that the event was cancelled by the parking attendant.
I purchaed a beautiful gown. Not to mention it was pricey. Dressed up and nowhere to go. I was so disgusted I returned to my hotel packed my clothes and left D C for home. Shame on Dionne and Friends. I want may money back with intrest.
9:43 pm
I am from Texas, where we are used to doing things BIG!
I came to DC along with 6 other friends... that is $450 X 6!
I absolutely cannot believe how rude and inconvenient the cancellation was communicated to the ticket holders! A new dress, hair appointment, manicure, car-service, dinner & drinks...only to find a huge sign at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel to read that our Ball had been cancelled and that we could look to get a refund in 30-45 days, with NO information on how to get our money back.
However many tickets were NOT purchased, those of us who DID, deserve an apology and some kind of compensation...Oh, I forgot to mention that the folks sending the tickets sent my ticktets to my home in Texas, after I'd already left for DC! I had to have them FedEx'd, just to be able to have them, even though they were supposed to be in Will-Call and paid an additional fee for it.
10:28 pm
I share the same disgust as many of you and I feel that we all were robbed of our chance to be apart of history by the poor planning and most importantly with the annoncement that the event was cancelled. There is no acceptable excuse when the fact remains that each person's email address and contact info was supplied with the sale of the ticket. Additionally from a business perspective one can project when an event that was planned early on is not meeting the buget or the projected sales, which would cause for them to cancel the event way in advance so people like us can make other plans.
I Plan to file a "Class A" against whomever is responsible, as I feel the event stole my evening from me which we all deserved to experience in one way or the other.
If you are interested in joining me please send me an email with your:
(1)Full Name
(2)Which ticket you purchased
(3)If you travel from out of state
(4)If and how you were informed of the cancellation
My Email Address: tony@tonyreddick.com
1:35 pm
The same thing happened to me and my family! We purchased 6 tickets for $450 each, arrived at the Wardman Park Hotel in our gowns and were informed that the event had been canceled. All of that hard-earned money wasted on attire and accessories...had they notified us at least 48 hours in advance, we could have tried to get tickets to something else.
The American Music Inaugural Balls planning team needs to be held accountable! Notifying your patrons only 24 hours in advance is unacceptable!
2:12 pm
Same thing happened to me. They took no real effort in notifying us. Even on Dionne's website, she doesn't even apologize. We were so looking forward to celebrating and being a part of this moment in history and they took that away from us without a valid reason. Refunding on ticket prices is not enough! Dionne should have known this well in advance due to her psychic friends! I am deeply disappointed.
9:35 pm
Everyone that paid for a ticket please give me your contact info.
Email me here: tony@tonyreddick.com
Why?...because there is power in numbers!!
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/01/22/dionne-warwick-youre-about-to-be-served/
10:36 pm
I also purchased tickets to one of her balls-- the Legends
Ball. When I think of the pricey accommodations, the air fare, car fare, and the expensive grooming that culminated into nothing, I cry. After a year of multiple family loss, I was looking to gain some joy from a miraculous moment. I believe Dionne knew at least two weeks ago that the ball would not garner the attendance she hoped for. Then she had the gall to become ghost and show up in the flesh at the Purple Ball to celebrate what we could not. She needs to be black balled like Lady Bird Johnson unjustly did Earth Kitt in the 60's. Earth Kitt did not deserve being black balled but Dionne does. I am going to make sure that this get's to the ears of our new commander and chief.
11:02 pm
I am so sorry to hear that Linda. I cried as well. I was not only shocked and angry, but DEEPLY HURT AND DISAPPOINTED! I was looking forward to the celebratory moment as well. As a result of committing to the American Music Legends ball, I didn't plan anything else. I didn't go down to the Mall because I thought I would be late for this event. I didn't attend other balls because I channeled my resources into this event.
I sincerely hope that Ms. Warwick feels the repercussions of this. She does need to be blacklisted. The saddest part is that this moment will never come again...you can't elect another First Black President or regain the collective feeling of hope that all of the visitors had on that day.
My best bet is to buy the official DVD and watch OTHER PEOPLE enjoy the OTHER BALLS, as we should have been able to.
11:23 am
What a major disappointment. Even though I was attending only the luncheon, it was none the less horrible when i arrived at the hotel only to be told by the hotel that the event was cancelled. It just proves because a person can sing does not mean the have integrity or ethics. As a public figure, Dionne should have been there , money in hand, giving out refunds to show good
faith. But instead she showed us her-- You know what, by
going to another ball with no hesitation. I definitely want my money back, no if ands or but, and a public apology. SHAME ON YOU DIONNE
3:20 pm
Dionne Warwick has a history of doing shady things.
I grew up in St Croix, USVI. Back in the day, she put together this huge fundraiser and raised over a million dollars. However, it cost MORE for her travel & entourage than she raised! So she wound up stiffing the charity!
The Friends of Dionne Warwick organization actually called me a week before the event, stating they had gotten such an overwhelming response to the event that they would not be able to mail me my tickets, but would have them available at Will Call.
Then this bogus 'lack of interest' story? Simply not true. Shame on you, Dionne Warwick.
6:33 pm
My wife and I flew to D.C. from San Francisco California to attend the Legions Ball. I have never been so disapointed in my life. This turned out to be a total waste of time and money. Airline tickets ($1,700), Ball tickets ($950) tux ($350), formal dress ($285), rental car ($995) not to mention the time away from work to attend what we considered to be a historic event. The tickets were mailed to my home in California after I had arrived in D.C. I made it very clear when I was leaving and was assured the tickets would arrive in time ...they didn't, I had to spend more money to have them FedEx'd.
We should have at least been refunded or given ticket to another ball. I WANT A FULL REFUND PLUS INTEREST! Dionne ... Your actions were disgraceful.
1:22 pm
I too am more than disappointed! I googled American Legends Inaugural Ball Canceled to see what turned up. There has been no word on refunds, other than a lame posting on the now defunct website.
I wished that I followed my gut instinct and not purchased a spur of the moment gown and purse. I had already spent far more than anticipated, but this was supposed to be HISTORIC!
Now, here we are $950.00 out of the pocket loss...don't know when we will ever see that money. I now wish that I had simply planned to stay at home.
By the time Dionne gets sued from breatch of contract by the other entertainers, I wonder just how soon we will get our refunds. What kind of insurance did these people have and I wonder if Marriott got paid.
How disgusting for Dionne to turn up at the Purple Ball. I should have known better... given her reputation with the Physcic network.
11:31 am
Anyone interested in a civil suit against these people? They have our money.