Dionne Warwick Bums People Out
Yesterday, we noted that organizers behind the two American Music Inaugural Balls had cancelled their two events---the Legends Ball and the Urban Ball---at the last minute. Dionne Warwick was supposed to host the Legends Ball while Ludacris was supposed to MC the Urban Ball. The press release noted that the organizers' ball juggling was historic: "It will be the first ever two-ball event in inaugural history." The Washingtonian quoted organizers calling the events "people's balls."
Not sure how they were people's balls. Tickets to the Legend's Ball cost $450 per. Tickets to the Urban Ball cost $350 per. If you felt the need to see both Chaka Khan and the Cheetah Girls, you got a slight deal and could pay $650 for a "combo ticket."
Well the people apparently voted with their wallets and the events were closed due to lack of interest. But organizers did take people's money. And they have horror stories. Take "Summer" who commented on City Desk:
"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."
Organizers did in fact take down their website. This is what I got when I tried to get on its site. Apparently, Ms. Warwick has now turned into a inaugural grifter. She owes at least a few people their money back!
The Marriott staff does not appear so happy with Warwick and Co.
4:16 p.m. update: Mark Indre, the Marriott Wardman Park's director of public relations says: "The hotel was very disappointed because we were looking forward to hosting the event." He says the scene last night went like this: "We went outside and when people came up, we apologized to them and informed them of the situation. We gave them a list of other balls that were free or at least reasonably priced." Reactions: "Some people were shocked. Some people were angry." On the organizers: "From what I understand, their website put up a cancellation notice" on Tuesday evening. This didn't give anybody a lot of time to make other plans.
Indre says the Marriott lost money but won't go into how much they lost. On plans to sue the balls' organizers, he also refused comment.
Indre also did not have a phone number for the organizers.
5:15 p,m. update: Indre says the hotel ended up donating as much of the food as they could from the cancelled balls. 360 pounds of pork ribs, 700 pounds of pork loin, 780 pieces of chicken parm, a thousand rolls, 32 assorted pies, 180 dozen bagels, nine dozen biscuits, four cases of bananas, and one large sheet cake were donated to D.C. Central Kitchen.
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3:43 pm
I know somebody who claims to be friends with Dionne Warwick. She reported to me on Monday night that Dionne didn't want to come to DC because she is too fat to fit into her favorite fur coat, and it was too cold for her to come to DC if she couldn't wear it. No joke!
4:03 pm
This is the correct URL for the event: http://www.americanmusicinauguralballs.com/
The message on the site says that those who purchased tickets will be refunded.
4:26 pm
Does anybody actually moderate these comments prior to posting? Per Nikki's comment above, Dionne Warwick has been IN Washington for weeks promoting the ball, so to suggest it is too cold for her to come without her favorite coat is just mean-spirited gossiping.
6:35 pm
VIP Sources have said Dionne left the hotel 2 hours before the event was to start, and had prior knowledge it was off. They only sold 160 tickets, far from the 6000 estimated, so to say it was a last minute decision is stupid. The organizers and Dionne knew this prior to the event, and trust me when say they will keep that money, and say it went towards Administration fees, and/or even file Bankruptcy.
10:49 pm
Well Dionne Warwick's website is also now reporting that those who purchased tickets will be refunded, as is the official website for the balls. So to suggest "they will keep the money" is again rumor-mongering (not to mention potentially libellous) as well as contrary to what has been stated as fact by the organisers. I still believe in the rule of law (innocent until proven guilty) and the fact is that until such time as refunds are NOT made, there is no reason to accuse the organisers of this event of anything.
8:09 am
Alex,
Are you Dionne?
9:46 am
You know these comments, gossip, and critisim is also like those people who thrive on idiotic gossip to continously feed vicio rumours that surround Ms. Warwick. People get facts before you make complete fools of yourself Ms. Warwick is very far from being broke and definitely dont nees a mere 450.00. Facts remain that the tickets sales were low I brought a ticket and have been contacted by the committee who were in charge of this event not Dionne Warwick she once again was simply the host. Just like when she hosted the physic network you same people claimed her to be a physic she is NOT she lis a legendary singer, sctress, and has paved the way for may of your known performers today. As Obama says its time for change stop ridiculing and start uplifting our people. Believe this the ones you walk over now will be the very one you will need to regain .
9:59 am
You people are ridiculous. Dionne wanted your money and she got it. Don't give her your dignity as well.
5:49 pm
First of all...why are you sticking up for Dionne Warwick? I am one of the many people that arrived IN MY BALL GOWN and paid money for this event. If Ms. Warwick and her "organizers"...or as I like to call them "crooks" made everyone believe that a highly-publicized event was going to take place and it never happened...then WHY SHOULD WE NOW BELIEVE SHE IS GOING TO GIVE OUR MONEY BACK? She has had my money since December 13...how do I know she hasn't spent it already?
Furthermore, in these tough economic times of uncertainty and bankruptcy, why should I have faith in some D list entertainer who isn't exactly making Beyonce or Mariah kind of money? She has already been sued for her Psychic Friends scam.
I have called the number on my invoice as well as emailed the "organizers" with no response...the revised website doesn't even give any type of contact info...
But I am supposed to believe them and not make fun of Poor Little Ms. Warwick???? Puh-leaze!!!! Ms. Warwick was enjoying herself at the Purple Ball while all of the jilted patrons were forced to go home and do nothing.
6:48 pm
I bought 4 tickets between the Legends Ball and the Urban Ball, and my family traveled from Atlanta specifically to attend these events. I was devastated and heartbroken when I was told the events were cancelled. This overshadowed my good feelings about seeing our President take the Oath of Office. Am I angry? YES! Do I think I'll get my money back? MAYBE! If they had poor ticket sales, they could have notified us well before the event instead of hours before. I really believe someone is LYING! I don't know if it's Ms. Warwick or whomever. My Inaugural spirit was ruined. I can't get that back.
7:57 pm
Newton...you are so STUPID!! GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT!! Dionne Warwick owes /owed millions in taxes!! So how can she be so paid. Don't HATE.. LIQUIDATE. Oh and please don't bring Barack into this at all. I am sure he and Michelle would not approve of the way this event went down. Oh and BTW...Barack never said anything about"UPLIFTING"...he said "HOPE OVER FEAR" and I HOPE I get my money back.
Link:
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-10/2007-10-18-voa47.cfm?CFID=98304658&CFTOKEN=88882613&jsessionid=8430cab4a1fb82f05b631216e1f7c5b323e5
8:19 pm
I'm thinking that I can legally claim fraud, especially if the time of my card charge is after the event was cancelled– I believe it will be; I decided at the “last minute” to attend, and was able to purchase a ticket very close to the start time….
8:43 pm
Newton
"As Obama says its time for change stop ridiculing and start uplifting our people. Believe this the ones you walk over now will be the very one you will need to regain" .
CAN YOU COME AND UPLIFT ME? I am devasted by these shenanigans My feelings have been walked over, dragged, and whipped - Can I regain?
9:37 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/
9:56 pm
Are you saying that the Marriot did not know they DID not need to prepare food or buy food for 6000 guests. How did they have SO much food to donate? Why couldn't we had eaten it or use the Ballroom that was reserved for us anyway to eat the food??. Where did that room go??-who used the rooms that were reserved for the ball? Did they donate the rooms also??? Did the Marriot FRONT the expense for the food or did it belong to the ball's event planners via a deposit? Where did the money come from? and even better, where did the money go? Did they have a separate kitchen and refrigerator just for this event or did they serve it to the hotel guests that evening??. This doesn't sound right. I may not have a college degree or a lot of education, but even I know this sounds fishy as a fish and is a GREAT BIG FAT LIE
For an event of this enormous magnitude---either I am crazy or they think we all are crazy. 160 sold tickets When did they realize that they were not going to reach the 6000 mark--the night before??? Come on folks!!
6:53 pm
Everyone, I was there...like many of you. I froze outside - swindled and dissapointed too. This was truly shameful but not more shameful that Dionne going to another ball as if she could mentally detach herself from her actions. If you put your name and face on it, its yours. No organizer can take blame before Dionne who lured us in on her site to trust her. I called Chase bank that very day and told them what happened. I used my debit card so the cash is already gone. I was told my money - over $1,000 - will be fully refunded even if they dont refund me. Perhaps this is because I called the day it happened but I am hoping this helps some of you out there. The people fighting for Dionne Warwick are either cold hearted mean people, or friends of hers or Dionne herself trying to justify the mean treatment to her own fellow African Americans during the most important election of our lives and history and they will get that back in Karmic debt. We need not curse them, fight with them or ridicule them. We need only to focus our energy on the following:
1. Contact your bank or credit card company immediatly and check your statements on line daily to see if anything changes.
2. Contact the local small claims court and do internet research to see if there are other legal fights happening to join them and get your voice heard and money back.
3. Make a note on the promoters so you never buy from them again and if there is a blog about them - write on it to warn others.
4. If you have any friends in media see if they can get this on the news with Dionne Warwick as the reason it happened. Since she does not respect us enough to post a video apology on her site with more details on how to get our refunds she needs to tell it to CNN...dont let Dionne Warwick get away with this.
5. Finally - for those that are defending her behavior know this...if they hang with her they are like her and that is enough to tell you to pray for them because their lives are truly in the toilet.
Signed, a woman that stood outside with an 80 year old civil rights fighter in the freezing cold, while we heard "Turn around - sorry - we cant help you here and by the way Dionne is at the other ball across town!"
It was beautiful to be there for President Obama - Dionne Warwick, you are ugly, inside and out. But you know this so there is nothing new to update you on in that department.
2:11 am
After comming to Washington D.C. from California to witness one of the most remeberal days of my life which was great. To think I'm going to your ball, get really dressed up and pay $700.00 for my husband and myself a ticket to find out at the VERY last minute the ball was cancled is very upsetting to me. Without the courtesy of an e-mail due to the fact there were only 160 tickets sold!Very, very tacky. You call this the people's ball?
3:29 pm
Newton, 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 for everything she raised PLUS the cost of her traveling circus!
TO BOOT, 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? Please. I've seen more than 160 people complaining about this ridiculous cancellation. The story is simply not true. Shame on you, Dionne Warwick.
12:05 pm
I am a massive DW fan,since 1962, live in England so didn't hear about this.
One thing though...it seems she was to be the host so why all the negativity towards her. She wouldn't have been organising it even if her name was used.
She is the most incredible singer of the most incredible Bacharach and David songs.
Hope you've all received your refunds by now......
And, Obama is the best president for a very long time, he is brilliant and will transform the USA.
12:13 pm
Wow. You really need to read the newspapers, DW #1 dude. Obama is an abysmal failure & has not "transformed" anything. It's still all for Wall Street, fuck working people. It's still war, not peace. It's still the same fucking way it has been since that clown puppet Reagan was installed in a CIA coup.
Obama is a pathetic joke and an abysmal failure. Odds are he'll be impeached & removed from office before his four years are up, but if not, on Jan 20, 2013 it'll be bye-bye Barack, hello President Howard Dean.