Crashing the Gate

[Miss Neecerie]

Having been to many events and fundraisers recently, I started thinking about how, over the years, (I used to work for a non-profit, so I did the fundraiser circuit), the gate crashing phenomenon seems to have increased.

People sneak, cajole, nag, and otherwise worm their way into a multitude of events, both the ‘for profit’ events and even worse, fundraising events.

Since I see this more often then I would like, even in the ‘vintage’ community, I thought I would put this out there for thoughts.

Does gate-crashing eventually lead to ‘real participation’ in events, or is a rude blight on society?

Is it just cheapness in disguise? ‘After all, the band is already playing, what’s a few more people dancing to it, it doesn’t increase the price to the event hosts if I don’t pay my way right?’

Is this just another symptom of ‘entitlement’ or ‘special snowflake’ syndrome…..”Surely they don’t mean me?”

 

[LizzieMaine]

Having been to many events and fundraisers recently, I started thinking about how, over the years, (I used to work for a non-profit, so I did the fundraiser circuit), the gate crashing phenomenon seems to have increased.

People sneak, cajole, nag, and otherwise worm their way into a multitude of events, both the ‘for profit’ events and even worse, fundraising events.

Since I see this more often then I would like, even in the ‘vintage’ community, I thought I would put this out there for thoughts.

Does gate-crashing eventually lead to ‘real participation’ in events, or is a rude blight on society?

Is it just cheapness in disguise? ‘After all, the band is already playing, what’s a few more people dancing to it, it doesn’t increase the price to the event hosts if I don’t pay my way right?’

Is this just another symptom of ‘entitlement’ or ‘special snowflake’ syndrome…..”Surely they don’t mean me?”

I see this a lot at work -- unless we police the front doors constantly during blues/pop concerts, people will walk right in off the street and make themselves to home. If you confront them about it, they'll either give you a song and dance about how they left their ticket at home, or they'll say they need to go inside for "just a sec" because their friend forgot their jacket or their cell phone or their pocketbook or something and they're bringing it over.

I think it's a mix of cheapness and entitlement, especially with younger people, those who are used to just getting what they want for free -- downloaded music, mooched concerts, all the same thing to them. But when you're in the business you tend to view it differently -- every freeloader is money out of our pockets and food off our tables, so we tend to take a very dim view of "crashers." And don't get me started on people who sneak in their own concessions. Same thing with fundraisers -- would the people who think it's fine to sneak into such events think it was fine to pinch quarters out of the charity boards on a store counter? How is it any different?

 

[Carlisle Blues]

I do not agree with this phenomena being exclusively "younger generation" driven.

Actually this happens with every socio econimic class. Whether it public or private sector. Professional or blue collar, tradesman or craftsman. The idea of "getting something for nothing" is an equal opportunity, non discriminating character flaw.

It does detract from the event.

Yes it did happen in the good old days of the vintage era lol

However, in my area of expertise many seek people this designation

 

[Tomasso]

Gatecrashing is as old as time, attempted by rich and poor, male and female, young and old.

 

[Foofoogal]

One time we went to the wrong wedding by accident. Ours was upstairs and this one down. I think I liked the wrong one more. they looked like they were having so much fun. I was so bummed when I figured out we had to go to other one. I could hear the other party very well. lol

people should not crash parties. Good way to get hit or something.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Gatecrashing is as old as time, attempted by rich and poor, male and female, young and old.

Quite so. And it's always deserved to be met with a firm hand to the collar and a swift kick in the pants.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Quite so. And it's always deserved to be met with a firm hand to the collar and a swift kick in the pants.

I guess I just wonder why its so prevalent in a group that 'supposedly' cares about being refined and mannerly......

Not to mention the time that people have to spend erm 'escorting' people back out and missing parts of the event themselves.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

I once accidentally gatecrashed a Christmas party. It was being held in the same hotel as our office Christmas party, and a colleague and I walked in, took a glass of champagne off the waiter and stood there for about 3 minutes looking around before we realised we didn't know a single soul! We apologised and tried to give the glasses back, but they let us keep them, which was nice as it was better than the 'champagne' at our party! lol

 

[Carlisle Blues]

* Main Entry: gate–crash·er
* Pronunciation: \ˈgāt-ˌkra-shər\
* Function: noun
* Date: 1921

: a person who enters, attends, or participates without ticket or invitation

— gate–crash verb

<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gate-crasher">gate-crasher</a>

 

[Miss Neecerie]

* Main Entry: gate–crash·er
* Pronunciation: \ˈgāt-ˌkra-shər\
* Function: noun
* Date: 1921

: a person who enters, attends, or participates without ticket or invitation

— gate–crash verb

<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gate-crasher">gate-crasher</a>

Ok...we know its happened since the dawn of time.....but just saying 'it happens'....

well so does shoplifting, which is -also- theft...do we shrug at that and say it happens?

If you saw a friend stealing, you would stop them....but how many of us even ponder stopping friends from sneaking in things?

 

[Feraud]

....but how many of us even ponder stopping friends from sneaking in things?

I am usually too preoccupied sneaking in my own booze to notice..

 

[Cricket]

As a reporter, I have seen a lot of this at events, and yes, usually fundraising events. What is even more shocking is when someone in charge asks the person or group to kindly leave, it is usually met with harshness from the offending party. It takes all I have not to come from behind my camera and notebook sometimes when the violators catch an attitude with the person in charge. Especially when they act as if they "have a right just like anyone else to be here."

In fact, I have overheard a couple who snuck into a benefit banquet for a child diagnosed with cancer who used the "I have rights" line. Oddly enough, that same couple rang the paper up the next morning saying that they were treated unfairly and kicked out of an event. Unknown to them, I knew the real story.

So frustrating and confusing why some people consider this behavior acceptable. Falling into an event on accident (which has happened to me) is excusable but some of these other incidents are too much.

 

[Senator Jack]

Guilty with extenuating circumstances. I used to crash a lot of parties/art openings/corp events thrown by snobs and then make a general nuisance of myself till someone said 'who the hell invited that guy.' I blame my idolization of the Marx Brothers and Heckle and Jeckle for this behavior.

I would never, however, crash legitimate fundraisers. That's just boorishness.

Regards,

Jack

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Worse: items of silverware tend to go missing at the end of fancy White House dinners.

.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

The same thing happened at one of the Queen's garden parties this year!

 

[Tomasso]

I used to crash a lot of parties/art openings/corp events thrown by snobs and then make a general nuisance of myself till someone said 'who the hell invited that guy.'

I've seen my share of you around and I just don't get the motivation. It's sorta like social graffiti.[huh]

 

[Senator Jack]

Exactly. :eusa_clap

 

[Carlisle Blues]

theft...do we shrug at that and say it happens?

If you saw a friend stealing, you would stop them....but how many of us even ponder stopping friends from sneaking in things?

This is not an easy question to answer. I do not have friends that steal; that I know of at least.

My experience has been after the fact...for roughly 15 years I was part of a loosely formed group that helped those of our profession who stole client funds and other types of acts that lead to suspension or eventual disbarment.

So this was after the fact....However after performing that task for a while I was able to see who would be more inclined to do so and I would intervene. It was all about reading people and looking for signs. Now it is second nature.

I no longer am involved with that duty. However, I can read people like a book and it has allowed me to act prophyactically in many matters.

 

[Trickeration]

I agree that the crashing seems to have increased. The events I've worked here have been mostly fundraisers. And at my last couple fo events, we had to make sure all entry points were guarded during the entire event.

I often see crashers showing up in the last half hour or so because there may not be someone at the door that late into the event. Some choose the classic "sneak in the back way" method. There's also those who offer to work the event, then disappear. It's sad that the same people who consider these events and venues so special want to cheat the events out of funds they need to continue.

What I don't think some crashers realize though, is what a small community this is. The organizers know who a lot of the "regulars" are and watch for them.

In the end, I think it hurts the events. It creates ugliness at the event, leads to trash-talking of organizers, and can even lead to the demise of events when the profit is too small for the amount of time and money put into it.

 

[Miss Sis]

You get plenty of people who want to get into events for nothing who claim they are doing a service to the event organisers when they are adding no value at all.

Specifically you get this an awful lot at WW2 railway events in England. The railway often does this as a fundraiser to keep the steam railways open, so letting about a million people who call themselves 're-enactors' in who really aren't knowledgeable or actually showing the public anything, but are taking up seats for paying members of the public is tantamount to a loss for them. [huh]

If I'm asked to do an event like this, it's not a jolly ride up and down. It's setting up a scenario and sticking to where I've said I'll be, doing what I'm supposed to do and interacting with the public - the paying public.

And yes, the people involved are often rude and bolshy when confronted. I hope it's from a sense of shame, but I doubt it.