PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ATTENDANCE SURVEY

WHO STAYS AWAY

Although residents can be justly proud of the spectacular, new Performing Arts Center, a 59% majority reports it has not passed through its doors. Another 14% made it once, and 27% twice or more. So who’s finding it easy to stay away? At least two-thirds of the following: men, younger people, those at the lower end of the education and income scales, north county residents, those for whom the performing arts are not important and who are not satisfied with cultural events in Orange County, folks who prefer pop music to high culture events or Broadway plays, and, most obviously, people who are not aware of what goes on or who are, simply, not interested.

This question was asked: “In the last year, how many times have you attended the Orange County Performing Arts Center?” Here are the results:

More than Once Once Never TOTAL 27 % 14 % 59 % SEX Men 22 13 65 Women 32 16 52 AGE 18-34 22 14 64 35-54 32 13 55 55 and older 30 17 53 EDUCATION College graduate 34 15 51 Some college 25 14 61 High school 16 14 70 REGION ** North 23 13 64 South 40 16 44 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $50,000 and more 30 16 54 $35,000-$49,999 30 13 57 Less than $35,000 20 15 65 DIDN’T ATTEND ARTS CENTER MORE OFTEN BECAUSE Too expensive 38 20 42 No time 31 16 53 Not interested 13 6 81 Too formal 25 25 50 Not aware 21 10 69 IMPORTANCE OF ARTS IN LIFE Very important 46 16 38 Somewhat important 28 16 56 Not important 5 8 87 SATISFACTION WITH CULTURAL CLIMATE Very satisfied 41 14 45 Somewhat satisfied 27 18 55 Not satisfied 21 7 72 MOST INTERESTED IN High culture *** 43 14 43 Broadway plays 29 16 55 Pop music 13 16 71

TIME CONSTRAINTS HINDER ARTS CENTER

What keeps county residents from attending the Performing Arts Center more often than they do? Time constraints are the biggest reason, cited by nearly half. Overpriced tickets, unawareness of Center offerings and a simple lack of interest are each cited by nearly identical proportions.

Though lack of time is the main reason cited by almost all groups, people who did not attend the Center during the last year peg lack of interest and unawareness more often than those who attended at least once. And among those who did go at least once, one person in four found the ticket price a deterrent. Prices, of course, also keep low-income people away.

This question was asked: “What is the main reason you did not go to more Arts Center performances?” Here are the results:

No Too Not Not Too Time Expensive Aware Interested Formal TOTAL 46 % 18 % 18 % 17 % 1 % SEX Men 42 14 19 23 2 Women 48 22 17 12 1 AGE 18-34 41 16 25 17 1 35-54 40 20 14 23 3 55 and older 60 21 6 12 1 EDUCATION College graduate 47 19 16 16 2 Some college 44 19 20 16 1 High school 42 15 18 23 2 REGION ** North 43 17 19 19 2 South 53 21 13 13 * ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $50,000 and more 44 14 21 20 1 $35,000-$49,999 50 15 15 20 * Less than $35,000 40 24 19 14 3 IMPORTANCE OF ARTS IN LIFE Very important 52 23 16 8 1 Somewhat important 47 20 21 11 1 Not important 34 9 11 43 3 SATISFACTION WITH CULTURAL CLIMATE Very satisfied 50 21 13 14 2 Somewhat satisfied 45 18 20 16 1 Not satisfied 33 19 19 26 3 MOST INTERESTED IN High culture *** 51 23 19 6 1 Broadway plays 48 21 17 11 3 Pop music 35 14 23 28 * ATTENDED ARTS CENTER LAST YEAR More than once 52 25 14 8 1 Once 51 26 13 8 2 Never 41 13 21 24 1

* Less than 1% ** Dividing line is the Costa Mesa Freeway (55) *** Classical music, opera, dance Source: Times Orange County Poll by Mark Baldassare