Well it's Friday, meaning that yesterday was "First Thursday". That's the day when most museums are free for at least some portion of their day, if not all of it. The Burke, for example, is open extended hours until 8pm and is free all day. We had over 1,000 people visit, and it was a total nuthouse. Free days bring out a different sort of people, I'm not sure what it is. The people seem to expect more - despite the fact that they are getting in for nothing. They want your attention right away, expect tours or demonstrations to be going on, and are relatively short tempered. It's frustrating!
At the conference I recently attended, someone spoke about how people seem to value museum or other arts & entertainment experiences more when they pay for it rather than get in for free. I guess in our minds, free = cheap & low quality? and when you pay, your expectations are higher and you are more satisfied and fulfilled by your experience? I don't know - it's a mystery to me! But I definitely see it every First Thursday.
If I don't work First Thursdays during the school year, I am going to try to hit up the EMP, which features free admission and live music 5-8pm, or SAM, which includes access to all exhibits.
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