Concert vs. Prom Dilema

[Andromeda321]

Ok guys, I just learned today that I have a huge dilema in the conflict-of-interest department.
Today my violin teacher announced that my string group, who I am concertmaster for, is going to play in Heinz Hall on April 23rd. Heinz Hall is, for the record, the place where the Pittsburgh symphony plays and we would be playing before them. There's also a violin soloist who's going to be playing that night and, as concertmaster of our string group, I get a solo piece during the performance.
The problem is April 23rd is also the night of the junior/senior prom and I am currently a senior (didn't go last year so I'd enjoy it more this year). My violin teacher offered to reschedule our Heinz Hall appearence but I'm rather doubtful that it'll be feasible and I don't want everyone else to miss out on a great soloist. And I'd like to go to prom to hang out with my friends and it's our last dance etc.
A few facts/ scenarios thrown around-
The Date Factor- I don't have a boyfriend right now and go to an all-girls school, so there's no one who I know right now I would go with. I was planning on asking one of my brother's friends to go with me because it's not too much fun to go to one of our dances without a date. So in short there is no significant other that I have to take into account here.
One of my friends got the bright idea that I could go to another school's prom but that implies that someone else would ask me. Which I personally don't think is very likely.
Could I leave the concert early? In short, no. My violin teacher says it's be impolite, in bad taste, and I wouldn't want to miss the soloist anyway.
Could I somehow go to both? Theoretically, knowing what time the concert would end, I could show up for the last hour/ hour and a half of prom. I'd still have to shell out a lot of money for the normal ticket to get in which would come out to be what, fifty bucks for an hour or so! Which doesn't sound worth it to me...
Ok, those are all the points I can think of right now, I'll add something if I forgot it. I'm sure I'm going to be wrestling with this for at least a month (you need to buy prom tickets before spring break) but until then what do you all think?

[SciFi Chick]

What the ____? I know I clicked on concert. Oh well.

I think you should do the concert. Forget the prom. It's a silly tradition that won't be nearly as memorable as the concert. Especially since you don't have a boyfriend.

Of course, the best thing is to figure out what is most important to you and do that. Don't worry about everyone else so much.

[ToSeek]

I voted for the concert, but I'm a geek.

[mike alexander]

Concert!

Think of all those poor people who LOOK BACK at the Prom as the greatest night of their lives.

[Humphrey]

Concert.

But i am biased. i had a horrible time at my prom.
Plus in college you will have tons of chances to dance with guys and friends. How many concerts infront of huge audienced and a solo will you get?

[R.A.F.]

Especially since you don't have a boyfriend.

That decides it for me...if you had a boyfriend who might be disappointed, it would be different. But since you don't, I say play your heart out at that concert!

[Maksutov]

Concert.

Dance with that dashingly handsome violin that makes those deep, sexy tones when you stroke it with your tender bow. You two know each other so well, how could you be apart on a night like this? As a famous poet wrote, "...the bridge is love."

:wink:

[Humphrey]

Concert.

Dance with that dashingly handsome violin that makes those deep, sexy tones when you stroke it with your tender bow. You two know each other so well, how could you be apart on a night like this? As a famous poet wrote, "...the bridge is love."

:wink:

Bah. Hopeless romantic. We all know your one true secret love is the tuba. Its deep brass bass, round design, and smooth windflow just melts you on the inside.

[Maksutov]

Concert.

Dance with that dashingly handsome violin that makes those deep, sexy tones when you stroke it with your tender bow. You two know each other so well, how could you be apart on a night like this? As a famous poet wrote, "...the bridge is love."

:wink:

Bah. Hopeless romantic. We all know your one true secret love is the tuba. Its deep brass bass, round design, and smooth windflow just melts you on the inside.

Well, maybe it is, but it's probably too big for her to carry, plus perhaps she just doesn't have the right embouchure!

[NASA Fan]

Before I read the intro, when I thought that you were talking about attending a rock concert, I would have said go to the prom.

However now that I have read the paragraph, I agree with everyone else--go to the concert, even if you do not pursue music as a career, it is still something that will look impressive on a resume.

I have an alternate suggestion. I know that many students have their own "after prom party" or they get together at a nearby resturant for a late night dinner, is either of those likely to happen at your prom? Would your parents let you have a party at your house for your close friends?

OK, I am off to vote in the poll.

[Maksutov]

You know, Humphrey, if you want some really romantic music, I believe there's a company in California (or it might be Texas) that manufactures ocarinas out of tortoise shells.

BTW, when they run short, they substitute turtle shells, thinking no one will notice... #-o

Sort of gives terrapins a bad REP, eh? :roll:

[Humphrey]

Murderers!!!!!

But i bet we sound very good. :-)

The instrument i actually prefer is the piano. I enjoy its sound the most.

[Cougar]

That's not a concert. That's a performance! Hey, too bad about the prom, but you'd be missing so much more if you went to the prom and skipped the gig, which will most likely be so much more a memorable event. Congratulations! Can I get an mp3 of the performance? 8)

[Eroica]

Dilemma? What dilemma?

[Andromeda321]

Well guys, thanks for the thoughts shown so far, I'll keep them in mind. I just find it kind of interesting that you guys are so obviously leaning in one direction whereas most people I've talked to in the real world tend to suggest prom. Kinda interesting.
Still got another month, as I said before, to see if some deus ex machina will occur/ make a final descision. When I do I'll keep you guys posted.

[Humphrey]

I know one way to solve it. Go rent the movie "Carrie". You will defenitely make your decision afterwords. :-P

[Tito_Muerte]

Hey, I play the piano, do you guys want to jam? we could get some serious concerto action going on.



And yeah, Andromeda...go with the Concert..... you'll be all dressed up for it, so showing up to an after party from the prom will be a no problem.


And a guy in my grad class (our highschool doesn't have a prom, we do our graduation ceremony/after grad stuff all rolled into one night) skipped the entire grand thing to go to a dance recital....... (he was a rather effiminate dude......)

[constible]

I say concert. Even as an ex-musician, playing concerts with some solos was definitely more entertaining than my prom. I really didn't enjoy my prom; I thought it was over-rated actually. I still remember the solos I had in my band concert.

And every party in college will be a million times better than your prom.

Ok, maybe not a million, but in general college party > prom.

Unless you have some weird crazy prom like She's All That, but even then, I'd still say concert.

[Monoxide Child]

Coming from a fellow violinist, concert by far. But I've never been to a prom yet (give me two years).

:-({|= :-({|= :-({|= :-({|= :-({|= :-({|= :-({|=

Actually... I'm going to go play violin right now 8) .

[Maksutov]

I know one way to solve it. Go rent the movie "Carrie". You will defenitely make your decision afterwords. :-P

Excellent suggestion, H. Just wait until she gets to the part where almost everyone is turned into "Carrie-on"! She'll make a concerted effort to avoid that dance floor.

[Eroica]

my string group, who I am concertmaster for, is going to play in Heinz Hall on April 23rd.

It's Prokoviev's birthday!

:-({|= :-({|= :-({|= :-({|= :-({|=

[Maksutov]

my string group, who I am concertmaster for, is going to play in Heinz Hall on April 23rd.

It's Prokoviev's birthday!

:-({|= :-({|= :-({|= :-({|= :-({|=

Too bad Sergei couldn't have lived a little longer to have celebrated the demise of his chief tormentor, Stalin, who died the same day as Prokofiev, March 5, 1953.

Hey, how about that Second Symphony, the Scythian Suite, and of course the violin concertos and sonatas?

[Normandy6644]

I went to prom when I was a junior. It was ok. I always find that I enjoy the pre-dance dinner and post-dance party much more than the actual dance itself. not really sure why that it is. I say if you can find a way to do both, go for it. if not, the concert will probably be more memorable, based on my experiences with both prom and performing.

[Andromeda321]

Well I'm sure a lot of you guys will be happy to know this issue is RESOLVED. Basically the soloist is gonna play in the first half of the concert so I'm leaving at intermission and the place our prom is being held is only a block away. My teacher finally said I could do this after it ended up I am the only junior/ senior who's going to show up from our group. But you only get a chance like this once, right?
Other interesting note- my group is going to be written about by the music critic of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Which will be really cool but also kinda worries me because, as my violin teacher said, "he always writes the truth and I don't want him to stop now." Gotta practice a little more just in case...
Oh, and I found a date for prom and the guy doesn't mind coming for the concert part. So that works out rather well too!
Now all I need is a dress... more importantly I need someone to drag me off to get a dress... why does my sister go to college a few hundred miles away?!? #-o

[Brady Yoon]

*thinks* PROM!!!

[Mr. X]

I went to prom when I was a junior. It was ok. I always find that I enjoy the pre-dance dinner and post-dance party much more than the actual dance itself. not really sure why that it is. I say if you can find a way to do both, go for it. if not, the concert will probably be more memorable, based on my experiences with both prom and performing.

Pfft, I never went to any kind of prom.

And I consider myself to be a pretty normal individual too.

[Excelsior]

Since I dont know anything proms (it does not exist in my country) I recommend the concert.

[rigel]

Sounds like you may have it resolved. But please tell us later which you found to be better or more memorable.

[Betenoire]

Well I'm sure a lot of you guys will be happy to know this issue is RESOLVED. Basically the soloist is gonna play in the first half of the concert so I'm leaving at intermission and the place our prom is being held is only a block away. My teacher finally said I could do this after it ended up I am the only junior/ senior who's going to show up from our group. But you only get a chance like this once, right?
Other interesting note- my group is going to be written about by the music critic of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Which will be really cool but also kinda worries me because, as my violin teacher said, "he always writes the truth and I don't want him to stop now." Gotta practice a little more just in case...
Oh, and I found a date for prom and the guy doesn't mind coming for the concert part. So that works out rather well too!
Now all I need is a dress... more importantly I need someone to drag me off to get a dress... why does my sister go to college a few hundred miles away?!? #-o

Coolness! I voted for concert, but, you know, if I got to play my saxa-ma-phone (speaking of which, is stelmosfire reading this thread? Were you referring to the Ibert Concertino da Camera in the Word Association thread?) on stage (outside of high school), I'd be happy as a pig... um... in a pit of pig food stuff. Band geeks rule.

[StarStuff]

Having been a "music geek" all through high school and university (though I studied music at university, so at least all my classmates were also music geeks :wink: ), and a fellow violinist, of course I had to vote for the "concert" option. It just sounds like such a fabulous opportunity - Heinz Hall, and right before the Pittsburgh Symphony - WOW!! - and it was definitely too good to pass up. It'll be an experience you'll never forget.

I'm glad to see the problem has been resolved, so you can go ahead and enjoy both events. What a night that is going to be for you! Have fun, and let us know how it all works out.