Editorial: Just don’t make people guess
Published 9:01 am Monday, February 21, 2011
Community theater in Albert Lea is doing fine. Albert Lea Community Theatre is a solid, time-tested organization with a lot of community backing.
The real problem seems to be how the organization handled telling the public that the first weekend of “The Gin Game” was canceled and then telling the public the play was canceled altogether.
At each step, no one wanted to divulge the full situation of what was going on. Terms like “unfortunate circumstances” were given.
By today, people know more, either through the Tribune reporter asking further questions or through a letter in Sunday’s paper from Paul Cooper. But two times, ACT made people guess.
Members of ACT speaking to a Tribune reporter (thus, the public) a couple of times were afraid to say exactly what was happening, even though it turned out the people affected were perfectly OK with the public knowing. Glen Parsons was fine with the readers knowing he had a death in the family, and Cooper was fine with the readers knowing he quit the play because of a health condition.
The lesson learned is valuable for other groups who hold events. Simply telling the public the whole truth goes a long way toward reducing speculation. They don’t have to guess at what is going on. When people guess, they have to consider scenarios, and that includes the worst-case scenario.
Don’t let that even enter their minds.
In fact, a Tribune reporter had to call ACT after first hearing about the cancellation through the grapevine, rather than ACT calling the Tribune to get the facts in front of the public as soon as possible.
If ACT had a quick huddle, asked the people affected if they were fine with telling the public about the death and illness, then swiftly called a reporter to say what was happening, no rumors would have spread, no speculations would have flown and no accusations of problems would have risen. Frankly, we think everyone would have given ACT their sympathy.
So consider it a small road bump. It happens to all organizations, and they learn from it.
The fact remains that Albert Lea Community Theatre produces some great local performances by local residents. It’s a valued asset, and one we urge ticket holders to continue to support.