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Difficulty: 705-805 Level,   Non-Math Related,               
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Re: Metro Ballet Company presents high-quality productions of traditional [#permalink]
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sameerm22
Please explain why "Obtain public funding to double the spending on stage productions without increasing ticket prices" is not the right choice for "Decrease Expenses".

I understand that although the company has been spending money since past decade in stage productions (evident from the last statement), it is still not making profits (first two lines). However, it is not clear whether the company has concluded this investment as a bad strategy or good strategy. It feels like that correct answer choice given assumes that the company has already assumed that this investment over past decade is a bad strategy and thus obtaining public funding would still increase expenses. However, we do not that... the company has decided this to be a bad strategy. It could still be a good strategy, and the company may still want to that out... in doing so, obtaining public funding would be effective to reduce expenses.

Hello, the reason why I reckon the option you are speaking about to be an incorrect answer is because raising funding has inherent costs attached to it. I may be bringing my investment banking knowledge into this but if you were to raise equity funding, the cost of the capital raise itself needs to be considered. If you were to raise debt funding then the cost of the capital raise plus the interest expense on the debt also needs to be considered.

Beyond this, I think it is cheaper to return spending to previous levels than it is to raise funding especially because the argument has clearly told us that the new stage productions have done little to increase attendance at the concerts and thus has contributed little to revenues.
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Re: Metro Ballet Company presents high-quality productions of traditional [#permalink]
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Official Explanation

This requires consideration of all the strategy options to determine which one would lead most directly to decreasing expenses for Metro Ballet’s classical ballet productions. Obtaining public funding to double the spending on stage productions without increasing ticket prices would lead to an increase in expenses for ballet productions, although those expenses should be offset by public funding. If expanding productions to include modern, folk, and tap dance traditions had the effect of decreasing expenses associated with ballet, that effect would be indirect. Offering discounts to reward people who have attended the greatest number of performances would likely reduce revenue and therefore increase expenses associated with ballet productions. Mounting an advertising campaign emphasizing the affordability and excitement of the ballet’s spectacular productions should increase expenses in the short term, although it may lead to increased revenue in the long term. Only the strategy of returning spending on productions to the level of several years ago has the immediate effect of decreasing expenses associated with classical ballet productions.

The correct answer is Return spending on productions to levels of several years ago.

It is again necessary to consider all the options. It is unclear how the strategy of doubling spending on stage productions without raising ticket prices would address the problem of attracting a larger audience, unless the process of obtaining public funding entailed an advertising campaign. Since the current audience has become accustomed to lavish productions, a reduction in spending on ballet productions might have the effect of actually reducing that audience. Expanding productions to include different dance traditions might attract a larger audience, but only if these traditions appeal to people not currently attending Metro Ballet, and only if they are made aware of the new productions. Since most people in the current audience have already been attending Metro Ballet productions for a number of years, offering discounts to those who have already attended a great number of performances may reinforce their loyalty, but is unlikely to attract people who haven’t previously attended. An advertising campaign aimed at addressing the reasons why area residents surveyed don’t currently attend, however, would constitute the most direct attempt to increase audience size among the options listed.

The correct answer is Mount a local advertising campaign emphasizing the affordability and excitement of Metro Ballet’s spectacular stage productions.
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Re: Metro Ballet Company presents high-quality productions of traditional [#permalink]
 
sameerm22
Please explain why "Obtain public funding to double the spending on stage productions without increasing ticket prices" is not the right choice for "Decrease Expenses".

I understand that although the company has been spending money since past decade in stage productions (evident from the last statement), it is still not making profits (first two lines). However, it is not clear whether the company has concluded this investment as a bad strategy or good strategy. It feels like that correct answer choice given assumes that the company has already assumed that this investment over past decade is a bad strategy and thus obtaining public funding would still increase expenses. However, we do not that... the company has decided this to be a bad strategy. It could still be a good strategy, and the company may still want to that out... in doing so, obtaining public funding would be effective to reduce expenses.
­
According to the Official GMAT answer explanation, "Obtaining public funding to double the spending on stage productions without increasing ticket prices (option A) would lead to an increase in expenses for ballet productions, although those expenses should be offset by public funding." 

Hope this help.  
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Re: Metro Ballet Company presents high-quality productions of traditional [#permalink]
­Obtain public funding to double the spending on stage productions without increasing ticket prices - This would increase the expenses. No. 

Return spending on productions to levels of several years ago - yes. They have been increasing their investment in stage performances and lowering the number of tickets, which explains the lower profits. So, moving back to lower spending would reduce the expenses. 

Expand productions to include modern, folk, and tap dance traditions - Yes, this is a strategy, but the question is about expanding " increasing audience size for Metro Ballet's classical ballet productions. This is basically out of scope. 

Offer special discounts to reward people who have attended the greatest number of performances - No. 

Mount a local advertising campaign emphasizing the affordability and excitement of Metro Ballet's spectacular stage productions­ - yes. Because most locals imagine that the performances are boring and tickets too expensive
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Metro Ballet Company presents high-quality productions of traditional [#permalink]
Some excepts explaining the choices.

Situation 1: General surveys of area residents indicate, however, that very few are aware of Metro Ballet productions

Conclusion 1: Ballet has not been properly advertised.

Situation 2: most imagine that the performances are boring and the tickets too expensive
Conclusion2: It would be difficult to get public funding, since people find the production boring anyway.

Fact 1: Annual audience surveys indicate that a majority of those who attend Metro Ballet productions consistently enjoy the performances and prefer classical ballet to other forms of dance

A. Obtain public funding to double the spending on stage productions without increasing ticket prices - No (conclusion 2 )
B. Return spending on productions to levels of several years ago. - Yes (directly affects spending)
C. Expand productions to include modern, folk, and tap dance traditions. - No (irrelevant without advertising. Waste of resources due to Fact 1)
D. Offer special discounts to reward people who have attended the greatest number of performances. No (does not support bringing in new audience, no effect on existing audience, since they have been enjoying the show for years anyway)
E. Mount a local advertising campaign emphasizing the affordability and excitement of Metro Ballet's spectacular stage productions­. Yes (conclusion 1).­
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Metro Ballet Company presents high-quality productions of traditional [#permalink]
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