 |
|
 |
||||||
 |
||||||||
|
Frequently Asked Questions Q. What happened to the website? Why are these links broken? Why doesn't your email address work? A.The server on which the Masquerade Ball website and mailing lists are hosted suffered a serious crash on 26/12/06. We're currently working to restore from backups and get the site working again. In the menatime, email Helen at theoxfordgirl@googlemail.com with any questions and she'll make sure your query goes to the right place. The @masquerade-ball.org.uk addresses do NOT currently work. Q. I can't seem to find a space to enter my delivery address on the NoChex site. What shall I do? A.If your delivery address is the same as the billing address on the card you sent us, as it is in most cases, we will already have your address and deliver tickets to your billing address. If for some reason you cannot receive post at your billing address, then please send us your delivery address separately and we'll ensure your tickets go to the correct address. Q. How do I get to the Ball? A.The Randolph Hotel is situated in central Oxford, about 10 minutes' walk from the train station. Its address is: MacDonald Randolph Hotel, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LN. The Randolph Hotel's own website http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/randolph contains a map and some directions from Heathrow, and from the train station, but you could also use http://www.streetmap.co.uk for additional information. By car: You can get detailed directions from start to finish from these sites: http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp or http://www.rac.co.uk/web/routeplanner/. Just type in the postcode of the place you're leaving from and the postcode of your destination to get step by step instructions of how to get from one to the other. By train: Go to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk or http://www.thetrainline.com for train times and tickets. Accommodation: The Randolph is a fabulous place to stay, and it is a wonderful luxury to be able to leave the ball and float up to your hotel room at the end of the night, without having to worry about travelling home. The Randolph is offering special bed and breakfast rates for ballgoers, and believe me, it's worth it! However, if your budget won't stretch that far, but you want to stay in Oxford, the following links may help you find a place to stay: http://www.ukhotelnet.com/Oxford/hotels.htm or http://www.somewheretogo.co.uk/oxford.html Q. Why are the tickets more expensive this year? A.Last year tickets were £17; this year they're £20. This will allow us to cover actually paying the DJ, performers and other major contributors (but not the organisers!) and some extra goodies for you on the night. We're still a not-for-profit organisation, so every penny goes into making your Ball the best it can be. Q. Where is the ball being held? A.The ball is being held in the ballroom of the Randolph Hotel. Directions can be found on the Ball page. Alternatively, a map of the local area can be found at streetmap.co.uk. Q. What sort of security will be present at the ball? A.The Randolph Hotel will be providing security for the event; in addition, the Organisers will be present throughout the evening to ensure a trouble-free Masquerade. Q. I can't order tickets from the site! What's going wrong? A.Any concerns about online ordering should be addressed to the Organisers, at organisers@masquerade-ball.org.uk. Q. But what should I wear?! A.Suitable wear for the Dark Masquerade includes Traditional Gothic and formal evening wear and historical formal wear. Good corsetry and traditional Gothic costumes are available from several shops and websites, including: Berkswell Direct, which sells ballgowns for all sizes; onenightstand.co.uk, which provides ballgowns for hire in London; Ashes Clothing, for affordable, custom-made clothing with a gothic flavour; and Badger Historic Costumes, who provide period and historical costumes for men. For those of a demonic persuasian, check out: State of Anchovy's Horns. Please bear in mind that the management can and will refuse entry on grounds of unsuitable dress. The dress code is detailed on the Ball page, here. Q. Do I need to bring my ticket with me? A.Yes, and a mask. Nobody will be permitted into the ball without a ticket and a mask - it doesn't have to be elaborate, and a simple domino will do, but please do try to make some effort. Q. What should I do if I lose my ticket? A.If you lose your ticket, alert us at organisers@masquerade-ball.org.uk immediately, giving your name and ticket number if you have written it down; we can then ensure that replacement tickets are sent out to you as soon as possible. However, if you lose your tickets on the night of the ball, we will unfortunately be unable to provide more tickets, and you must purchase more if there are any remaining. Q. Are the organisers making a profit from this? A.No; the Masquerade Ball is completely not-for-profit. Any extra funds we get after covering the cost of the venue will go into decorations, food, and maybe a surprise or two. Q. Where can I get masks? A.Many costume and party shops will sell simple masquerade masks; however, if you're after something a bit spectacular, you can try: http://www.goblinart.com/ - Designers of masks, some inspired by the film Labyrinth. http://www.newmoon.uk.com/ritual/masks.htm - Unusual and interesting leather masks. http://www.venicemaskshop.com/ - Authentic masquerade masks. Eyefeather.com, Angel-Mask.com, FantasyGuilde.com and MasksbyMorgan.com - well-recommended mask makers. Our own organiser Dom also has a sideline in custom-made Venetian masks. Prices vary, and he is happy to work on a commission basis; he's contactable at http://www.firecat-masquerade.com. Q. Is the Scriptum discount for ticket holders happening again this year? A.Yes! For locals or those willing to travel to Oxford, Scriptum, a beautiful calligraphy shop which has a sideline in spectacular Masquerade masks of all shapes and sizes, has generously offered us a 10% discount on their masks for ballgoers. Simply show your Masquerade Ball ticket when you make your purchase, and they'll apply the discount. The masks there are fabulous (and you might be seeing their work on at least one of the Organisers...), so I heartily recommend you take advantage of this offer! Their new premises are on Turl Street (at the High Street end) and their telephone number is +44 (0)1865-200042. Q. Why do you need my name and address when I order tickets? A.We keep a record of your name and address so that, if you lose your ticket, we can confirm your details and send out replacement tickets to you. We store your details securely, and nobody except members of the Masquerade Ball organisation has access to them. Q. I've bought a ticket but I've now discovered I can't attend the Ball. Can I get a refund? A.This year we will not be accepting ticket cancellations, as it presented a number of logistical problems at the last Masquerade Ball. However, the Livejournal "Dark Masquerade" Community at http://dark-masquerade.livejournal.com is an excellent place to discuss outfits, plan pre-ball meets, and trade unwanted tickets. If you have any further questions, please submit them to organisers@masquerade-ball.org.uk, and we will do our best to answer them as quickly as possible. |
