To all ------

These calls from this number (or any non-official SF Opera, SF Symphony, etc. phone number) are made on behalf of the San Francisco Opera ... but they are NOT made BY the SF Opera.  Rather, those calls are made by independent telemarketing /fundraising companies who are contracted by SF Opera (or SF Symphony, or SF Ballet, or whoever) to do this.  And they run their operations pretty much autonomously.  That's why our complaints don't accomplish anything.  We'd have to complain directly to the telemarketing company itself, at their San Francisco offices (which is usually NOT located at the Opera House, or Davies Symphony Hall, or wherever).  Probably the way to go about this is, first, to contact the Director of Marketing (or whatever), by looking up the staff /administration on the SF Opera website in the Contact page, and speak or email that person personally and directly.  Hope this helps even a little bit ... .

They call me at work (I don't have my own phone so it's a switchboard).  I don't like that--it's embarrassing and time-consuming for my colleagues to have to field these calls.  I don't recall giving them my work phone number.

They call all the time, various times of the day. Never leave a message. And the times I do happen to pick up, no one is ever on the line. I will never buy tickets for their shows again let alone donate a single cent with their rudeness. All they know is how to really piss people off.

I recommend that you complain about them on Twitter and on their Facebook page where their fans can see. Their Twitter handle is @SFOpera.  I got fed up with their calls and began to wage a war of being obnoxious about them were everyone can see.  I quickly got an apology by tweet, and a promise that I had been removed from their list.  I didn't *ask* them to take me off their list, I just complained about them spamming me, wasting their resources, being rude and ignorant, etc.  They initated the response. Try it.

Still receiving calls from SF Opera, now on my cell phone as well as land line, which is pretty amazing as I didn't even have this cell phone number way back when I actually went to a performance.  Anyway, I decided to complain long, loud and rudely about them on Twitter. Within 5 minutes I had a Tweet back from them apologizing and saying they'd take me off their list.  I guess I'll have to wait and see if it works.  Their Twitter handle is @SFOpera. I also complained to them at the same time on their Facebook page, where their fans would be able to see it.  I have discovered with other problems that complaining long and loud on Twitter and Facebook actually gets results. When I had trouble with my car, and the company were being jerks, I complained frequently about them on Twitter overe a couple of days and was eventually given a two year extended warranty.  So try complaining to @SFOpera direct!

Please take me off your call list.

I had a call on my cell phone. Yet again I asked them to take me off their list, as I have done every time they've called.  I saw one performance at the SF Opera three years ago, and they've been hounding me ever since.  I don't like opera!

SF Opera is being poorly managed, a lot of their salaries and artists fees are out of control, and the company under David Gockley is not being sufficiently daring artistically, relying on old, traditional and stupidly tiresome repertoire it thinks will bring in the crowds but ultimately doesn't. So it resorts to annoying us with telemarketing, thinking this will solve their problems. I'll start subscribing again when I see a good season, meanwhile, there was a total of 3 productions I felt I compelled to attend in the past 2 season. The only thing I'm going to see this summer is Nixon in China. And I was a subscriber from 92-2007.

SF Opera is calling at least once a day. It's incredibly annoying. Next time they call I just might answer and tell them off ... using strong language.

It's really really putting me off from ever going to SF Opera again. Too bad, because I like it. But I don't want to support this kind of behavior.

San Francisco Opera Association.
www.sfopera.com

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
301 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 861-4008 - press 4 for Communications & Sales.

The SF Opera is ridiculously persistent.  I took my children to the opera there just once, to see what they would think of the experience.  They disliked it.  Personally I hate opera with a passion.  I am never ever going again - load of pretentious twaddle - and I said as much to the SF Opera person last time they called.  I asked them to take me off their list because they were totally wasting their time calling me.  Nevertheless they continue to call.  The person who commented above that we should all be making donations to the opera to keep it going might want to ask why they are wasting their money contacting people who have no interest whatsoever in the organization or the art form.  Hardly effective fundraising!

It's just a mass calling cam"PAIN" to promote the local opera

They called me too!!  And I'm on the east coast too! Although I have been to the opera.

Yeah they call me every once in a while.. usually they just try to push me to buy tickets for the SF opera house, but last time they wanted donation.. he was very pushy and wanted 75 dollars. I told him to call back the next day and he called but I didn't answer and he didn't leave a message.
I like the opera, but I'm sorry.. If I have to donate money, I would choose someone that needs them a little bit more than the opera of San Francisco.. and the list is long.

They called me and hung up, didn't leave a msg.  Glad to know who it was.

ive gotten that call at least a dozen times these past 2 months.

Same number. Didn't answer. Didn't leave a message.

It was once a SF city hall number (I believe) but is now one of the numbers used by SF Opera solititors. I happen to be a SF Opera season ticket holder (and donor) but the caller from this number knows nothing about me except that he has my number on his list, and wants my money for something. Forget it!

The SF Symphony is even worse.

didn't pick up but based on past comments, i want to add that i went to the SF opera in the ballpark and might have given them my number for the ticket.  it'll be more interesting if they sang the solicitation to you

Have gotten this call a number of times- I live on the east coast so they are calling me at all hours of the evening.  I answered once, it was the sf opera house-I have told them to take me off their list and they still call!

Just got this call (03/23/11 PDT 6:58pm)
They asked if I am xyz. When I asked who's calling they pretended not to hear me.
After several inquires who's calling they said they call back later. They never indnetified themselves!!
I am on a "do not call list".

SF Opera calls even though I asked them before to remove my number from their list

Actually, I've done that multiple times and they keep calling. Asking to be taken off the list does not stop these fools from calling.  Last time i'll ever go to the opera, because of the relentless calling campaigns after you go.

SF Opera is a nonprofit organization and revenue from ticket sales only covers 40% of the cost of tickets. If you compare SF Opera to similar organizations in other cities, you will find that SF Opera tickets are much more affordable. As a result, opera is accessible to a much wider audience in the Bay Area. The only way to maintain this is through individual donations from those who enjoy the opera and can afford to support it.

If you want to compensate the opera for the value of your experience you should donate at least as much as you are able to pay for tickets. I am sick of people who buy $300 tickets and claim they have no money to donate. You would do better to buy a $150 ticket and donate $150. Buying an opera ticket is not a "donation" in itself and does not even cover the cost of your experience. Think about how difficult it is for a company like SFO to bring such outstanding talent all the way out to the West Coast, and to attract such talent by setting a high bar of artistic excellence. Those who can afford to donate but do not do so are taking advantage of a system designed to keep opera accessible to the general public.

If you want them to stop calling you, simply answer one time and say, "Please take me off your list." If, on the other hand, you are somebody who enjoys the opera, it might behoove you to actually consider their arguments.

It's true that many of us find the calls annoying, including myself, but if the opera were getting donations in other ways, they would not need to call patrons. If you truly want the opera to stop calling you in the long run, support them. And encourage others to do so.

Someone one keeps calling me from this number. I don't live in (415). I have been to SF Opera once a couple years ago. They always call at a time when I'm not able to answer.

These guys are so annoying between them and the Symphony I don't know who is worse. They call and if you pick up they pressure you and guilt trip you about "we won't be able to provide programs" I thought thats why you pay to go to the symphony and the opera- or did I miss the point of a free market society?

I have asked them to remove my name and number from their call list, and yet they repeatedly call me back. It's getting annoying. It is the San Francisco Opera wanting to sell season tickets and get donations. I understand the arts are struggling even more now in this economy, but I do not wish to contribute to pushy companies who do not respect my wished for them to not call me. I already get their season info mailed to my house. I don't need a pushy phone call to!

They call incessantly and at all hours, even though I've requested they not call me. It's enough to never want to go to the SF Opera again.

i've gotten called twice.  i went to opera in the ballpark this summer too.  i live in virginia.

It's the SF Opera - and I can't seem to shake them.  Calls at all hours - on my work phone, cell and home phones.  Pushy on donation and re-subscribe.  I love the opera, but these are hard times.  And the opera is an easy luxury to let go.  Told callers several times to stop calling...and the calls keep coming.  Like others said, they don't even have the courtesy to leave a message.