The theme for Wolfson Ball was the Titanic, as I discussed previously in my post about possible poses. Nobody requested either, despite the ball committee thoughtfully providing a couple of plastic replica “Coeur de la mer”s. As is typical with most Oxford college balls, the theme is only loosely associated with the event and very few guests dress in any way even remotely associated with the theme. The chap above has to take the prize for the best themed outfit I saw on the night. If he comments on this post in the next week I’ll send him a free 6×4 of his choice from the ball photos as a prize. Hmmm now I have to think of some ingenious way to confirm his identity….
Group photos at college balls tend to make me mildly stressed. Some of the attendees may have had one or two drinks and find standing up tricky. More so, when there is a group of them. Things tend to get broken. At the 2007 ball, a backdrop got ripped and a light smashed (although the light had nothing to do with the guests 😮 ). As always we tried to limit groups to 6 or less people, and we were pretty tight for space this time around too, so more than 6 was near impossible anyway. As always people tried to push the limits. When a group of about 15 turned up, I tried a new approach to dealing with the situation. I asked if any of them had £100 as a deposit against potential damage, hoping they would all sheepishly go away. One chap merrily piped up that he did and handed my five £20’s from his wallet. He didn’t seem short of cash after that either. I relaxed knowing that if they broke something I’d at least have £100 towards it. They paid more attention to what my assistant said when arranging them. It worked really well. If the chap with £100 in his wallet comments on this post in the next week and gives me the £100, I’ll send him a free 6×4 of his choice from the ball photos as a prize. I don’t think I need to worry about confirming his identity!