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High School Homecomings Dance To Beat Of Economy

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Jefferson High seniors Lis Lay, left, and Nicole Miller decorate the common area of the school for the homecoming dance.

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By MARILYN BROWN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2008

Updated: 10/15/2008 12:33 am

TAMPA - The days of decorating the high school gym for homecoming may be coming back, thanks to the economy.

Jefferson High swapped last year's $29,400 bash at Raymond James Stadium for a $17,500 dance in its student-decorated cafeteria last Saturday, cutting the $45 ticket price in half.

Instead of spending $40,000 for a ballroom and all the trimmings at Embassy Suites like it did last year, Freedom High is headed to an exhibit area at Tampa's Museum of Science & Industry for $14,901, and has rented the decorations and bought refreshments.

"Every school is going to start doing it," predicted Travis Sedler, a 2007 Jefferson grad who returned to help decorate his alma mater Friday. "Tickets were getting too expensive. Music, food - that's all they care about. And if their friends show up."

Over the years, the glitz of homecoming dances had come to mirror the glamour and expense of proms reserved for upperclassmen. Rented ballrooms, caterers, and limousines and formal attire became standard fare.

Then the economy took a dive. Last year, some schools decided it was just too much.

"We started realizing the locations were too expensive," said Jamie Weber, Jefferson's student government president. And although students said they wouldn't come if the dance was at the school, nearly 1,000 tickets were sold this year, compared with about 800 last year.

"It's just like watching 'Madagascar,'" 14-year-old Torey Blount said of the movie. The decorations transformed the cafeteria into a jungle with green plastic "walls" dropped over walls doors, handmade paper vines and flowers, paper-covered tables and rented backdrops, stuffed animals and rock formations.

The Do-It-Yourself Dance

Ticket sales pay for the homecoming dance - the reason Hillsborough County School Board members recently questioned whether expensive ticket prices are excluding some students, especially in today's economy.

One school has made decorating for the homecoming dance an art while making money - even with $15 tickets.

Brandon High started planning this Friday night's dance last spring. Student government members have labored for months. Their $10,000 budget buys masses of paper, glue and glitter, a disc jockey and refreshments - with several thousand dollars left each year to buy big items such as a marquee for the school.

"It's what we're known for," said Elisa Cabrera, a senior and a vice president of student government who has worked on the dance for four years. "It's totally worth it to see everyone saying, 'Oh, man - this is the school. I can't believe it.'"

"It's a big deal but not a big cost," said Principal Leslie Granich. "It saves money, but it's also because it's tradition."

Brandon has had the do-it-yourself dance for decades. The school is particularly suited because it has a main hallway, large common area and a second hallway leading into the cafeteria that can all be decorated.

Last year's "Wizard of Oz" theme found a sepia-toned main hallway complete with farmhouse, the wicked witch on her bicycle and a tornado. Real cornstalks surrounding a costumed scarecrow, munchkins' houses and a hot-air balloon were in the common area where the yellow brick road started. A dark hallway with flying monkeys overhead led guests to the Emerald City and a hot-air balloon in the cafeteria for the dance.

The project provides lessons in leadership, time management, cooperation and planning, students said.

"If it doesn't get done, it falls on us," said Stephanie Sivils, a junior. "It's not at all about instant gratification."

Events At Schools Have Benefits

What works at Brandon is not possible at all schools because of space, points out Jamie Ferrario, a teacher who is the student government sponsor at Freedom High, where the cafeteria holds about 500 students. Gyms are no longer used because of high-heel damage, but some students are suggesting returning to sock hops because many girls take their shoes off anyway.

Freedom cut costs by renting a less-expensive venue this year, but is spending nearly $10,000 renting camel statues, veiled tents and backdrops to set an Arabian nights theme. A company sets it up. It's easy and saves money, Ferrario said.

"We kind of got hosed last year because of the price," said Mandi Terrell, student body president. Lowering tickets from $50 to $40 made for a sell-out of 850 tickets, Ferrario said.

"Students like to get dressed up and go someplace other than school," Terrell said. "They say it's not as eventful because it's at your school."

Some Jefferson students thought that way before this year's homecoming, but many said Saturday night was the best homecoming dance they had seen.

"More can come; it's in the neighborhood," said Tyheem Tanner, a senior. "It's better - you feel comfortable in the place."

Student government leaders from all Hillsborough high schools will be asked to talk to fellow students about such options and report back at their next school district student government meeting, on Nov. 6, said Lewis Brinson, the district's assistant superintendent for administration.

"This is driven by the students," Brinson said. "They are starting to make plans for the upcoming year."

To see some before-and-after pictures of the transformation at Brandon High in 2007 go to: Brandon.mysdhc.org/teacher/0291buchanan/homecoming.

The Homecoming Dance Bill

Ticket Prices

In addition, students said they spend $20 to $450 for a dress if they don't borrow, $20 to $91 for shoes, $20 to $40 if they get makeup done, $40 to $100 for hair, $25 for a corsage, $15 for a boutonniere, $100 for a tux, and $100 for a limo rental with friends for five hours. Dinner is $20 to $60.

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069.

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