TED Marr has hit out at the no-shows which saw attendance for the White Nights events slip from an earlier estimate of 800 to a final tally of 350. In a rare show of pique, Marr's message in the White Nights programme showed irritation with those who signed up, paying US$100 (HK$780) as deposit, and then did not follow through. Although he said he was confident his Bela Vista Ball company would break even on the week's extravaganza, the lower turnout has put unwanted pressure on the company, which paid tens of thousands of US dollars for the use of St Peterburg's most historic venues - including the Taurida, Catherine and Yusopov palaces - and pay for performers, including the St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, and cabaret acts flown in from Australia. Also brought in were top Parisian caterers Potel et Chabot to look after the week's functions. In the programme, Marr talked of a ''high point'' when 800 signed on, followed by the lows, when media reports of political chaos in Russia seemed to put people off. ''It is sad to know we will this year be missing some of our good friends who were so influenced by these tabloid beat-ups they did not take up the places they had reserved,'' his message said curtly. Marr also suggested to P.S. there may be other reasons. ''If that [politics] is an excuse because they couldn't afford to come, then they are stupid and dishonest.'' But most guests have expressed relief the final number was a more comfortable 350, while Marr and his fellow committee members have been more relaxed all week, hardly looking like they face financial problems. One member said the US$40,000 gleaned from the non-refundable deposits would help see them through. At US$500 a head for the two core events of last night's ball and Friday's garden party at the Catherine Palace, there is no shortage of cash. Marr's announcement of next year's venue in Zimbabwe means the company is ploughing on in the search for the ultimate party. Perhaps more concerned at the drop in numbers was British travel firm Steppes East, which arranged all the hotels, travel and tours for the event. It made the arrangements on the basis of 800 visitors, and the halving of that figure means a lot less return. ''One problem is, when you tell the hotels less people are coming, they want to put the room prices up, while the ball guests have already booked at the previous rate,'' a company staffer said. The firm, whose on-the-ground Russian staff also helped arrange entertainment and book venues, was also faced with the kind of problems only a monthly inflation rate of 30 per cent could bring. ''The price of fuel just tripled today,'' stoic Steppes East managing director Nick Laing said on Thursday. ''My bus drivers will be charging a lot more tomorrow.'' The firm, which has been specialising in Russian tours for four years, still had no shortage of custom from the 350 who did descend on St Petersburg. One particularly intrepid and wealthy guest from Australia paid US$8,000 through Steppes East to ride ina MiG jet fighter. Proof that cash can buy what even glasnost never allowed.