Our latest event, Bearfoot in concert, was a rousing success! Many people have called or stopped by to say how much they they enjoyed the band, the music, and the whole event.
Some folks left comment cards, or stopped at intermission to ask that we do something about the unsupervised and noisy children at the event. This is a tricky issue:
1) We deliberately invited young people by having cheap tickets for them, and by reducing our general ticket price significantly to encourage families to come. Siblings probably participated in the camp that the band held prior to the concert, and the whole family no doubt wanted to come to hear the music.
2) We like to encourage young people to become patrons of the arts by making events and concerts that they can appreciate and enjoy.
On the other hand, part of becoming a patron of the arts is learning to treat the arts respectfully: Just as you don't touch the paintings in the gallery, so you don't touch the music that another person is making by making your own sounds while it is happening. So you learn to listen, and look, and pay attention. Hard for a little one!
So what is the best way to handle this? How do we, as the arts council hoping to create an experience that all our concert-goers enjoy, help the very youngest among us refrain from interfering with the enjoyment of the older more serious aficionados? Do we ask the parents to speak to the children? Do we talk at the beginning to the children and remind them about sitting and listening carefully? Do we make it clear that this is a "family event" and family sorts of the noisy restless variety may attend? What is a good approach?
Nancy
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3 comments:
When I was young and growing up in Anchorage, many arts organizations (Anchorage Symphony, Alaska Light Opera Theatre, Anchorage Community Chorus) held special children's shows. These shows were held during the school day, and the school children were bussed to the venue for the show. Teachers usually opened the events up to parents, who helped act as monitors to help keep noise levels down.
By hosting the special children's shows, youngsters were trained in concert etiquette without ruining a show for adults who paid a lot for tickets. It also exposed the kids to the arts, so they became excited about learning how to play an instrument or they gained an appreciation for other types of music (classical, jazz, etc.).
It's a sad commentary on the state of our society today that this is even an issue. Being in the 'over 50 group' myself I still have trouble relating to the parenting styles (or lack of?) so prevalent today. I was raised with the "Children are to be seen and not heard" theory - while I don't endorse that now - there is STILL a modicum of etiquette to be practiced. Neither my children, or grandchildren, were ever disruptive at a public event/peformnce.
HOWEVER - if the parents aren't going to teach children how to behave at public functions, sadly, SOMEONE has to. It should not matter IF everyone paid, or how much they paid, there is a certain behavior expected of all attending a public performance; there should be an expectation that ALL who attend can enjoy it. (One is not 'more entitled' to 'enjoy' it because they paid $100 than the person who paid $5.)
So - it should be MADE CLEAR that IF children attend, they are expected to "behave" (e.g. not exhibit behaviors that are distracting to the performer or those in attendance). And YES, 'staff' SHOULD say something to the parents - good grief, if they don't who should? Do you expect the performer to have to say something? Other patrons? "With rights come responsibilities." If someone came in shooting a gun, wouldn't the staff tell them they shouldn't a) have a gun or b) be discharging it? If someone attended nude, wouldn't staff tell them they needed to be clothed? Why is this any different? And how RUDE - not only to the other guests, but to the PERFORMER.
And YES, if the 'misbehavior' and 'distraction' continues - even after the parent (or "adult" being counseled, then YES, they should be asked to leave.
It is a sad commentary on the state of today's society that these questions are even an 'issue.' BEing in the 'over 50 group' myself I struggle with today's parenting styles (or lack of parenting styles?)
OF COURSE children should be expected to 'behave' at public events and performances...in any and all public places. And if the parents aren't going to say or do anything, who do you propose should? The performer? Audience members? OF COURSE 'staff' should deal with it! (Tactfully and politely - however, there are some parents who will be up in arms no matter how they are approached. That just confirms the need for SOMEONE to say or do something. I've even had my grandchildren comment about the behavior of other children when we've been out in public. They ALSO realize it's the PARENTS who should be 'teaching' and 'disciplining' the children. Good grief, if it were another disruptive behavior, would you hesitate to say something??
THe price paid for a ticket is immaterial. If one pays $100 for a ticket, they are no more entitled to 'enjoy' the performance than the person who paid $5. There SHOULD BE a modicum of etiquette expected from those in attendance; ALL are entitled to 'enjoy' the event, performance, exhibit. So, these standards of behavior would also apply to an art exhibit, where people are just walking through viewing shows.
I agree it should be made clear (in flyers or announcements promoting event) that IF children are allowed, it will be expected that their behavior be appropriate. (Again, a sad commentary on today's society that this is necessary.)
Also - there have been places I've gone, things I've done, that I REFUSE to go back - because I CHOOSE not to be subjected to undisplined children - you DO lose a certain amount of support when this behavior is allowed.
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