Theatre etiquette

I think etiquette is performance dependent. The show you describe, I'd be more surprised if people weren't dancing. Other shows with a lot of 'high energy' music, like Six, Mama Mia etc, I'd expect mostly seated but standing/dancing at the end on invitation from the cast. I find it helpful to read reviews because they will usually say 'had people dancing in the aisles' or some such so you know what you're getting.

You would have to be drunk to endure a Michael Jackson tribute act.

I’ve seen lots of shows where people stand up to dance albeit it’s normally at the end of the performance. And really because a few stand up at the front, it has a ripple effect ….people stand up because they can’t see and so it continues behind them and so on. Not everyone I’ve seen stand, dances, including myself, I just want to see!

I don’t know what I would have done in your situation. It was obviously a lively show, the mum paid good money for her seats and wanted to enjoy the atmosphere. Maybe in your case, if you were able to, I would have stood to the side out the way. But I think you said you’re disabled so that’s not an option for you.

Maybe in tribute type stuff, you need to think about seating more next time. I don’t go as often now but there was a period in my life where I was constantly at the theatre. I live in central London so it was easy for me to access. But I would always book end seats because I know my husband finds the seating really small and claustrophobic. Sure not much more room in the end seats but still a little more. Maybe you need to book an end seat so you have a rail to hold onto to should you need to stand to the side, or book a front row seat where these things won’t happen.

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable in that you couldn’t see, but it was obviously a lively show with good music and the mum and dad were just enjoying themselves.

This wasn’t theatre but - earlier in the week DH and I were in London on a theatre break. We went to the science museum and decided to go to the IMAX. As the film got going the little boy behind me started kicking the back of my seat. I turned around and asked the mum (who was scrolling her phone) politely if she could stop him doing it. It stopped for two minutes then started up again and went on throughout the film!

😂
That was my first thought too.

It’s not theatre though, is it.

West End show - I stay sat and silent (apart from clapping/laughing appropriately.)

Lady Gaga at the O2 - stood up dancing for 3 hours and lost my voice from singing.

Now I can’t think of a tribute act I’d willingly go to, find it very cringe, however I’d say it’s much more leaning towards the concert side of things. Imagine it’d be very dry if everyone sat like they were at Les Mis!

A tribute to a paedophile. Sounds delightful.

If it was purely a tribute band playing a set like The Illegal Eagles then I’d say it’s no different to going to see an actual band and IME practically everyone stands the entire time

I've seen the Illegal Eagles a few times and although a few people might stand up in the aisle and dance, the vast majority remain seated. Most people are 'of the era' too - I mean older, of course. I doubt I could stand for more than 15 minutes what with my veins :) Dh and I always notice the sea of white hair.

Our local venue has gigs with standing and gigs with seating. When seats are provided I would expect people for the majority of the gig to be seated. I opt out of going to gigs with standing only, because I’m too short to see the stage. That is unless it’s a band I really, really want to see and I’ll spend the entire time on tiptoes.

So, please, if you’ve got a seat be mindful of the people behind you and use it. I’ll let you off for the encore, when everyone stands.

It was the staffs failing for not doing anything .
Some will say it’s just a. Child - but that child will grow into an entitled adult .

At my local theatre they have a very clear process when booking, the rows in the first half are seated, the rows from the middle to the back are standing. Everyone knows this and books accordingly.
this doesn’t apply up encores etc when it’s likely everyone may stand. They’re a theatre but apart from panto they mainly have tribute acts etc

So a concert?

if you were actually talking about theatre I’d say you were completely correct and that’s really unacceptable.
for a tribute act it’s nice to have people join in and get into it - like at a proper gig.

I’m with those saying surprised people were seated at all. “Theatre etiquette” is for watching plays (generally regardless of the venue) not gigs. I don’t think this is something that’s changed much, when I went to gigs in theatres 40 years ago people stood and danced.

Personally I think anyone over 6' should be banned from the theatre. They stop me seeing anything. And they are so tall they sway and fidget so I have to keep leaning to one side or the other, getting up close and personal to the people say either side of me.
Alternatively they could be decapitated.

If it's a gig in a theatre, I wouldn't stand up unless the people behind me are standing. And If I wanted to dance id move to a side aisle.

But then I try not to be selfish. Or tall.

But this isn't theatre, it's a tribute band

it might have been in a theatre but it wasn’t theatre, so theatre etiquette does not apply.

What was the tribute sct? If it was a pop/rock tribute it is odd that more people were not standing.

It’s not a ‘These days’ thing. A band gig has always been meant lots of people standing.

It’s annoying and I think she was being slightly unreasonable.

with hindsight you should have asked the mum to swap places with you so she was behind her child having her view blocked. Or asked the person in front of her daughter to also stand up!

Does a tribute band really constitute treater? I don’t think you can complain about people dancing, surprised more weren’t dancing really.

This isn't Pinter, it's a kid dancing at a concert that happens to be in a theatre. Loosen up and live a little.