How early do I need to be for school nativity?

[MondayImInLove]

Tomorrow is going to be my first school nativity show starring my DT, both in the same reception class.
The show is their class only (30 children) and scheduled at 2:30pm.
How early do you think I should be to be guaranteed a front row seat? I have the day off work (this is how important this is to me!) so can be there anytime. I was thinking 2pm but shall I make it earlier??
Please please give me your advice!
Thanks in advance

Btw just so you know, parents don’t tend to queue politely for the Christmas play. You will find them gathered around the front and then letting their friends in. It’s a huge stampede for the front and you can guarantee that if you find a good seat to the left, your child will be stood on the far right.

Enjoy, you have several years of this.

Can you tell I have been doing this for 17 years and am a bit over it?

Thanks Heyjudas !

GreenTeacup That won’t (hopefully...) happen to me as I had the DC show me where they are placed on stage so I can choose my seat accordingly, one center and one far right.

Thanks everybody for not telling me I am pathetic and it is just a bunch of 4yo mumbling lines in ill fitting costumes... I can’t wait! I will let you know how it went re seat strategy 😅

I'd not aim for the front row after the nativity last week where one of the shepherds went a bit green and then projectile vomited over the front row of the audience right at the end of the play! Go a row back and to the side out of chunder range with how many bugs are going around at the moment!

I got there at 10 for a 10.30 start and the place was packed! Apparently the parents in the front row had been there since 9, madness!

An hour at least! Good luck. Watch out for absolute plonkers who get up and WALK IN FRONT OF THE FRONT ROW WITH a BLOODY IPAD.

From experience the side are the best to stand / sit.

Public Information Announcement:

If the school says don't film/photo it then don't film/photo it .

If the school says you can film/photograph for personal use but not to put on social then don't put on social media .

Your desire to show little Freddie as a star to Great Aunt Mildred does not trump the safety of children in care / adopted / fleeing domestic violence etc.

We went on Tuesday. We were 25mins early and there was a massive (almost out of the playground!) queue already! We therefore stood up at the back rather than fight for a seat and got a good view!

Update: went 1h early and was the first one joined 5min later by another mum so at least had some company.
And I got front row center! Super happy!
Both DC said their line, DS with suspected SN did hide his face behind his lamb at one point but not for long (hiding from the noise, bless him).

Luckily no announcement about no pics/videos, they didn’t even ask not to share on social media (I don’t intend to, just to answer a PP).

The staff was surprised we were so early (confirmed we knew it wasn’t starting for an h) they let us start the queue inside as well. And the head came to say it was nice to see enthusiastic parents

There was one time I was able to get to school to queue early outside the main entrance. I was first there. By the time they let us in and I walked all of five metres to the hall entrance a bunch of parents barged in front and I ended up second row (half of the front row was reserved for pta). Fuckers.

Standing at the back in ours guarantees you see none of the children and a lot of parents heads and mobile phone screens.

Ours is 9.30 tomorrow so we are hovering around afterwards. DS1 has asked us to be front row 🤦🏼‍♀️ Will need sharp elbows

Threw both kids in today, ran round and was 10th in the queue. Managed to get a front row seat, sat right behind the nursery area (it was an early years play - so reception and nursery do their shows together) and my little delight was one of 5 Nursery children moved to stand at other end if the hall with one of the reception classes for some unfathomable reason so I saw absolutely nothing of her first ever performance.

In all honesty I only ever go because I feel like I have to. But it's always an awful experience. Last year I was left standing.... at 8 months pregnant.

When does this shit stop? I have a preschooler and a y1 child so I'm guessing I've got a while

My school didn't put it on the calendar or send texts etc. DS denies ever seeing a letter about it. Got a text last Friday saying "tickets have now sold out for Tuesdays Christmas play. Do not attend if you do not have a ticket."

Not sure whether to be sad or relieved 

If it's starts at 2.30, you need to queue up straight after morning drop off, that's my advice.

Parents can be quite embarrassing at times like this.They can show their kids are much better at waiting than their parents are. I always sat further back but beware of you get there early an extra row of seats might be put in front of you. 👍 No garentees but enjoy the show it really is a special time I've never forgotten it.

I love this thread 🥰
This summer saw the end of my 11yr primary school sentence (my youngest went to secondary in September). I love that I never missed an assembly/Nativity/show/production/display/presentation etc. I was always there early and always front row 🤗. I knew there were snarky comments and some parents thought I was nuts, but it never bothered me in the least. I deliberately worked nights for those years, so that I could do all of the above (even if I had to use matchsticks to keep my eyes open many a time). The school receptionist always laughed when she saw the pair of us peering through the doors waiting to come in, we were renowned for it. Now those days are gone and my children remember me being there, beaming on the front row. 🥰
P.S I realise I was very lucky to be able to do this and that is not lost on me, I am just very fortunate that my chosen career involves a lot of flexibility).
I hope you got front row?! x

Seriously? Some people have just too much time on their hands

Heh. Amateur. Half an hour NEVER cuts it. I don't think I ever managed to get there more than half an hour before curtain-up and never, ever got within three rows of the front. I do honestly think people start queuing soon after drop-off.

Our school you def have to turn up at least an hour early for any performance. Doors don’t open until ten minutes before, but the queue will be out of the playground by then. All ticketed. Max two tickets per family (tough luck if you have twins and thought ‘woohoo! 4 tickets’ 😂).
No tea or coffee, that would be a logistical (not to mention H&S) nightmare in our hall.
Glad you got the seats you wanted, OP. Well done to your kids for managing so well too :)

On one occasion, my DC's headteacher let me watch the dress rehearsal because I was working when the actual performances were on. Otherwise, I was always a stand-at-the-back parent.

At my son's school, the queue started at 8.15 for doors at 9.30!

gillybean84
Not sure if your post was aimed at me or the OP, but either way I really don’t see it as having too much time on one’s hands, more a case of personal priorities. Working a 38 or 50hr week (nights), I rarely had too much time on my hands - just chose to spend my time watching my children instead of other things 😉

Mind boggled.

U lots are so sad just be happy U are there to the kids

Our school don’t even allow you in until 5 mins before. Personally I just stand at the back. Better view. The battle for front seats is just pathetic tbh.