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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is this normal for a School Nativity play?

140 replies

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 25/11/2011 22:57

Had a letter home today from the School to say the Receptions' Nativity will be on X day, maximum of 2 tickets per child, £2 per ticket?

I have to pay to see my DS1 in his Nativity? [shocked]

Not only that, but no cameras, phone cameras or camcorders are allowed to be used. If we want a picture of him as a King they will take the photo and I have to pay £1 for it!

Now, before I'm flamed, I'm going to pay. It is only £5 for the lot and it's for School Funds, which I understand. But couldn't they have just asked for a contribution on the day?

Is it normal practice? AIBU? I know I sound like a skinflint - I'm not

OP posts:

Joolyjoolyjoo · 25/11/2011 23:16

Fraid so, at our dc's school. I'm more stressed by the fact that the nativity is on during the day, so I will need to try to juggle work around it.

Oh, and we are expected to buy the costume as well- a couple of years ago they sent out a letter saying we want them to wear this, in asda for £x. Cue mad rush to asda who had only 4 in stock when I got there (early!) Good news is, I am recycling the costume for dd2. But nativity play is a nightmare. And that is before the political minefield of who will play Mary......

snice · 25/11/2011 23:16

ticket money goes to school chosen charity here-suggested donation of £1 per ticket but many people give more.
I wish camcorders were banned tbh as many performances are spoiled by parents standing/leaning round others to see their precious darling

Nanny0gg · 25/11/2011 23:16

Never heard of charging for the tickets.
But we do a DVD and a photo CD of productions which we charge for.

We have a raffle to help cover production costs.

I think charging for tickets is taking the mick, frankly.

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 23:17

Our tickets are free but only 2 per child

Also, common sense still prevails and we're allowed to take photos and videos

The Head Teacher just does her obligatory talk at the start about only taking photos/videos of your own child...but the parents happily ignore it and no-one complains.

naturalbaby · 25/11/2011 23:17

my child is only in nursery but it's attached to a school and quite formal. no charges, 2 seats per child (hoping to smuggle baby in on our lap), fingers crossed we can take photos as they were allowed last year and nothing's been said about it this year, there will be a dvd (better than recording it ourselves and not really watching at the time i reckon)

it's my first one, am ready with the tissues even though he's only a sheep.

growing3rdbump · 25/11/2011 23:17

not normal at all. Ours is free, and although tickets are limited, I can still request up to 4. We are also allowed to photograph and video throughout and I'd be really sad if couldn't! I have lovely footage from the past few years.

slavetofilofax · 25/11/2011 23:18

Normal at our school, but it's only 50p, max 3 tickets. It goes to a good cause.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 25/11/2011 23:19

Am now getting a bit outraged at the fact we have to pay, when lots of you seem to get for free! I just thought it was the norm...

Original poster

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 25/11/2011 23:24

OMG! Will I have to smuggle our baby in if I only get 2 tickets? (for me and DH) baggy jumper, no, holdall, no Fat Boy will have to stay at home!

We have to buy the costumes as well, which is fine by me, so after tickets, photo, costume, raffle, assuming there's mince pies and coffee, this is totting up to a good £20!

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 23:24

naturalbaby there's no such thing as only a sheep!

He'll be the best sheep ever I'm sure

OddBoots · 25/11/2011 23:25

I don't know if it is normal or not but it doesn't seem right when things are so tight for so many people. For some parents that is making them choose between seeing their child perform (and more importantly for their child to see them see them perform iyswim) and eating that day.

My children are older now and no longer have nativities but when they did there was no ticket price but there was a collection at the door.

Original poster

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 25/11/2011 23:25

Meant to write but, not, so

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OddBoots · 25/11/2011 23:26

Oh, and the school in question also supplied all costumes and put on a free creche, sounds like we were very fortunate.

GirlTuesday · 25/11/2011 23:26

At the school I teach in and the one my dc go to tickets are free and unlimited, but both are quite small rural schools.

We ban photography and filming now as some parents posted pictures of their dc on stage on their facebook pages and other parents objected as their kids were in the pictures too.

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 23:26

Our school has a free creche for babies and toddlers, though they don't have to use it as long as they're quiet.

If they make a racket, the parent is told to take them outside or to the creche (a couple of rooms away)

bruffin · 25/11/2011 23:28

Never had to provide the costume but we always had to pay for tickets and the numbers were limited. However you could apply for more if there were any more left over.

troisgarcons · 25/11/2011 23:28

Smuggle? baby???
oh no - those are banned on the grounds they are noisy little feckers and spoil everyone s enjoyment.

daenerysstormborn · 25/11/2011 23:30

ours is free and you can take cameras and even film it if you want to. they did put a ban on the camera thing one year, and got one of the dads to film it so they could sell the dvd, but it became such a pita as they sold so many, it took so long to burn enough dvd's, the school had to ask people with suitable computer's/software at home to help. we did loads for them so did a copy for ourselves for free, kind of felt we were owed it after spending evenings burning so many copies for the school.

Original poster

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 25/11/2011 23:33

Honestly - do I need to check if I can take my baby?

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WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 23:37

Yes I would check about the baby.

The thing is, the kids have such little voices at that age, it's difficult for them to be heard unless there's more or less complete silence in the room.

I wish their voices were that 'little' at home!

cat64 · 25/11/2011 23:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2011 23:41

Oooh is that an MN 'thing' cat? I wasn't here last year so never had that pleasure

daenerysstormborn · 25/11/2011 23:45

at my dc's school, little ones are allowed to the daytime show, but they ask for them not to come for the evening one.

Pancakeflipper · 25/11/2011 23:46

No charge at our school for the nativity, though there is sometimes a collection for a particular charity if the any of the classes are doing something linked to a charitable cause.

And parents video and take photos all the way through the 'production'.

Original poster

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 25/11/2011 23:46

Hmm, can understand not wanting a screaching baby there.

Fuck a Duck. What a pallava -or however you spell it!

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