Kids were onstage PLUCKING instruments! Yes, I was judgey. AIBU?

[TheClaws]

..this was an open-air classical concert we were attending. All ages, kind of Christmassy. Kids were dancing away close to the stage while their parents sat back watching - but some got too close. There were infants sitting on the stage, and as this was a full orchestra, there wasn't much room. And yes, some children even had the nerve to attempt to play with the instruments both mid-recital and during short breaks. At no time did a parent intervene or take their child away. WHYY?

I'm sure the instrumentalists would have been capable of saying "please don't" if there had been an issue.

YANBU. It really was the parents' job to stop them. And the instruments could be worth a sodding fortune as well.

pickAchew No, No, no before taking kids to see a show you teach them some basic theatre etiquette.
You are not I your sitting room, the people on stage are working, the stage/props/ and instruments have been set up for the performers and the performers and crew have quite enough to do without having to parent for you.

PickAChew Seriously? While they are in the middle of a Dvorak piece, for example, they should have to lean over and ask a toddler politely to stop plucking the cello?

YANBU.

And the sad thing is the parents will now be telling anyone with ears how the musicians thought it was so cute that their kid tried to join in, and that the audience clapped them.

I know because I know someone who allowed her kid to do this, and assumed that everyone was as thrilled with her little darlings amazing talent and confidence as she was. I was fucking mortified and found an excuse to move during the interval of Much Ado done in the local castle, I genuinely thought that there would be a lynching....

YANBU, OP.

That does my nut in too. Problem is that musicians aren't allowed to speak whilst onstage doing concerts, so can't tell kids not to touch their instruments.

pickAchew No, No, no before taking kids to see a show you teach them some basic theatre etiquette.
You are not I your sitting room, the people on stage are working, the stage/props/ and instruments have been set up for the performers and the performers and crew have quite enough to do without having to parent for you.

This...

Indeed, Bogeyface. The line of adoring parents laughing as their kids ran riot was bemusing and irritating, to say the least. They must have thought everyone found it utterly adorable, too. NOPE.

That's ridiculous! If anybody had the cheek to actually paw at my instrument, I'd have gone fucking ballistic.

That said, children are naturally curious about these things- when I was in a quartet at school, kids would come up a lot to see my cello

I don't see a problem with small children dancing to classical music. A lot depends on the type of concert. Some concerts are intended for children.

My daughter had a great time at an event dancing to "The Flight of The Bumblebee" played by Tasmin Little when she was 18 months old. It was a workshop organised by the Hertfordshire music service held at a local school. It wasn't the Albert Hall. Tasmin Little wasn't unhappy.

I agree that the parents should have stopped their children from plucking the instruments. Those instruments are worth thousands.

I dont think anyone is objecting to children dancing, they do no harm and it is sweet to see them enjoying the music. But crashing the stage and pissing about with instruments is totally different and completely unreasonable.

And the musicians would not be able to tell them to bugger off (and shouldnt have to) because the rule is that you keep playing, ignoring all distractions, until the conducter says otherwise.

No, the dancing was fine, although it did get a bit close at times. The conductor had children just behind him copying his movements with star wands that had been given out. I thought they were going to either a. take someone's eye out, or b. slap the conductor on the rear end.

Acknowledge someone will be along to tell me what a wonderful, enriching learning opportunity this would have been for kids, esp. for those who learn via play and doing, etc.

YANBU.

I don't have an issue with the dancing and copying the movements, that's sweet and very healthy and enriching.

But they should have done it at a safe and polite distance. Allowing your child to go on the stage and meddle with the instruments is not on, unless they have been invited to do so as part of the experience.

Dancing - fine if it's that sort of show.

But on stage plucking instruments? WTF?

Reminds me of the story of the family who visited at lunchtime whilst my grandparents were eating.The kid proceeded to snatch a slice of meat off the table and eat it.
The mother of said kid proceeded to praise the action with a hearty cry of "good girl darling"!!!! and wondered why granny was less than thrilled.
Another precious snowflake that one, I can tell ya.

A well aimed kick from a musician was perhaps needed!

YANBU

YANBU. What's wrong with these parents?

Really?!

Dancing fine, getting under musicians feet not fine, playing with instruments while the musicians had a break not fine

How stupid do parents need to be to think a stage of musicians is a safe or appropriate place for their children to play!

YANBU. For all the reasons given.

Yes Lunar, and the first to whinge when the snowflake falls off the stage or has a double bass fall on them.