To ask people to move seats at the theatre

[Homemoans]

My 6-year son really wants to see a play of one of David Walliams on Saturday, the only seats they have left are on the front row but they are 5 seats apart. WIBU to buy the two tickets and ask the 5 people sat in between us to either move up or move down?

I once dealt with a person who had mental health issues in a theatre where it all went to shit. The poor woman had a complete breakdown. One request from a theatre usher was her final straw.

She absolutely lost her shit, threw stuff, kicked out, the police were called and all.

I felt so sorry for her. Obviously there's a big long story behind the right and the wrongs of what happened. I don't think it was all her fault. One bossy little woman was rude to her. It was her breaking point.

just don't put people in that position.

Oh my - the irony...

And that anyone who wouldn't is uncharitable...

Navy and white - I thin booking, knowing in advance you'll be asking people to do you a favour by moving, is unfair on those people - in the sense that it puts them in a position to either oblige or feel awkward.

Late to the party. I work in theatre and go to see theatre a lot. Booking on the assumption that you can ask to move seats is not ok, especially in the example where they're 5 seats apart! It's a family show, people will be sitting with their own children. Book earlier, book different (cheaper seats), book for a different performance. You run the risk of creating a stressful experience for yourself when people reasonably refuse to move.

Come on guys, let's settle this an easier way:

Exactly right StarHeart.

aah now I'm dreading my flight in the summer, because I really don't want to be asked to move. I think when you have quite a few children you get used to booking early, because you get used to there not being a table, seats etc; but it does make you accept that sometimes you will miss out on things.

When we've gone to london, we've just booked whatever's cheap and available to go and see.

I think the devil in me is starting to enjoy the arguing;🙂so I'm off to make tea.

Shall I clarify?

Book tickets that aren't ideal, so you can

Suck it up and go anyway and accept that is what had happened

Decide not to go ahead with the booking

What you shouldn't do is

Go with the express intention of asking someone if they would move seats

I'm really not sure what is difficult to understand about that

If you book crap seats or ones apart from your child and you turn up and sit in your allocated seats of course that's not a problem

If the only available seats would mean splitting you up from your child then you can choose to book them and sit in them or you can choose not to book after all.

Nobody would care which option you took as it doesn't affect anyone.

Turning up and deciding to ask people to move - no that's taking the piss

I agree with you Livia

If everyone just turned up and asked people to move then there'd be no point in booking tickets in the first place

Navy - if you have no intention of asking anyone to move how is that wrong and where did anyone say that?

That doesn't make any sense. The discussion is about asking people to move. If you book seperate seats, are happy with that and have no intention to ask people to move then there's no problem and I really can't see on here where anyone says there was. Show me where they did.

I think it is perfectly reasonable to ask this. Not sure what the fuss is about. The 4 people between you will still be together, and moving 1seat will make no difference, unless there is an actual pillar in the way. 3 of the 4 people could be in exactly the same seat!!

No. I am really not.

Book where you want but don't ask people to move to accommodate you.

Why would anyone even know you had booked bad seating if you walked in and sat down? That really makes

Why are you struggling with that? Other posters have understood

Cross post Navy

I bet you wish you hadn't asked OP!

Not unreasonable to ASK but...don't pass ag them, and don't have a melt down if they refuse. If you can't take this risk, don't buy the tickets,

I'm surprised that the theatre let someone book allowing single seats. It's not possible at my local theatre. I'd risk it.

YABU... people pay for specific seats.

I don't see a problem. I would ask very politely - I actually was in a similar situation in the past and people were happy to move by a seat. The worst that may happen - and you must be prepared for it - is that they say no, in which case I'd put my child on my lap.

It may be useful to ask the theatre attendant to help.

Many theatres don't allow booking seats in such a way that only single ones are left. That one obviously does, which means that they end up with unsold single seats. It should be in their interest to fill the seats and keep everyone happy.