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'm not angry, so I'll throw in a wind your neck in .

OP, I'd show him the seating plan, he might not mind sitting that far away.

Like anyone's going to move theatre seats for some kid.

I think lots of people would. I certainly would. I'm amazed that there are so many people who would refuse to move one seat over so that a child could sit with their mother. How peevish.

OP, you would not be at all unreasonable to ask but you cannot guarantee that the people will say yes. As proven on this thread there are a lot of quite awkward folks around.

Expat obviously nobody is looking down on people for going to the theatre alone so no need for the stroppy face. It's pretty common knowledge that most theatres will not allow single seats to be left in the middle of rows like this to prevent situations exactly like this one.

I would move one seat along for you OP - towards centre stage.

Is it a long play? I think if it were me & my almost 6 year old DD, I'd book the seats but be prepared to have her either sitting on my lap or 5 seats away (but still in full sight) for the duration.

In all probability, once your neighbours realise that you are together they will offer to move along anyway. I don't generally find that MN reflects RL on things of this nature.

Yes it would be unreasonable

It would be ok if it was two adults who could sit apart but would prefer to sit together, because if people won't move it's fine. But booking on the assumption that five strangers will move is rude and entitled behsviour

Blimey, OP - have you phoned the theatre? If there's nothing they can do, then blummin book earlier next time. Don't bank on turning up and relying on people's goodwill. People book early for a reason, so they can get the seat they want or need. What are you going to do if they say no? Park your DS next to a stranger?

Phone the theatre box office FGS.

No YANBU. I cannot understand what the objection is to moving. It's only one mid row, front row seat for another why not move one place across? The person moving would still be with their party. If one seat was restricted view or perhaps on end of row it might be different but not in this case.

OP, people on MN are grumpy as anything, but in real life most people would be perfectly happy to move given that they're not aisle seats or otherwise special. You'll be fine.

Viques someone had a 3 year old in the front row at Little House of Horrors. The cynical among us were assuming he'd soon be carried out howling. He clearly loved it and was extremely well behaved.
Front row seats, that's how I became the proud recipient of a drop the superb Simon's Callow's saliva during his brilliant one man Dickens show. What an exciting life I lead!!

No

Well what if the other seats are taken by a family? Then you would be v unreasonable to expect them to move.

No idea why the OP doesn't just phone the box office and see if there's anything they can do.

I would call the theatre and explain. I used to work in a box office and it's normal to hold back 'house seats' for emergencies. They might let you book two house seats together if you explain. House seats are normally good too. Few rows back centre stalls were ours.

Of course it is.

What do you do if you rock up, they won't move? You can't sit 5 seats apart from your 5 year old.

If your son wanted to go that much you should have booked earlier.

If you'd ask me to move one seat I would have no problem as long as my view wasn't obstructed.

Depends on whether you want to risk sitting a few seats apart if the ticket holders don't want to move.

I would move if asked, one seat wouldn't make any difference

As a general rule I would say no. Looking at the specific seats though, , as long as you intended to ask people to move towards the centre (which is generally deemed a good thing) rather than move more to the side you wouldn't expect there to be a problem. Unfortunately you won't know in advance and possibly the row may be full of people from this thread, in which case you would have to be prepared for it not to happen. As someone said upthread, I'm surprised the theatre/computer program allowed two single seats to be left.

Uncle Jamie - most 6 year olds would cope with sitting next to strangers with mum nearby, it happens on buses and trains. But let's hope the 5 audience members are amenable to a tiny alteration in their plans!

If you're not angry expat you are certainly very rude in that case. Your neck is the one that needs winding in, jumping down people's throats And yes, I am cross now before you ask.

Not unreasonable at all to ask. I don't know why people are being so harsh.

I would move (unless it put me in a position where my view was blocked.)

You don't know how many would be in the parties you are proposing to move.

It may look simple but not so on the day. If your ds doesn't mind sitting separate if unsuccessful then I'd still book.

Are you assuming that the five seats all belong to the same group? What if it doesn't!

At six, surely your DS will be craning his neck to see the stage from the front row if the stage is high.

If I were you I'd book the tickets. Chances are, when people realise he's with you they'll offer to move anyway, and if not, it's not like you'll be miles away from him.

But UncleJamie the whole family would be moving together so it would make no difference. They wouldn't be separated or have their view altered from moving one space over.