To take a child to a orchestral concert

[BelleMarionette]

I took my DD to an orchestral concert, in a well known venue. The venue advertised it as for 7+, and she is 8 years old. It was an evening performance.

Granted, when I got there, there were virtually no children, and the average age of the audience was over 60. I didn't see it as an issue though, as the venue had a clear age policy which included her.

She sat nicely through the performance, not a peep. The couple on one side made passive aggressive comments, including complaining that she ate snacks during the intermission (something about it 'lowering the tone'). She was only allowed to eat during the intermission, not the performance. The snacks were purchased from the venue (I see it as important to support them in a time when the arts are struggling financially)

I accept that people have paid a lot of money for their tickets, and therefore want to enjoy the performance, but if a child is within the venues age policy, and not disruptive, surely this is fine?

If your child enjoyed the performance and behaved appropriately, you have nothing to worry about.

Perhaps you are one of these miserable people? 😉

The question was quite clear, only you seem to have an issue. Anyway, it's been answered now.

I recall something shared on FB with 2 images - one photo of an orchestra in formal black tie next to one of primary school children playing instruments. Caption: If you want to have this (professional music), you have to have more of this (enjoyment and informality in early life).

I bought tickets for a box at the Proms for someone's 30th once (a concert that 'did requests' and had some lighthearted elements, raffle etc), and a little dessert plate for the interval. The birthday person got very much the same tutting reception. People seem not to be able to handle 'public' much, any more.

At the last classical music concert I went to one of the adults was knitting. Clickety clackety click all the way through the performances!

The couple on one side made passive aggressive comments, including complaining that she ate snacks during the intermission (something about it 'lowering the tone')

The lady sitting on the other side of her actually complemented her listening skills at the end

What a rollercoaster of an evening!

🤣❤️

What does complimenting listening skills even mean?

Genuine question. Did they mean not talking?

Surely it's obvious, sitting nicely and listening. It's not a universal skill for children, as anyone who works with them would know.

And those who are accusing this of being a brag post clearly haven't read the whole thread where I say that my DD struggled with playing an instrument due to additional needs. It's not about bragging, it was a question regarding what is acceptable.

OP apologies for swerving the thread away from tut-tutting and snacking, but I wonder whether this organisation would be able to help you find a good teacher or local
music group:

www.openorchestras.org

Thank you, that's a great suggestion