Screens during performances

[Daisrose]

Full disclosure we couldn’t have kids so I really don’t know if I’m being reasonable or not due to my lack of experience. We’ve just been at a dance performance, sat next to a family of five where one kid played games during the entire performance whilst the other two intermediately searched the internet. My partner’s feeling is whatever gets you through whereas I think it rude to the other patrons and the performers themselves.

Aibu - do whatever you can to entertain your kids

Ainbu - learn some patience and sit though a performance

I think it depends a bit on the type of performance. A kids dance recital where dancing child would be heartbroken if parents weren't there to watch but that means disinterested siblings have to come along too? Then as long as there were headphones/devices on silent I would probably accept it as 'one of those things' and preferable to them being noisy/disruptive, although if possible obviously it would be better if they could sit and watch!

A paid for/professional show I would expect disinterested children not to attend. I've missed out on events/films I'd like to see but don't because my daughter couldn't/wouldn't sit through it and that's part of being a parent.

Thanks @LG93 I agree. It was a pretty expensive, professional performance. I had to sit through countless seriously boring things with my parents. I just don’t know whether it’s ok to say - your kid’s screens are seriously ruining my enjoyment! Or even how to say it. I really wish I had as you can tell, it was very annoying

Why is it ruining your enjoyment? Did they have headphones on?

I totally agree with@LG93 . As you’ve now said it’s a proper professional performance it’s appalling. I would have asked them to turn them off.

Even with headphones the glare of the screens from devices is really bright and distracting. I would definitely have said something and if the parents did nothing id have gone to an usher and asked them to deal with it. Were others annoyed too?

The glare was super bright and distracting. My partner next to me was half asleep and as mentioned, doesn’t get annoyed with stuff generally. I would have grabbed an usher but there were none and there was no interval to grab one during. Has just left a bit of a sore taste as I’ve had an argument with my parent rather than the parent! Next time, I’ll be braver. i guess, I felt a bit outnumbered and didn’t know if this is now acceptable behaviour

Rude to the performers, distracting to the audience.

For anyone who thinks kids can't be expected to sit through a performance without screens, what on earth do you think kids used to do?

I agree with you OP. If the kids can't sit through a performance without screens they're not ready to attend shows. This is why I always get front row seats in the cinema. I can't stand seeing a sea of flickering phone screens

No screens anywhere near any performance, professional or amateur. Children had to sit through these things without them in the past and they should do now too.

Screens aside it’s just funny that you’re getting annoyed at kids for not being able to sit there bored but your partner basically slept through the performance.

He had his eyes at points which believe or not didn’t disrupt my enjoyment

My kids are 6 and 11 and still not allowed screens when out, particularly at dinner. In an environment like you've described it's bloody awful parenting

The twenty something next to me whipped her phone out every 15 mins or so in a musical recently. Eventually I asked her politely not to as it was very distracting. To be fair she stopped but Jesus some people are soooo addicted to their phones it’s frightening

The glare from screens is incredibly distracting. Anyone using one during a performance should be chucked out, and the parents in this example really should know better.
Plus, what does it say about kids that they can't sit quietly without a screen? I despair, sometimes.

i don’t think people realise that performers can see audience members looking at their phones. It’s so disrespectful and distracting.

You are not being unreasonable. If a child can't sit through a performance, especially one others are paying for without watching a screen then they shouldn't be taken to the performance.

Maybe if it's a siblings dance recital and they were wearing headphones and the screen was dulled but then only if the child really needs a screen to help them regulate and the parents had no option but to bring them

Thanks all. I’ll be braver next time!