to try to ban camcorders from ds's preschool presentations?

[joyfulspike]

At xmas, it was ds's first xmas carol service. We couldn't see him at all as our view was blocked by a flock of bloody camcorders . The wielders were too far in front to just tap on shoulder and ask to hold lower and i didn't know the others in front well enought to as them to ask them iyswim?

Anyway to day was the first Easter parade, I spoke to the manager a few times about what happened at xmas and they asked all parents to be aware of others at the start of the parade. Camcorders were even mentioned in the preschool newsletter!

Although we were fairly close to the front, the camcorder bunch were very evident, I had 2 directly in front of me. I asked them politely if they could lower them as I couldn't see my son who was at the front of the stage. Instead, one ignored me completely and the other just shushed me ! I asked again with same response from both, then I asked a little louder - aware that I was missing what was going on and I was starting to disturb the kids on the stage. The first one again ignored me and jerked away when I gently tapped her shoulder to get her attention. The second one turned round and told me to 'shut the fuck up' as I was ruining the performace for everyone . I decided not to say anything else and tried to peer between these two 'ladies' who kept moving to block my view (I'm sure it was deliberate). After the performance I noticed the two 'ladies' in their clique pointing and sniggering at me. The ignorant one came over and asked me if I saw anything and I said not really, two very selfish and ignorant women were in front completeing blocking my and other parent's view. She said 'good' and walked off. Must have reported back to the clique who all raised their mugs of tea in salute to me!

No-one spoke to me when I camme to collect ds at 3 today and the manager took me to one side and said that someone made a complaint I ruined the performance. Thankfully one of the staff had seen a little of what had gone on and defended me, also the parents behind us complained about the camcorders too.

All over fecking camcorders and their selfish owners. This has pissed me off so much that I am considering writing to the preschool and refusing to allow my son to be fimed in any way which will mean that they will have to ban camcorders to any other performance. AIBU??

[helenhismadwife]

what appalling behaviour, totally unacceptable. I know its ok for parents to take pictures and film their own children but not others, I may well be wrong but I thought that parents had to give their consent for their children to be filmed, I know we had to sign something saying we were ok with it, I would be very tempted to get in touch with LEA and ask there rules on this.

DH grandfather makes films and does them for a few schools so that this sort of situation is avoided. The dvd's are then sold for nominal amount to raise additional funds for the school

[tigerlily1980]

At my childrens school, if you are using a camcorder you have to stand at the back or side and film from there. We are not allowed to sit in the audience for the reasons that you state.

Will just add that my children love watching their performances on TV afterwards, and by filming I can show the family members that couldn't make it to the performance.

[Rachmumoftwo]

Do it, write the letter. That will wipe the smirks off their faces and make you feel better all in one easy move!

[ChoChoSan]

That always happens at our school. A lot of the parents just ignore the staff requests to consider others.

On one occasion at the start of the play, the Head Teacher asked a number of parents to step out of the aisle leading to the fire exit, and they just ignored her, staring gormlessly out, it's so fucking rude, and also it sends out such bad messages to their children! No wonder half of them are brats !

[laweaselmys]

£15 for a DVD of a school performance strikes me as a total rip off!! They certainly don't cost nearly that much to make. If you advise the school to go down that route it's worth checking if there's a local person (even just a keen parent) who could do it for less, or it is quite unfair on poorer parents who wouldn't be able to afford it, and may have previously been good about not getting in people's way with camcorders etc.

I like the idea of recording areas.

[Ashantai]

Yeah 15 quid is a bit much! I'd probably cough up a fiver to get a proper dvd, cos i'm so blardy unfit that by the end, my arm is dead and the camcorder is shaking so much it looks like i'm desperate for my next lager!

I've had no complaints from my school, but if someone did complain, then i'd be happy to film from the sides.

[TheArmadillo]

YANBU.

Can they not come to some arrangment where they are at the sides/back?

Last time I went to ds preschool thingy loads were all crowded at front so it made it difficult for others to see. If they didn't get front row they just walked in front of those seated and stood there.

Ds refused to join in play so didn't really ruin it for me as didn't need to see him, but it is incrediably selfish for others.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

Noooo not another resurrected thread

grrrrr

[nametaken]

At my school one person buys the DVD for £15 then copies it for a couple of quid for any friends who want a copy, on the quiet of course.

Thing is, I've heard that the DVD company takes £14 and the school only get £1 out of the price for each DVD, so if you feel guilty like you're ripping off the school funds, you can always donate a bit more another time. That's what I do anyway. I know it's wrong but I was incensed to hear the school only get £1 out of £15