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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Helping out backstage at dance shows, what does it involve?

68 replies

BramwellBrown · 13/03/2015 20:02

DD(6) has volunteered me to help out at her first dance show and the teacher got quite excited that I'm DBS checked, what have I been signed up for this time? The show is children 3+

OP posts:
NotAnotherPackedLunchBox · 13/03/2015 20:17

I thought I would need loads of gin afterwards, but when I got home I just sat and stared at a blank wall in silence.

DH began to get worried as I didn't even look at the large gin he had poured for me.

In time I recovered. Grin

Good luckWineWine

KatyMac · 13/03/2015 20:23

Take a bag with:

Tissues
Wipes
Needle & thread (lots of colours)
Plasters
Scissors
Safety Pins
Make-up bag
Paracetamol
Calpol
Gin
Spare socks, knickers, tights
Paper & pencils
Ear plugs

Just off the top of my head

I work in a nursery & I refused point blank to go back stage I look after enough children without adding to it - I said I would alter costumes, run people to rehearsals, whatever but not back stage

Guess where I ended up? in the dressing room with a sewing machine making running repairs and occasionally crying!

NigelMolesworth · 13/03/2015 20:32

To KatyMac's list I would add
hairpins
grips
bun nets
bun pins
in fact any hairdo item that you can think of.

Be prepared in case of quick behind the scenes costume changes - it nearly gave me a heart attack trying to get three girls out of one costume into another plus shoe changes in a corridor in 1min30secs. Then it took 10mins to sort out all the clothes from the floor and get them back to the relevant children!

KatyMac · 13/03/2015 20:39

Oh God yes because DD has an afro I can't do Ballet hair so I got out of that one!!
Hair spray, lots & lots of hair spray
Eye lash glue (not for eyelashes but for sticking errant bits of costume to skin
Fake tan
Did I mention gin?

KatyMac · 13/03/2015 20:41

Oh no - there is another show in October, DD left the school so I thought I'd be free

But no, I've been asked back to help with costumes is it too late to leave the country? Wink

LIZS · 13/03/2015 20:42

You need to check with the dance teachers what your role is and whether there are chaperones. You may not need to do costume changes unless requested. If you notice a label hanging out or tutu tucked in ask the child if you can help before you touch them , for example. Often it is more crowd control and toilet supervision !

morethanpotatoprints · 13/03/2015 20:47

sewing kit, for elastics small costume repairs.
make up
hair bun, net, clips.
small colouring sheets and a few coloured pencils
plasters
paracetamol
sick bags,
lots of hairspray
Gin.

When you get there check costumes and accessories and hang up if this is what you do.
Make sure no child has anything missing and names on costumes.
sticky plasters the fabric ones are good for this.
check elastics in shoes.
Make sure you confiscate any sticky sweets or coloured juice.
Take them to loo before their bit if they have gaps in the show.
Lots more I've forgotten now. Grin

Original poster
BramwellBrown · 13/03/2015 20:53

Sad Here was me thinking it would be helping put the odd shoe on a small child and keeping them vaguely quiet, I'm not sure I'm up to hair, make up and costumes! The letter sent home promises a fun weekend (3 performances) the teacher is lying isn't she?

LIZS yes there are chaperones.

OP posts:
Holdthepage · 13/03/2015 20:57

Dear God my DD did dance class for a few years, I am only just getting over the trauma of helping out backstage. Sorry OP.

LIZS · 13/03/2015 21:00

It will be exhausting! It is likely you would be paired with a chaperone so that you don't have sole charge. Hopefully you would attend a dress rehearsal so you are familiar with the running order and any quick changes for the group/s you supervise.

KatyMac · 13/03/2015 21:00

LIZS you must have a very orderly dance show Grin

The best thing about ours was the Theatre staff at the end said they had never seen such well-behaved, orderly children that were in the right place at the right time....oh & the dancing was pretty OK

Holdthepage · 13/03/2015 21:01

Forgot theseWine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine Wine

LIZS · 13/03/2015 21:03

Youth theatre rather than pure dance! Most kids become pretty independent after a couple of shows. Are the parents expected to do buns etc before they arrive ?

KatyMac · 13/03/2015 21:08

3-5 hair styles per child.....including wigs!! - you struggle to get a wig on an afro!

I've done backstage theatre - it is calmer I think

Our girls had full Cats make up followed by Ballet....it was a bugger to get off even allowing for the interval!

Original poster
BramwellBrown · 13/03/2015 21:13

I really hope parents are doing their hair, brushing DD's is stressful enough! We haven't had much in the way of details yet, just dates/times, its not til the summer, I'm just trying to work out if i need to make up an excuse to get out of it.

OP posts:
AgathaHannigan · 13/03/2015 21:21

Yep, bring all the stuff listed above, it'll be great; just for a couple of hours hundreds of kids will need a mom and you'll be it.

The kind of mom who fixes stuff and organises stuff and dries tears and makes it all alright. With none of the emotionally wrought, repetitive, beating yourself up about whether this will stop your own kids ultimately becoming a serial killer type stuff.

...and finally, and probably most importantly, if no-one helps then no-one's kids can do it. Get stuck in!

NigelMolesworth · 13/03/2015 21:23

Oh yes - DEFINITELY check that the children have all the bits of their costume in advance. I have blocked that trauma out of my memory....

Me: right girls, we need to get to the stage door now.
Child: where are my ballet shoes?
cue frantic dashing around to find wretched shoes...

morethanpotatoprints · 13/03/2015 21:23

There may not be many who have Dbs, that is why the teacher would be pleased.
that's good news as whilst others are flaffin with hair etc, you'll be doing toilet trips and once one wants to go......
I have chaperoned on numerous occasions for all sorts of events and venue's. Those without can't take dc to toilet unaccompanied.

Original poster
BramwellBrown · 13/03/2015 21:26

Ah morethan, that gives me hope, I'm a Rainbow leader, I'm good at toilet trips with 20 girls that suddenly need a wee right this second because 1 asked to go.

OP posts:
KatyMac · 13/03/2015 21:35

In leotards or Tutus? Wink

LittleRobots · 13/03/2015 21:37

Oh goodl lord. I just volunteered to help at my daughter's and completely assumed it was more being a "responsible adult" tahn actually doing muh.

I have no idea about costues/hair etc...

Original poster
BramwellBrown · 13/03/2015 21:43

nope but have done in swimming costumes and tights they can't pull up themselves (on different nights) that's nearly the same isn't it?

OP posts:
KatyMac · 13/03/2015 21:45

It'll be fine - you'll love it Grin

Original poster
BramwellBrown · 13/03/2015 21:47

I need to stop my kids volunteering me for stuff, previous kid induced volunteering has included cooking for 30 cubs in a field, a day spent dressed up as an elf and 8 hours bag packing.

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 13/03/2015 21:47

If you do end up having to be responsible for the children, tell the teacher/ person in charge you haven't done it before.
Any good school will have a list of what to do.
There will be a running order in various places in changing rooms.
The dc should have each dance written on the costume so you know if its a tap, modern, ballet etc.
Only do what you can and don't forget parent volunteers are saving the school a huge amount as they would have to pay others to do it.
Don't panic and good luck