Brisbane's Kids
Public Concert Etiquette – or- Don’t Touch THE Blanket!
As you know the kids and I went to see the lighting of the Xmas Tree in town last week. Now I don’t want to go into a blow by blow account of an altercation with another mother. But I do want to get some other thoughts on the etiquette expectations of attending public concerts or fireworks displays.
My situation has probably occurred too many of us:
When we arrived at the area where the concert was to happen, before it started the kids and I were kind of peering into see what was going on and someone who was obviously working at the event told us to take the kids down the front because there was “loads” of room. We thought great and with much excuse me’s took ourselves to the spot suggested.
There was no problem with room we sat down making sure all bags were out of the way, my light stroller was collapsed and we weren’t sitting in anyone’s personal space. All seemed fine and a bit of light conversation took part between myself and the kids nearest us sitting {on a large blanket}.
Now as luck would have it my beautiful 4 year old tells me 3 songs into the show that he needs to go to the toilet, “NOW”!! ahhhhh ok then. I leave my friend and her kids to tippy-toe around all the other seated people to go and find a toilet.
When said bladder is empty we start making our return journey to our previous spot. (I’m sure the precision foot work required for such a maneuver would be marveled at by some of the worlds most flexible dancers.) Now when we did get back we find another small group had sat where we were. This was no problem, because there was plenty of room {on the blanket} so I smiled at the kids with a big “Sorry guys it seems we need to steal a bit of room here.”
KABOOOOOM.
The mother of the children who was a good meter away seemed to implode then explode at the same time. Apparently I had just committed a major crime and was in need of a stern telling off. All the while some poor girl was trying to sing “Santa Baby” a couple of meters away. So much for Xmas spirit. It seems the issue(ok as I saw it) was that because I hadn’t arrived at 4pm and sat around for 2 ½ hours dealing with 3 bored toddlers, I shouldn’t have been anywhere near this prime spot.
Now I can tell you that if there wasn’t room at the front I would have been perfectly happy to continue to peer through from the back and just go with the flow of the evening. I will definitely not come hours early for a concert with small children. It would drive both them and then me insane to do so.
But what is it with the “blanket MySpace claim?” what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Best
Glenys
Tags: Discussion
2 comments for “Public Concert Etiquette – or- Don’t Touch THE Blanket!”
Post a comment
The mother with the blanket has obviously made the EFFORT to go in early to secure her and her family a “prime spot” for the concert. Too often people come in just before the event (and quite often after the event has started) and close in on this prime position that has been patiently guarded for hours beforehand.
If there is plenty of room around then there isn’t a problem with late comers, however if the “plenty of room” happens to include someone elses blanket then of course there is bound to be some hostility! Other peoples blankets and chairs are definitely a no go zone unless you have asked politeley and been given permission to use them. I imagine the mother was venting her frustration at you because you were the closest of the invaders.
Good comment AL,
If there is a next time in this situation, I’ll be asking if it’s “Ok to sit here?” even if there is no apparent blanket space taken. Lesson learned.