Etiquette for free park concert for kids

[Anonymous]

We have a free park concert series in our town. Lots of families come early to set up with blankets in the front and wait for the concert to start.

What’s the right thing to do when you come later? Sit only behind them even if there is room in front of the early people?

What about once the concert starts and the little kids are up and dancing? Can I hold my toddler in front to watch (possibly blocking families still sitting on their blankets?)

[Anonymous]

I think the “rules” are very loose for free outdoor concerts. I would hope (!) that there’s no expectation for people to sit still and be quiet - this isn’t the Kennedy Center and this isn’t the opera. I wouldn’t worry too much!

[Anonymous]

I never know. I always feel bad going up front when people had come early to set up.

But then, I set up somewhere else and someone always ends up sitting right in front of me.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Anonymous]

I think you sit where there is room - whether it be the front or the back. Just leave some room between blankets like an aisle for people to walk.

Unless the venue has some rule about everyone must be seated on a blanket, then it’s a free for all of people standing, dancing, sitting in camping chairs etc.

[Anonymous]

You can’t block the people who came early or who are seated. I love when little kids get up and dance to the music but a big-assed parent standing right in front and blocking my toddlers view pisses me off.

[Anonymous]

No, you really shouldn’t block the people who came early.

And please don’t stand right in front of people who are sitting to give your toddler a better view! We want out toddlers seated to see too!!

[Anonymous]

We went to one of those concerts yesterday!

I went to sit down with my toddler in from of a nanny and her two little kids and she told me no - to please not block her kids view of the band (not elevated). I understood and moved - they got there early to get an unobstructed view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can’t block the people who came early or who are seated. I love when little kids get up and dance to the music but a big-assed parent standing right in front and blocking my toddlers view pisses me off.

This.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends. A free concert with no assigned seats it’s really a free-for-all, if you get there early and pick a spot, you’re not guaranteed that spot will be the closest and unobstructed. If a family arrives at concert time and there is room in front of those save seats than they should by all means take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, you really shouldn’t block the people who came early.

And please don’t stand right in front of people who are sitting to give your toddler a better view! We want out toddlers seated to see too!!

If there is room in front of anyone, then it’s space to be used. If you want an unobstructed view, then you would be sitting as close as possible to the front and there wouldn’t be room for anyone else to sit.

[Anonymous]

You sit behind other people and leave room in front of the stage for kids to dance and play.

If your kid is not big enough to dance and play in the front, then you can hold them or dance with them to the side. You don’t stand front and center holding a kid, blocking parents from being able to see their kids who are big enough to wander down alone.

[Anonymous]

The front is the mosh pit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sit behind other people and leave room in front of the stage for kids to dance and play.

If your kid is not big enough to dance and play in the front, then you can hold them or dance with them to the side. You don’t stand front and center holding a kid, blocking parents from being able to see their kids who are big enough to wander down alone.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, you really shouldn’t block the people who came early.

And please don’t stand right in front of people who are sitting to give your toddler a better view! We want out toddlers seated to see too!!

If there is room in front of anyone, then it’s space to be used. If you want an unobstructed view, then you would be sitting as close as possible to the front and there wouldn’t be room for anyone else to sit.

No. You go to the back if you’re late. Come on! That’s common decency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to one of those concerts yesterday!

I went to sit down with my toddler in from of a nanny and her two little kids and she told me no - to please not block her kids view of the band (not elevated). I understood and moved - they got there early to get an unobstructed view.

Why would you do this in the first place? Why did you have to be told not to?