Booster seats for Kennedy Center?

[Anonymous]

Serious answer here:

I've been taking my kids to real theater since they were really young (ok, not 5 and 6, more like around 9).

First, buy seats in the upper balcony. It's much more steeply pitched which lets them see over the people in front of them more easily. Sitting on a coat can generally do the trick. Bring a pair of binoculars for each kid. If you already have tickets, see if you can exchange them. Orchestra seats and really short people just don't mix.

Second, buy seats on the aisle, so that if your kids get restless you can hustle them out without disturbing others.

Third, go over the "no talking, and that means no whispering too" rule frequently beforehand.

Fourth, do not bring a booster seat in with you. It might make sense to you, but is guaranteed to annoy others before you ever sit down. It will also prevent the seat from flipping up so that others can squeeze by you.

Parenthetically, I don't think of Wicked as a family friendly show - it's not Lion King with a witch. The music is great but not all show-stoppers, the story line is complicated and assumes a familiarity with the Wizard of Oz, and the most well known songs will go right over the heads of small children, without extensive explanations (see rule three above).

[Anonymous]

Good to see the entitlement attitude is alive and well on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

I saw Wicked in San Francisco and there was a 4 year old sitting next to me who was amazingly well behaved. So I believe it's possible. My 5 year old couldn't handle it though. I agree about calling and asking about booster seats. The pp had some great suggestions too!

[Anonymous]

Funniest thing I have ever read on dcum. I would love to see someone schlepping booster seats through the grand foyer of the kc.

[Anonymous]

"Magical" my ass. I'm calling CPS if I so much as hear a peep out of OP's kids, for her entitled attitude alone. Completely inappropriate to have your kids out at that hour, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I paid that much for a ticket and someone with kids was there and they start making noise (asking questions, whatever), I am going to ask you once to keep them quiet. If you don't, then I am going to ask the manager for my money back and tickets to another performance because your kids are a nuisance. This will clue the manager that it is time to ask you to either keep your kids quiet or ask you to leave and I hope it will be the latter.

Do not take your kids to any thing unless they are old enough to know how to behave; not have to go to the bathroom; don't want to eat.

I'm not trying to be mean or snarky or anything, but really? I've been to the Kennedy Center, Broadway, etc many many many times and if I could do this regarding adults I would have almost all my money back. Kids aren't the only ones who talk throughout entire performances, have to get up to answer a phone call, get out of the chair, eat, drink, then spill the wine, adjust themselves so many times it's impossible not to notice, text, have a reading light, talk, talk talk, and then talk some more.

I understand everyone getting upset that a kid *might* be attending a Kennedy Center event, but I have to tell you, I saw Wicked when it had it's first run through the Kennedy Center and there were tons of kids, young, older, and inbetween.

[Anonymous]

I would bring two fairly stiff pillows. The booster seats will be overly conspicuous, and it will be hard to carry two, assuming you will be the only adult in the party. As 18:18 said, it will also make it difficult for other people to get by.

[Anonymous]

OP- people like you annoy me because they try and press on their kids experiences they are too young for and there seems to be no good reason why.

Wicked has been running for a few years now and it will likely keep running for a couple more. Exactly what harm will it do to wait until your kids are older. Do you really think seeing Wicked is some once in a lifetime opportunity???

The theatre will always be there. There will always be great productions. If not Wicked, some other great show. When I was young it was Cats. I saw it but really it didn't make or break my childhood and I really don't remember it at all.

Take your kids when they can go and appreciate it and enjoy it. In the meantime there are plenty of opporutnities for kids to see musicals that are closer to their level. Heck take them to the next high school musical performance.

[Anonymous]

The fact that OP is considering dragging two booster seats into the Kennedy Center for a performance of Wicked makes me think she might be a loon and thus too delusional to make the call that her kids will not be a nuisance to others.

[Anonymous]

I am doubtful that booster seats will fit in the chairs in the Opera House.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While you might be only paying $90 per ticket, the most expensive seats are selling for $250. This is not an appropriate activity for children that young.

OMG. NOW you've convinced me. How thoughtless of me not to understand that my little urchins in their $90 seats could possibly be robbing you in your $250 seats of an enjoyable evening.

This is why you're an entitled bitchy person who has no friends that she has to take her kids to a play with her instead of going to the theater with friends. You have no friends. Ooooh, I get it. Now it makes perfect sense to me that you find this to be a perfectly reasonable thing to do. I feel sorry for you. You irritate the crap out of me, but in a sad, pathetic way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I paid that much for a ticket and someone with kids was there and they start making noise (asking questions, whatever), I am going to ask you once to keep them quiet. If you don't, then I am going to ask the manager for my money back and tickets to another performance because your kids are a nuisance. This will clue the manager that it is time to ask you to either keep your kids quiet or ask you to leave and I hope it will be the latter.

Do not take your kids to any thing unless they are old enough to know how to behave; not have to go to the bathroom; don't want to eat.

I'm not trying to be mean or snarky or anything, but really? I've been to the Kennedy Center, Broadway, etc many many many times and if I could do this regarding adults I would have almost all my money back. Kids aren't the only ones who talk throughout entire performances, have to get up to answer a phone call, get out of the chair, eat, drink, then spill the wine, adjust themselves so many times it's impossible not to notice, text, have a reading light, talk, talk talk, and then talk some more.

I understand everyone getting upset that a kid *might* be attending a Kennedy Center event, but I have to tell you, I saw Wicked when it had it's first run through the Kennedy Center and there were tons of kids, young, older, and inbetween.

Then you should have found an usher and asked to see the manager, who, in turn, would have sked them to be quiet. I don't know which theatre you attend but I have never been to the opera, concern, or live play where people eat or drink while seated.

[Anonymous]

OP's kids avent even done anything wrong. I dont get why people are jumping all over her. Is the presenance of children alone enough to rile you all up?

I assume that if she children are not behaving, she'll take them out- like I would hope any of you would do where ever you are. I take my kids out of the playground if they are not behaving, I'd certainly take them out of a performance.

Why cant we give OP the benefit of the doubt and assume that perhaps she wants to enjoy the show too and wouldnt take her kids if they were going to disturb her? You are all a bunch of judgmental, "entitled" snobs that think assume that you should be entitled to an evening where no child, silent or not, is present.

OP - ask the KC if they have boosters, if not, bring pillows or large books even. You could ever ask the restaurant in the KC if they have something you could use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"Magical" my ass. I'm calling CPS if I so much as hear a peep out of OP's kids, for her entitled attitude alone. Completely inappropriate to have your kids out at that hour, OP.

This doesn't have anything to do with whether or not OP should take her children to Wicked at the KC...but a month ago my DH took my DD (3 and 1/2) to Disney Princess on Ice at First Mariner arena in Bmore and it started at 7:30 and lasted nearly two hours. She did great. Obviously some kid's shows do start later in the evening, unless someone wants to argue princess on ise is for adults. Are you seriously arguing that even on a special occasion a five and six year old cannot be out until 10 or so?

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe the ridiculous replies from 'outraged' theatre goers. OP - go ahead and take your kids to Wicked. You have every right to bring them to the Kennedy Center. I love the response from the idiot complaining it's inappropriate to have kids out at that hour. Call protective services! A child is out after 10:00!! What a bunch of cackling hens.