Kennedy center requires tickets for infants!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obvious question: why take a ten year old to a play at the KC? If you are doing children's theather, that'/ one thing (but not at 10 weeks!!). Otherwise, your kid will get nothing out of the play, opera, ballet, symphony, etc. and if they start fussing, will disrupt the entire theater, while you push past everyone in your row and try to get the child out. This is just like taking a newborn to the movie theater (except for cry showings)--?except the audience members have shelled out much, much more money for a relaxing ADULT evening.

So why does the KC require this? To strongly discourage parents from bringing young kids to an " adult" show-- or even an older kid show, like the Lion King. By the time your DC is 3-4, look for things in the children's theater.

But please don't take a baby to an adult show. Just no. Instead, take the $$ you would spend on a ticket and hire a babysitter, so you can really enjoy the show without worrying about your child shrieking, or having to leave mid-way through.

What kind of bad parent would leave their 10 week old with a babysitter? That's even worse than taking the kid to a play.

Let's see.. germs for a kid early in the vaccination series. A mom who can't feed the child with pushing out past the whole row. An overstimulated kid from the noise, lights, music, sound affects, and an infant kept up awake, in public, and possibly unable to sleep until very late at night. I personally wouldn't take an infant to a KC play or attend the play or get a babysitter-- it's one of the things new parents usually give up, at least at first. But, no-- I don't actually think attending the play is worse for the baby than a competent adult babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not all about you and your infant and your desire not to get a babysitter. It is about all those around you in the theater that are paying $$$ to enjoy a show, who at the very least don't want a squirming infant next to them, but also don't want you ruining their experience by jumping up and down taking your child in and out of the theater during the show. I am sure that is why the KC wants you to pay for a ticket. If you look at their website, they recommend that a child is at least 6 before you take them to any show, including things like the Lion King.

Amen!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:really surprised at the negative comments here! People should have the option of taking their kids everywhere. Many don't have baby sitter options and I would not lave a small child with a sitter anyway. Paying for an extra ticket is an unnecessary burden on a new parent. The child would probably sleep through the hour anyway.

PP is right - baby might sleep through. But you can see the risk, right? Baby wakes and becomes fussy. During a Kennedy Center performance, you don't see people moving around in their seats, or getting up to leave. Heck, for a concert they will wait till between movements even to cough. I've lived in - and appreciated - countries where babies go everywhere with their parents. I would take a 10 wk old to a family-type restaurant, to church, and a lot of other places. I've even taken a toddler in business class (as far as I know, nobody was disturbed). But for the Kennedy Center I'd get a babysitter or stay home.

[Anonymous]

In many cases, KC will only seat latercomers or people who least and come back between movements, acts, etc. no way they are going to let mom wander in and out depending on the baby's mood. They won't stop you from leaving with a screaming infant (infant, they will hustle you out). But don't expect to be let back in until after intermission. And if the baby was screaming and disruptive, don't expect to be allowed to return at all.

Seriously OP-- have you ever been to a KC event? Or do you really not get what life with an infant looks like. The two do.not.mix.

[Anonymous]

Just adding a performer's perspective. I have performed in the Kennedy Center and other large halls where pressure is definitely on and the expectations for a perfect performance are very real. There are reviews next day, possibilities of future bookings.....lots on the line.
The idea of a baby there is not something that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside in this scenario - it is a factor that could throw me off when I have memorized 45 min to an hour of score. We are trained to deal with distractions but people getting up and down and noise so that we cant hear ensemble or catch cues are just scary. I don't usually pull this card ( I have 3 kids of my own and one is under 5 still) but OP needs to have respect for that scenario - this would be the same for theatre productions, opera, or orchestral concerts. We have worked our whole lives to deliver these works at a level which is booked by places like the KC. There is a certain expectation by the artists that the set up will be conducive to them being able to hit their mark so to speak. Babies don't make the cut there because they are too unpredictable. It is likely not possible for some reason to make it officially no babies allowed - but they can make you think twice with price shock. This also allows people to bring children they think are young but very interested and offer them that inspiration. One of my kids is a kid like that and they know that going to a performance is a special thing and what kind of behavior is expected so I am happy to pay for a full priced ticket. If they ever tested those rules on me and jeopardized the performer's time on stage, they wouldn't see the inside of a concert hall for another year. Just kids concerts then...

[Anonymous]

Wow these comments are brutal lol. I don’t believe in allowing my kid to be disruptive, but if they never go anywhere they’ll never know how to behave! I concur that 10 weeks is a bit too young for a stage performance. It would actually be easier at 2-4 weeks—they just sleep all the time! But I wound up here because I purchased tickets to Babar for my 4 year old and we will be taking my 1 year old too. I guess it’s true, sigh, I’ll get him a ticket now lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:really surprised at the negative comments here! People should have the option of taking their kids everywhere. Many don't have baby sitter options and I would not lave a small child with a sitter anyway. Paying for an extra ticket is an unnecessary burden on a new parent. The child would probably sleep through the hour anyway.

PP is right - baby might sleep through. But you can see the risk, right? Baby wakes and becomes fussy. During a Kennedy Center performance, you don't see people moving around in their seats, or getting up to leave. Heck, for a concert they will wait till between movements even to cough. I've lived in - and appreciated - countries where babies go everywhere with their parents. I would take a 10 wk old to a family-type restaurant, to church, and a lot of other places. I've even taken a toddler in business class (as far as I know, nobody was disturbed). But for the Kennedy Center I'd get a babysitter or stay home.

I am genuinely curious to know what countries people have been to where they have seen infants at major theater venues. I have been to performances in several european countries, mexico, and a couple of south american countries. Have not seen any infants/young children, let alone many infants/young children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:really surprised at the negative comments here! People should have the option of taking their kids everywhere. Many don't have baby sitter options and I would not lave a small child with a sitter anyway. Paying for an extra ticket is an unnecessary burden on a new parent. The child would probably sleep through the hour anyway.

No. People should not have the option of taking their kids everywhere.

[Anonymous]

I dropped a lot of money to see the Lion King for an evening performance and get a baby sitter.

No - I did not enjoy the 3 YO singing along. It was not a family performance. Children clearly did not know how to behave because their parent's did not tell them.

Similarly - taking a 10 week old along. IF and ONLY IF - you have the last row in the theater and the seat next to the door to make an easy quick escape in case the baby gets fussy - it might be OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dropped a lot of money to see the Lion King for an evening performance and get a baby sitter.

No - I did not enjoy the 3 YO singing along. It was not a family performance. Children clearly did not know how to behave because their parent's did not tell them.

Similarly - taking a 10 week old along. IF and ONLY IF - you have the last row in the theater and the seat next to the door to make an easy quick escape in case the baby gets fussy - it might be OK.

Not totally with you. I agree bringing a 10 week old is ridiculous (If you can afford the Kennedy Center you can afford a sitter) but lion King is a family show. If you’re talking about Hamilton or rent or something else with adult content that’s one thing. You expect the kids at lion King.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel sorry for the poor PPs who are clearly stuck at home with their infants and no interest in or opportunity to get out and about. Stop singing those who want to go to open houses, the theater etc and don't see why their children should constrain them.

FFS, if you need to get out of the house that badly, go to a local coffee shop with a poetry night, a library story hour, or maybe Millennial Stage at the Kennedy Center. Don't ruin a night out for the patrons who got sitters, paid good money for tickets, dressed up, and want to enjoy a night at the theater. Can a well-behaved child of the age of 5/6/7 or so be part of that evening? Yes. Can an INFANT? No.

Grow up and learn that there is a time and a place for everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dropped a lot of money to see the Lion King for an evening performance and get a baby sitter.

No - I did not enjoy the 3 YO singing along. It was not a family performance. Children clearly did not know how to behave because their parent's did not tell them.

Similarly - taking a 10 week old along. IF and ONLY IF - you have the last row in the theater and the seat next to the door to make an easy quick escape in case the baby gets fussy - it might be OK.

Not totally with you. I agree bringing a 10 week old is ridiculous (If you can afford the Kennedy Center you can afford a sitter) but lion King is a family show. If you’re talking about Hamilton or rent or something else with adult content that’s one thing. You expect the kids at lion King.

NP. It's called a matinee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:really surprised at the negative comments here! People should have the option of taking their kids everywhere. Many don't have baby sitter options and I would not lave a small child with a sitter anyway. Paying for an extra ticket is an unnecessary burden on a new parent. The child would probably sleep through the hour anyway.

You are hilarious!

[Anonymous]

Who on earth takes an infant to any theater, and more to Kennedy center?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's a way to dissuade people from bringing their infants to a play at the Kennedy Center.

+1 though in fairness, an infant might create very little stir. It's the age 3-5 set that often can't sit still through a performance. And yet, many parents feel entitled to take them, and even if their child is moving or making noise, they stay through the whole performance. This is entitlement.