Concert Etiquette for Kids and the Parents who Love them!

"Shannon's guide to Taking Children to Performances."

These are not official rules, just MY OPINIONS, but may help parents, children, performers and theatre staff have a more pleasant experience.

1. Know your children. – Each child is different. Ages, temperaments, attitudes, bladders and sleeping patterns can affect a theatre-going experience. In this day and age, I would recommend "practice sessions" with video recordings in your own home, followed by "dress rehearsals" at movie theatres with kid-friendly movies. The following behaviors are appropriate for a concert hall. Ironically, some adults still struggle with these behaviors:
   
   1. Quietly sit still 1-2 hours while watching performance, with no food or drink.
      
   2. Use a whisper voice only when performance is not active (i.e. breaks between songs, act changes, etc.)
      
   3. Hold bladder 1-2 hours (It is not okay to put a child in a diaper or pull up, have the child poop, but wait 45 minutes until intermission or conclusion to change. That behavior really stinks.)
      
   4. Use a public bathroom facility.
      
   5. Dress appropriately for the event.
      
   6. Turn off electronic equipment, including cell phones, cameras, video games, etc.
      
   7. NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY! It distracts the performers, and wreaks havoc on the thousands of dollars they have spent on their lighting design.
      
2. Know the venue. – Before you take your children to an event at the venue of choice, attend an event yourself.
   
   1. Take a stop watch. – Time how long it takes you to get from turning the car on to when you sit down in your seat in the theatre. Plan to park in about the same place. Also, time how long it takes you from the point you stand up after the performance until you walk in your door.
      
   2. Find the seats you will be sitting in with your children.
      
   3. Locate the nearest exits, bathrooms, etc. If you "know the drill" it goes more smoothly when your children are with you.
      
   4. Whenever possible, take your children on a "practice run". Most family-friendly venues, when asked nicely, will allow you to come in during lobby hours and go into the theatre to show your children what to expect. A quick walk-through only takes about 15 minutes, but saves a lot of stress the night of when you add thousands of strangers, lighting and noise changes, and an awkward time of day (most performances take place very close to bedtime).
      
3. Know the performance. – Do your homework!
   
   1. Read the description of the event presented by the ticket office.
      
   2. Look up the event online. Read the descriptions. If you feel uncertain about the event DON'T BUY THE TICKET. It's better to be safe than sorry.
      
   3. Show your children the pictures, and read them the website information.
      
4. The day of the performance:
   
   1. Call the theatre and ask for the run-time of the show. If the show and drive time are going to keep your children up more than an hour after their normal bedtime, consider short naps earlier in the day.
      
   2. Prepare outfits early, and have them ready for changing pre-departure, post-eating. Remember that many theatres are kept chilly because the bright stage lights produce heat, and cause theatres to warm up. Light layers are best.
      
   3. Pack your bag. Include diapers and wipes (if your children use them) and a small penlight. Remember that theatres do not like food brought in, even if it is "just a water bottle and some cheerios." NO FOOD! If you are looking at a drive-home time of greater than 20 minutes, consider taking pajamas along to change into after the show. These can be left in the car, and greatly help when children fall asleep in the car.
      
   4. Take the length of time it took you to get to the theatre (from 2a above), add 15 minutes, and plan to leave that many minutes before the show starts.
      
   5. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE LUXURY OF VALET SERVICE. That $20+ tip may be worth it after the show when you are carrying sleeping, or cranky, children out to the car.
      
   6. USE THE BATHROOM WHEN YOU GET TO THE THEATRE! Even if the children went right before you left the house, atmospheric differences affect bladder control.
      
   7. Have a great time!