Should Danny and Sandy move seats?

Taffybiker

I'd move if it really was a better view, but every theatre I've been in has had large screens displaying what is happening on stage. In fact, the performers have been almost invisible to to the glare of overly bright lighting, and I found myself watching the screens anyway.

gRoberts

My personal rule is, if I'm not happy with the seats and there are better ones. Move. If someone comes along and claims it's their seats, I move. Simple.

You may say the seats are "more" expensive but a seats a seat and your all there to watch the same show. Why charge more in the first place.

peterudd

I guess this might be interpreted as 'stealing by finding', but for my money it's OK towards the the end of the first interval.

warmhands.coldheart

Yes,

I've done it before and wasn't a problem as they were empty.
Obviously if they were sold and the people appear who actually booked them, then you'd have to give them up. but otherwise why not.... they are empty

DJ_Mike

I attended a showing of Avenue Q recently, and for the whole of the first act, the row behind us was empty. We were sat right at the front so had to look upwards all the time (although tbh it wasn't that bad) - nonetheless sitting a row back would have meant we could crane our necks less.

However, come the interval, the row filled up with people who claimed that because they arrived late, they had to stay at the very back until the interval, when they were allowed to go to their seats.

Now, either they're big fat liars (I didn't put the question to them about why they were suddenly occupying those seats, but someone else did) - or it's a genuine policy of big theatres not to allow disruption to a show once it has started, but allow you to move during the interval.

So the point of the matter is - during the whole of the first act, you basically have no way of knowing if those empty seats are simply unused, or if their patrons are left at the back of the theatre waiting until the interval.

By the second act, if they didn't fill up, it'd probably go less noticed for you to nab them, but by the time you get to the second act, do you really care?

pineapple

I wouldn't have a problem with this. As people have said, it looks better for the performer anyway.
But I would probably be worried the occupants might suddenly turn up - by which time someone else is in MY seat.

geri1965_2

scotsbob wrote: »

Maybe you should.

http://www.nelsonthornes.com/aqagce/A2%20Sample%20material/business/AQA%20law.pdf

Try buying a standard ticket on a train and then occupy a first class seat and see how the law treats you. Doing the same in a theatre is no different.

Your link confirms the definition of theft as follows:

"A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property
belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the
other of it; and ‘thief ’ and ‘steal’ shall be construed accordingly."

If you sit in a seat you haven't paid for, you are not permanently depriving anyone of it - the seat is still there when you leave! You may be temporarily depriving someone of it's use if you don't move when asked.

John_Pierpoint

It does not work on trains and planes though, unless you can blag your way to an upgrade.

Can cause an unpleasant taste on the mouth if you boast about it - especially on holidays ("we paid less for the holiday than you paid to get to the airport") For some people ignorance is bliss.

I remember a singer saying "I'm not singing to empty seats, you lot come down here" - I suppose us "real" fans did get to sit behind the punters who had paid full price for the stalls.

gaily

I've been to the theatre before, and arrived well before time - to find someone sat in my seat. They hastily moved, and it transpired through the course of the evening that their party was unable to purchase tickets together, but didn't want to miss the show and decided to see how long they could sit and chat before anybody turned up.

After the first act, the people sat next to us left - presumably to join their friends. I had no problem with it at the time as there was no argument - it was my seat, and it was well before the performance started.

If I was late to sit down, ie just before the curtain went up, and was feeling rushed harassed etc by running late, I would not be impressed if i then had to cause a bit of a commotion and move people out of my seat (especially if not on the aisle). If I was arriving to sit down at the first opportunity to do so, then hopefully they would have the good grace to move quietly.

fiscalfreckles

Its perfectly acceptable to do this - and standard practise in most theatres. As long as you would move back should the real occupants of the seat turn up late. But if they never arrive, why let a good seat got o waste?

As the actress above says, better for everyone that the theatre is fuller towards the front of the house.

In my experience though, the FOH staff are usually unwilling to agree to it when asked, as they are unsure whether the rightful occupants of the seats will turn up. They don't actually MIND you doing it, but don't like to be the one to give "official permission" - just in case!

So yes, they should go ahead, but move discreetly and courteously, preferably during the overture or just before curtain up. Or wait for a suitable break in the performance.