Should Danny and Sandy move seats?

Incisive

There are arguments for both sides but given that the seat is empty and that due consideration is given to the possibility that the person, or company, who purchased the ticket for that seat may turn up. I can't see any problem with moving to the seat provided you are happy to move immediately and quietly, if the ticket holder arrives.

Usually with regard to first class travel you are benefiting, not from a better view but from more comfortable seating with better food and/or additional services. In this case all Danny and Sandy are benefiting from is a clearer view. The only time this possibley could be an issue was if D and S happend to be 7ft 6 tall and obscured the view of the people directly behind them.

What would Scotsbob do if he bought expensive seats and our 7ft 6 tall friends sat in front of him.. would he accuse them of stealing his view.. would he move to empty seats, of a similar value, to get a better view or ask them to sit on the floor so he could see the view he paid for?

What a quandry.. :rolleyes:

Arthurian

Absolutely NOT! This makes my blood boil! Everyone else has spotted those empty seats, too, and everyone else would like them. They've all thought about moving up and are teetering on the edge of their seats, but realise to do so would be to disrespect everyone else. To take them is as bad as pushing to the front of a queue. The only way to uphold decency here is to leave the empty seats and for everyone to have the seats they've paid for. If anyone does this, they should know they have soured the evening for everyone else, and have proved themselves to be disgraceful, ignorant and selfish.

lesleymarr

sarahlouise210 wrote: »

I have done this on numerous occasions and see nothing wrong with it - if the seat is going to be empty throughout the performance then why not ?? It would be totally different if someone else had bought the ticket, but usually by about 20 mins in to the show you have a good indication that the seat will remain empty and is fair game! I even check out the internet at my local theatre and see which seats are empty before the performance so I know where I can move to! When I saw Jersey Boys recently we did not need to move but loads of people around us moved to better seats - no-one batted an eyelid..the seats were empty anyway. Why would anyone sit through a show with a poor view if they could move to an empty seat with a better view - just does not make sense! Agree totally with Ruth & Jasper...it is awful when the audience is sparce and spread out !

The tip about looking online for empty seats to move into is very good; thank you! I once went to see Maddy Prior and there were a lot of seats empty at the front, so she asked us all to move further in. Sadly I and my friend had both had hard days at work and both nodded off so I bet she regretted that. Sorry Maddy

lesleymarr

Incisive wrote: »

There are arguments for both sides but given that the seat is empty and that due consideration is given to the possibility that the person, or company, who purchased the ticket for that seat may turn up. I can't see any problem with moving to the seat provided you are happy to move immediately and quietly, if the ticket holder arrives.

Usually with regard to first class travel you are benefiting, not from a better view but from more comfortable seating with better food and/or additional services. In this case all Danny and Sandy are benefiting from is a clearer view. The only time this possibley could be an issue was if D and S happend to be 7ft 6 tall and obscured the view of the people directly behind them.

What would Scotsbob do if he bought expensive seats and our 7ft 6 tall friends sat in front of him.. would he accuse them of stealing his view.. would he move to empty seats, of a similar value, to get a better view or ask them to sit on the floor so he could see the view he paid for?

What a quandry.. :rolleyes:

Yes. I'm short (5.2) and giants are drawn as if by magnetism to plonk their vast carcasses in front of me. I OFTEN move to different, empty seats if I can't see. Nor do I ask, I just move, usually. So can I ask now, what about moving for a different reason, for instance the folk next to you won't shut up, or grope you? Isn't it ok to move then?. I think so.

Annette_Jones

Yes they should. It's not theft, just filling the seats nearer to the performers.

Crapgame

sarahlouise210 wrote: »

I have done this on numerous occasions and see nothing wrong with it - if the seat is going to be empty throughout the performance then why not ?? It would be totally different if someone else had bought the ticket, but usually by about 20 mins in to the show you have a good indication that the seat will remain empty and is fair game! I even check out the internet at my local theatre and see which seats are empty before the performance so I know where I can move to! When I saw Jersey Boys recently we did not need to move but loads of people around us moved to better seats - no-one batted an eyelid..the seats were empty anyway. Why would anyone sit through a show with a poor view if they could move to an empty seat with a better view - just does not make sense! Agree totally with Ruth & Jasper...it is awful when the audience is sparce and spread out !

This is dishonesty as per the Theft Act. You cannot buy lower priced tickets with the intention of sitting in higher priced seats.
It is not the same as taking advantage of empty seats when at the venue.
IMHO if you see empty higher priced seats you should at least offer to pay the difference, but there is nothing other than high morals to compel you to.

tindella

Absolutely! I have done this myself. Not living in London, going to the West End is expensive - train travel, overnight accommodation etc. I've had to pay extra for booking on line, even when picking up the ticket myself (what's THAT about - a fee for doing the work myself???), and not knowing where I'll be sitting until I get there.

I don't see that moving to a better, unoccupied seat is a dilemma at all - let alone a moral one. Who's losing out? Certainly not the audience who has a seat, certainly not the theatre who haven't sold the vacant seats - so, go for it!

aaudley

For Theft to be Theft the following conditions must apply.

Definition of THEFT - A person steals who (1) without the consent of the owner (2) takes and carries away (3) anything capable of being stolen (4) with intent at the time of such taking to permanently to deprive the owner thereof.

So therefore watching a show from a different seat is not theft.
Robocop.

snootyjim

If it's relatively empty then I'll always move down - if there were just a few scattered empty seats I wouldn't.

The issue for me is about disturbing other people (by making them stand up, making noise etc), and inconveniencing people (by sitting in their seats). If I don't have to spoil their evening, i.e. when the place is virtually empty, I'll happily go and sit in some better seats.

At the end of the day, the theatre already has my money. Why shouldn't I make sure I enjoy the performance?

jacksgrandma

Definitely would move ... and have on numerouse occasions but only after the show has been running for at least half an hour, only when there is a suitable break in the performance and provided we are not causing a disturbance to other theatregoers. Often there are seats left unsold and it would be silly to leave seats empty. :xmassmile