Paying for children's show tickets

Spendless

DD is in a drama group. They put on shows a couple of times a year, which we go and watch. We tell friends/relatives that she's going to be on and then if they come they purchase their own tickets.

Some of the other parents, pay for their whole families eg child's grandparents, aunts/uncles to come.

I'm not saying either way is correct or better. I just wondered what other peoples experiences were?

*A bit like the recent restaurant thread, when some people said what they did was they paid the whole bill if they were the one inviting. I started wondering if people applied the same to other invites?'

peachyprice

Anyone who wants to come see my daughter dance pays for their own ticket.

It used to be a pain because they could only be bought from the dance school so I had to collect the money, buy the tickets then distribute them. Now they're booked direct through the theatre website or by phone, an absolute god send.

kathrynha

I would make others pay for their own tickets, otherwise it could get very expensive.

If a close relative really couldn't afford it I would consider paying for theirs, but that would only extend as far as a grandparent.

minimacka

I used to pay for the grandparents to go and see the show with us, usually because you could get a family ticket for a couple of pounds more than a 2 adult ticket and you could take OAPs on the family ticket lol.


They loved to see their grandson on stage.

AubreyMac

peachyprice wrote: »

Anyone who wants to come see my daughter dance pays for their own ticket.

I agree with this.


Exception is when people are 'forced/coerced/guilt-tripped' into going to show their love/face/support.

TBagpuss

I think it depends whythey are coming. If they are coming because they want to see the show, then unless you decide to treat them, it's reasonable for them to pay for their own.

(And saying "if you'd like to see little Jane's show, tickets can be bought from x. y orz " makes t easier for people to not come if they don't want to!)

I think in some families there is an expectation that other relations *must* come, and I think in that situation, where they are effectively being strong-armed into going, it is reasonable for the parents who are insisting on their being there, to pay.

Hermia

TBagpuss wrote: »

I think it depends whythey are coming. If they are coming because they want to see the show, then unless you decide to treat them, it's reasonable for them to pay for their own.

(And saying "if you'd like to see little Jane's show, tickets can be bought from x. y orz " makes t easier for people to not come if they don't want to!)

I think in some families there is an expectation that other relations *must* come, and I think in that situation, where they are effectively being strong-armed into going, it is reasonable for the parents who are insisting on their being there, to pay.

I agree. I hope that there aren't many families where that happens. I did youth theatre for years and I don't remember anyone whose extended family came for every performance. My friend's daughter is in a dance troupe and shows are often £15 and she only ever dances in the back row so I could not pay that every time.

Spendless

kathrynha wrote: »

I would make others pay for their own tickets, otherwise it could get very expensive.

^^^ This is what sparked my wonderings. It hadn't occurred to me that people paid for their families tickets until a conversation with another Mum.

It came about because DD's drama school has grown in recent years, with different classes on every day. As such for the next performance different classes are performing on different days. DD takes 2 different classes. I am going to watch on the day that she is playing a part, but had no intention of watching the one where she takes part in (group) songs.

Talking it through with another Mum, whose daughter attends the same 2 classes, she hadn't intended to watch the group singing show either and said it was because she pays for all relatives to go and watch and that it had cost her over £100 for the tickets to watch the show her daughter has a part in. Tickets are priced between £10-£20. I don't think there's a discounted family ticket, unless you fit the criteria of 2 adults and 2 children.

As it happens, in the group singing show, the costumes became more and more 'fancy' and I decided if I was forking out for the outfits, it was a shame to not see DD in them, so I have bought a ticket for the second show, but for me only and I haven't asked anyone else to come along as I don't want them under pressure to purchase another ticket.

I am possibly making an exception to the rule of pay your own way. This is because one of my neighbours is terminally ill. A few years ago, she wanted to watch DD when she got cast in a professional production but the show ended up being cancelled. Since then she's been ill. DD's drama group productions end up being sold out well in advance of show date, so I've never been able to ask if she wants to go as can't judge how well she'll be that far ahead of me having to book tickets.

DD is doing a school production too, so I've asked my neighbours if they want to go to that and watch. Neighbour only goes to consultants to see about next round of treatment the weekday before the show, so I need to buy tickets before I actually know if she'll be well enough to go. If she isn't then I'll pass them on to friends. I wasn't going to ask my neighbours for the money and if they can't go I won't be asking anyone I invite instead to pay.

wendz86

My daughter is doing a dance show next month. If anyone comes to watch they will be paying.

Loz01

If I was just inviting a close relative (like my child's grandparent or something) then I would pay but if its other relatives and friends then I'd assume they should pay for their own or you'd end up forking out a fortune if 3/4/5/6 people all agreed to go.

silvercar

I would pay for siblings to see their sibling perform.