I saw this thread a few days ago, and I have been trying to think of something good to post. So far I hadn't come up with anything better than the Denver Broncos (sorry Colorado), but tonight I found a GOOD one.
The Presidio Brass, a growing-in-prominence brass quintet from San Diego, were in town for a perfomance tonight. Being a brass player myself I was excited to attend. On a whim, I decided to sit on the balcony. I had never listened to a concert from a balcony before (partly because most of the concerts I go to are ones in which I'm playing), and while it might be a little distant for a play, for an instrumental concert I found the acoustics to be fantastic. One other audience member, a woman a few years older than me, felt the balcony was an acceptable place to chase her toddler about. I don't mean chasing a misbehaving child around; that would at least have been understandable. I mean laughing, giggling, playful chasing. They were toddling up and down the stairs, stomping down isles, having a great time. Don't get me wrong, I love children. They're a delight, especially at that age where they've just started walking and are beginning to enjoy the widness of the world, and while this exploration can be a good thing, it is in no way appropriate in a formal concert setting. At one point the little girl (who was a darling, I must admit) started squealing with delight, during Danny Boy of all songs. DANNY BOY!!! Instead of listening to one of the most beautiful tunes of all time, all I could hear was the uneven thumps of a toddler learning how to run, and her mother's pursuing high heels! ARRRGH!!!
The child, of course, was not to blame; she was far too young to know any better. The mother, however, was far too old NOT to know better, and why she couldn't understand how inconsiderate she was being to her fellow concet-goers is beyond me.
So a plea. If your child is too restless to appropriately attend a two hour concert, then please, don't bring them. Otherwise, you might find more than a few disapproving scowls coming your way.
Most of them from brass players.
