Entitled family takes already claimed theatre seats and refuses to give them up, gets karmic reward for their actions: 'They're not giving the seats up.'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 30, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

There's a certain etiquette involved when it comes to enjoying public entertainment… even if you'd paid to view it, and no matter how much you have paid to view it, you should not do anything that detracts from others' enjoyment of the event. Not only has it become commonplace for concertgoers to eclipse the view of those behind them with cell phones and signs, but it has also become far more commonplace for concertgoers to shriek lyrics passionately at the top of their lungs, drowning out the stadium speakers for all of those around them—or in quieter venues speak loudly for the entire duration of the show. It's all well and good to enjoy yourself, but if it's to the point that it's detracting from other's experience, you need to reevaluate and realize that you're not the center of attention, and if you can't handle that, you owe everyone around you their price of admission. Or, if you're really so determined to have your own audience, you should just host your own event and see who turns up. It seems that post-pandemic behavior has only gotten worse. Though perhaps I've only grown more intolerant. But it seems more and more that individualist ideals have taken over from the collective enjoyment, and attendees either have forgotten or never learned how to properly behave. 

This opportunistic and entitled family refused to give up the theatre seats that they had stolen from another family and got to watch the family they had stolen the seats from get even better ones.

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    Image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Image is for illustration only and subjects are models.

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    Posted by u/jdxink Family take seats at theatre... S So I witnessed this years ago and have been dying to post it somewhere because I always felt like the conclusion was so satisfying it was worth sharing. So, me and my friend went to see a play at a small theatre (Beauty and the Beast, loads of fun), we got the tickets late so ended up at the absolute tippity-top of the place, but right next to the bar so no problem.
    via jdxink
  • 03
    During intermission, my friend went to the bar and I stayed to watch our seats (this section is not assigned seating). So I'm looking back over my shoulder in anticipation of her coming back, when I see a family of four approach four kinda empty seats. I only say kinda empty cos the previous occupants had left their jackets over their chairs to reserve them. This isnt a rule, but where I'm from, it is generally respected, if there's a coat on the chair it's occupied - find another. This family h
    via jdxink
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    So now I'm glued to this, how are next family going to react? I wasn't close enough to hear anything, but the previous occupants came back, another family of four, and things get heated, I could see the parents of newly seated family pointing aggressively and their mouths moving fast. They're not giving the seats up.
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  • 05
    So non-seated family walk away, and come back a moment later with a member of staff. I'm thinking, uh-oh, about to go down. But the family and the staff member walk right past the seated family. They keep walking and disappear out another door, only to reappear a few seconds later inside one of those fancy boxes that sit right next to the stage, the ones that usually seat famous/important people. I look back to entitled family, the mood is visibly ruined. I'm just sitting there buzzing off the c
    via jdxink
  • 06
    JipC1963 Instead of "Dinner and a Show" you were rewarded with a "Show within a Show" with spectacular Karmic value! Bravissimo! newfranksinatra If only it were Hamlet... shows all the way down
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    PedanticRedhead I work in a theatre. We have a late seating policy that brings people in about 15 minutes into the performance (traffic/public transport delays happen, yaknow?). A lot of people when they see empty seats try to move into them just before the show starts, or as the opening number swells. I go to these people and tell them to get back to the seats that they paid for (some people really try it on by coming from several rows back!), and most grumble and comply. Some of course are stu
    via jdxink
  • 08
    Heres the thing: if people ask nicely, and wait until the interval (intermission), then we do our best to be accommodating. But be entitled? Nu uh. In fact, I think those seats just became permanently unavailable. jdxink OP Saintly theatre workers doling out karma to entitled everywhere, love it! PedanticRedhead It's the little things that get us through!
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    DeonBenes I hate the idea of strangers moving my jacket in case I left something in the pocket and it falls out when they carelessly toss it on another theatre seat. RussBof6 This isnt a rule, but where I'm from, it is generally respected, if there's a coat on the chair it's occupied - find another. You mean from planet earth, OP?
    via jdxink
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    ayame400 Theaters should have a "revenge box" for things like this and during intermission/right before the bow and it's announced who got to sit in the revenge box and why. sigharewedoneyet Too bad public shaming isn't really a thing now. News papers used to have a public/community shaming page.
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