Saving seats

[thebigcheese]

http://theboard.byu.edu/index.php?area=viewall&id=58324

Call me annoying, but I am generally opposed to all forms of seat-saving. Families and dates (like the guy buying popcorn example) are probably my only exceptions. I've been to too many performances where I was on time and couldn't get a seat because some knucklehead was saving seats for all his tardy friends.

[wired]

You're definitely not alone. I think the only type of seat saving that should exist is temporary holds while someone goes to the restroom or to concessions. But, it shouldn't be an entire group going to either place.

I decided that I was probably being a bit harsh and that a more centrist approach would be a "1 Person, 1 Save." For every person you have in the the theater physically, you can save one seat. Nothing more than that. As soon as the actual movie starts, all bets are off - no saving after that.

I went to a movie recently and a total of three people were saving four entire rows in the theater. Of course, they were the best rows as well. It was mildly frustrating to arrive 40 minutes early and still not get a decent seat.

[NerdGirl]

Yeah, I'm only okay with it if the person the seat is being saved for had to step out for some reason or is parking the car or something, unless there's some really unusual circumstances going on. One person showing up to the the theater early and saving seats for 20 people who haven't even left home yet and may or may not show up? Not cool at all.

[Gimgimno]

This was one of the questions that we talked about in our podcast the other night--you know, in case any of you wanted to listen to it and give us feedback.

Just sayin'. P:

[thebigcheese]

As soon as the actual movie starts, all bets are off - no saving after that.

This is usually the rule for most performances. Unfortunately, it is not enforced very well.

My fiance and I went up to Park City for the Warren Miller movie last year. We had purchased our tickets ahead of time, drove all the way up there, and we were on time. But for some hair-brained reason, they had overbooked the theatre. There were like 30 people standing out in the lobby, tickets in hand, but couldn't sit down because there weren't enough seats and a bunch of people in the theatre were saving seats for latecomers. The only reason we got in is because we forced our way in there AFTER the movie had started and told the usher to make some guy give up his extra seats. Meanwhile, 28 other ticketholders still couldn't get in. THAT was an irritating situation.

Don't even get me started on Divine Comedy...

[bobtheenchantedone]

Oh Divine Comedy. The most my friends and I would do is have only one or two people show up two hours early, and the rest would be only about an hour early. We were always all there by the time it was time to go in.

[FauxRaiden]

My general rule has always been that you can save as many seats as you can reach with your hands from your own seat. After that, it's fair game.

I think it's pretty rude to save seats for more than a few minutes though. If the person can't be considerate enough to come on time, they don't deserve the seat.

[Carrapicho]

I'm with most everyone else here. Seat saving should only be done on a limited basis (like in the case of going to the bathroom or getting food, as previously mentioned), maximum of two saved seats per person saving them, and all bets are off once the performance starts (though I still think it's okay to save a seat if your friend has to use the bathroom or something during the performance). I have a hard time with latecomers--but maybe that's because I'm one of those chronically early people. I understand that you might run into traffic, but if you don't bother leaving your house until five minutes before the show is supposed to start, then you deserve to have a horrible seat once you get there.