It never fails....what would you have done?

It's annoying I know, maybe put a large sign up, saying parents are requested to take fractious childre, crying babies outside so as not to distract from the show.

If I think about it I don't ever remember having taken my daughter to things like this where she could have been disruptive to so many people if she cried. I think a parent should get a babysitter or have a family member watch them if the parent wants to go to an event like this. I guess I would've tried to find someone you knew was in charge and asked them to as the woman to step out of the theatre. I'm sorry this ruined your daughter's video. Some people don't eem to think before they do things like this.

What a shame that you didn't get a nice recording of your daughter in the play! How rude of that woman to keep the baby in the theater and ruining the experience for everyone else. I'm sure she probably had somebody in the cast that was a family member, but still, you would have thought that she would have taken the crying baby to the back of the theater at the very least. Some people just don't think at all. I would have talked to one of the ushers at intermission, or one of the school personnel. Hopefully one of the other parents that sat in a different section (away from the baby) will have a decent copy and be willing to have one made for you. I'd ask my daughter to ask other cast members if their parents had a good recording that you could offer to pay for a copy of.

Since she was so rude, and I am sure a lot of people were upset with her. I would have asked her if she didn't mind, but to stand in the back, as nobody could hear. Too bad there were no ushers to do that for you. At church, I have encountered that. Some people are just very self centered, and they need to be talked too.

Unfortunately there was not much you can do, unless you are going to create a scene. The mother of the baby should have had more respect for everyone and taken the baby out. She was unfair on the audience and the people doing the performance. Some people only think of themselves and don't worry about others around them.

i would of leaned forward and told that lady nicely to please leave with her screaming child. Or i would of got a usher to usher her and that screaming child out of the play. Anyone would of probably done that, they do that in the movies when kids are crying and screaming, i have seen a usher come in and ask the people to leave.

I would have huffed and puffed and murmured in hopes of her hearing and getting the drift. If she didn't, I would have just politely tapped her shoulder and asked if she could take the child outside, as you can't hear your daughter's performance and the camcorder is only able to pick up the baby's cries. Who brings a baby to something like that anyway??? Sheesh! I hate when people bring their babies to things like that, then continue to be inconsiderate by not taking them out when they cry.

That was very rude of her. I do understand wanting to see the performance but she should have been polite and realize others did as well. I doubt she could have heard much of it with a baby screaming in her ear. She should have at the least gotten up and moved to the back of the auditorium so that she wouldn't disturb that many people. As for your copy you might want to check with the school. they might have video taped it and maybe you can get a copy from them. Might be an option for you.

If it was me, I would of probably asked the lady to calm the baby down and then come back and I would I made it clear that you were recording a special part of your daughter. If she refused, then all you can say is at least you tried. But I think it's rude for people to do stuff like that. I have two kids and if I was at a play and one of them started crying, I would of walked out and calmed him down first and then maybe tried to go back in. Or I would of stood in the back and just bounced the baby. Sometimes people don't think.

She was extremely rude. I missed alot of "productions" because I seemed to always have a baby in tow myself. Sometimes I got lucky, but I always chose and aisle seat so that I could sneak out if I had to. I did mention to one woman a few years later there was a mothers room that she could comfort her child in. I was told in no uncertain terms to mind my own business.

Yikes! I'm so sorry that happened, I know how you feel though - we've had things like that happen to us as well regarding my son and school events that we are looking forward to or that he has worked hard on - only to have someone with no manners ruin it. I'm not sure there is much you could have done but I would have been very tempted and depending on how upset I was - to tap her on the shoulder and ask if she would take the baby to the back of the room because it was your child's last play of her high school career and you are trying to video tape it. OR I would have found someone in charge of the theater and asked them to have the lady move because it was disrupting the performance and the audience. It's after the fact now though so you might want to see if you can find another parent that was closer and away from the screaming child that might have video taped it and you can get a copy. I'm sorry again, if it had been me with the baby I could not have stayed sitting there - I would have moved outside or to the back of the room. Some people just do not have manners.

sadly there isnt anything you can really do. its not the fault of the woman whose child is crying, that is what babies do! Simply mark it down to bad luck Im afraid

I understand that she wanted to see her child as badly as you wanted to see yours, but I do think she was being rather inconsiderate by not trying to calm the baby down or moving out to the back. I also feel that the organizers should have been more on the ball about this. Having a baby cry for a few minutes is one thing, but letting her sit there for the entire performance with a screaming baby isn't showing much consideration for everyone else who wanted to hear their child's performance too.

This is quite easy actually since I have organised various events before. The organisers should have in fact been on the ball about this. Since they were not, you could have approached the organisers and ask them to ask the lady to leave. It is not an offence to have babies or to bring them to plays, but it is inconsiderate if the baby starts to cry. I am so surprised that she didn't try to calm the baby down, or at least feel embarrassed enough to bring the baby out.

It would not seem right but i would ask the lady to please help her child quiten down. Since a baby is bound to cry, she should have at least come prepared with a bottle of water or milk so some toy that the baby liked to distract the baby. But even after asking, and if the woman did not leave, i guess i would keep glaring at hte lady but not say anything more. Butlike you after the intermission, i would find a better place far away from that particular lady

As another parent who has attended multiple plays, concerts and dance shows for my daughters, I can sympathize with this situation. We have videos where you can hear people's full conversations (having nothing to do with the presentation), other children screaming and complaining "I'm bored" and, yes, crying babies too. It's really disheartening when you look back on these precious moments of your children's lives and they are somewhat marred, due to other peoples' lack of consideration. When my children were small, I tried not to take them to events that required long periods of quiet or sitting still. By their very nature, children are not usually able to do either of these things until they have grown enough to understand their significance. They don't realize that they are being rude. They are just being kids in an adult situation -- where they probably don't belong. It's up to the parents of these children to ensure that they don't disrupt the event for everyone else. If I had no choice but to bring my children, I would absolutely leave at the first sign of them disturbing anyone else. As others have said, if possible, it's really great to have someone attend with you and bring along a camera (either video or even still photos). At least you can enjoy some aspects of the show, if you must leave. Our high school now gets a volunteer to record the plays and shows from a very good vantage point and offers to provide copies to any person or family wanting one, for the simple price of a blank videotape. This also allows the administration to ask someone to leave, if they are causing too much disruption, and they can provide them with the performance on tape, after the fact. My older daughter is in third year drama and will have her presentations at the end of this week. Whenever we attend, we are asked (during the welcome by the teacher) not to take flash photos as it is very distracting to the performers, most of whom are already nervious and wanting to do their very best for those in the audience. Crying babies, screaming or running toddlers, people moving around and walking up and down the aisles during these shows, really plays havoc with the performers' nerves -- and, contrary to what a lot of people think, many of those on stage CAN see and hear all this. So, as much as it disrupts folks in the audience, I would encourage people to also think about those hardworking young people up on the stage. This is their moment of glory... the one they've worked so hard for... they really do deserve the most consideration possible.

That's a very annoying incident that you are relating to. However, I think you should have explained the situation to the lady. I cannot say how she should have responded, but in any cade, if she budged, you could have got your peace of mind and some good results for your camcorded event. It is not a good idea to turn up for a play with a baby, but in situations where no other options are available, you cannot blame those who do it. But when the presence of the baby affects a performance, and people point it out, civilized people are apt to understand. That's how things muct be, in my little Utopia!

I can understand you being reluctant to say anything to her. I'm very surprised no ushers approached her either, but I suppose they were all just parent volunteers and maybe not really comfortable asking someone to leave. I work a theater, and our ushers are told to speak to anyone who is being disruptive during a show (we have more toruble with cameras and phones than we do with babies, but still). I, personally, probably would have said something to her myself, but I have had experience doing that sort of thing. In your shoes, I would probably ask an usher to interviene on behalf of everyone trying to watch the show. Not like she could have heard much herself if she was holding the screaming child anyway.

I think its perfectly ok if you asked the lady in a courteous way to take care of the baby. Now we know why babies are not allowed in theaters. It's such a sad thing that the cam corder was dubbed in a different sound. Maybe you can ask the organisers for a copy of their recordings. I do hope they have a copy.

that lady could have understand sirsumstances and move out of the room. as she didnt do it any of you could go to her and tell her about the disturbanes it is causing to all those who were there.there is no other option other tahn this