What a Difference A Wall Makes
Growing up, I saw that the Dallas Symphony played outdoor concerts. Never in all my time in this city did I ever think of sitting in 95 degree heat to listen to pops music outside.
Then I had a kid.
The DSO played a parks concert right by my house. There was no way that I was missing this. The Little Man had yet to see a classical show, any show I think unless you count his preschool musical. I was DYING to take him to this so that he could experience this music in a way that appeals to 3 year old boys - an environment where they can make noise, dance around and talk during the show without threat of harsh looks and criticism.
The DSO’s “big ole thing” broke so the bandshell couldn’t go up. The orchestra had to play inside in the gym.
And that’s where everything fell apart. Move from outside to inside, and the following happens:
- picnic blankets and fishing chairs turn to plastic chairs lined up in a row
- people sitting comfortably turn to straight backs/hands folded in laps
- children reacting to music turns to lots and lots of shushing
And it’s this last one that killed me! I brought my child to the show so that he could listen and enjoy the music. That’s why I brought him to a parks show and didn’t buy a ticket to the Meyerson.
The program was dance music, therefore I expected that they wanted the younger patrons to dance. When the Overture to West Side Story was playing, I wanted him to stand up and mambo. Instead, his jumping in front of his chair was met with evil eyes and disparaging looks.
LM’s friend was there, too. I was elated that he could spend his first concert playing with his neighbor and bestie. Instead, both sets of parents separated the boys because their silliness was distracting the audience.
I shouldn’t have felt this way! That wall went up, and we all lapsed into concert mode. Just because chairs existed, we all acted like we had to behave or we’d disturb the precious atmosphere.
Is this the fault of the orchestra? I don’t really think you can blame hundreds of years of concert etiquette on the Dallas Symphony. They could have said, “feel free to let you children dance in the aisles! There’s no reason that we shouldn’t have fun and be loud inside just as we would have outside.” But they didn’t. So we “behaved”.
It’s this behavior that has me angry. I understand respect for the artists - trust me, I was one. But we’ve brainwashed the patrons of a particular genre of music that they aren’t able to react to what they are hearing. Could you imagine going to a Rihanna show and not dancing? Or going to a Elton John show and not singing along? You’d leave the event saying that it was boring, and you’d probably want your money back.
But at a classical show, if you clap at the right times, don’t say a word, and never let your program book make a sound in your hands, you leave saying, “well that was an enjoyable night!”
Every concert’s not a parks concert, nor is it a pops concert. But what if certain shows were labeled with as “no judgment”? Clap when you want. Dance if you want. Bring your children into the hall - it’s fine if they want to talk or sing. For this one time, we don’t care. Break down the wall, and let people feel that this music is music, too. And in order to feel comfortable behaving, we might need a few times where we have the permission to misbehave.
Disclaimer: I have to say that the orchestra sounded great. They even acted great. I saw not one look of resentment and frustration on their faces, and I appreciated that. It was a parks concert in a gym, and they did it like champs.
