Babies in arms policy

Dear Customer,
the following is the theatre policy on babies in arms. This has been made necessary due to the large number of inconsiderate parents with babies in arms which has led to other customer’s enjoyment of the show spoiled.

We apologise for giving you this notice but during these shows numerous complaints have been made by other patrons regarding babies in arms.

1. All Babies in arms must be paid and accounted for. This keeps us in line with the correct licensing of the theatre.
2. Babies crying must be removed from the auditorium as quickly as possible. This is to avoid disruption to other customers.
3. Changing of nappies must be carried out, out with the auditorium.
4. Babies being fed and winded, please ensure that when winding your child every effort is made to avoid your baby being sick. We have had numerous complaints and had claims from customers who have had their evening/performance wasted due to babies being sick over them. If for any reason your baby is sick please inform a member of staff who will arrange for the on duty cleaner to clean this up.
5. Please consider the customer behind you when handling your baby; it is important that you do not block the view of the child or patron behind you, thus spoiling the show for them.
6. Please consider the customer in front of you at all times.
7. Please ensure that other customers can exit the row with the minimum of disruption.
8. In the event of evacuation please ask an usher if you need assistance.
9. Please do not argue with staff, if you are requested to remove your baby from the auditorium they will only be considering other patrons when asking you to do this.
   Arguing with staff only disrupts other members of the audience and will lead to you being removed from the premises.
10. Please turn off your mobile phone and only use in an Emergency situation.
11. All Auditorium staff are appointed First Aider’s if required.

I hope you appreciate our concerns and hope that you can comply with the above, in the event of other customer’s enjoyment being spoiled by inconsiderate parents we will always ask the person making the disturbance to leave the theatre.

This leaflet has only been issued to avoid any unnecessary disturbance to other members of the audience and I hope you appreciate our concerns.

Iain Gordon
General Manager.

Some comments regarding this policy following an article in The Daily Record 06 Jan 2010

MissJones wrote:
I have to agree with the Pavillion here.

I can't think of anything more inconsiderate that taking a baby to the theatre.
6/1/2010 10:16 AM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

huggy wrote:
Yup! -I don't want to sound like an old fuddy duddy, -but I think it's the baby's parents who are inconsiderate towards other panto-goers.
-What about when the baby starts to cry, as babies do?
6/1/2010 10:37 AM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

builder wrote:
totally 100% agree with the theatre
6/1/2010 12:21 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

AScotAbroad wrote:
Had to check this story twice:

'Dad's anger as theatre charges full price for baby to attend panto'

Should read:

'Customer Focused Theatre charges full price for baby to attend panto - Dad now aware of his folly'

I'd flip my lid if someone brought a kid into a show and sat next to me.
6/1/2010 12:30 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

mememe2010 wrote:
YOU LOT REALLY NEED TO GET A LIFE!
6/1/2010 12:54 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

huggy wrote:
Oh dear, -here we go, -we've got one here -P.C. minded goody goody, -everyone else is wrong but them. FINDTHE MONEY TO PAY A BABYSITTER! -Not everyone wants to gush and goo over the cries of a hungry baby while trying to watch a panto they've paid good money for!
YOU LOT REALLY SHOULD HAVE SOME CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS!
6/1/2010 1:14 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

BigCK wrote:
"Matt, a contracts manager, branded the policy discrimination and said he has visited other theatres in the past where Sophie had to be allocated a seat but was given it for free".

Is she a 23 week old theatre buff or something?
6/1/2010 1:24 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

AScotAbroad wrote:
BigCK - lol funny.

Maybe the baby is from 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
6/1/2010 2:28 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

Frostygirl wrote:
The Matinee Panto is for families. I see no harm in a baby being taken to the show. I was at our local panto and there were a number of babies there with their parents, and they (the babies!) were well behaved. Some of the comments made on this story are very much relevant, but more directed at parents who take their children to shows on at a later time, or to shows more suited to older children/adults. Theatres nowadays should be providing shows to cater for all ages, babies included.
6/1/2010 2:45 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

MissJones wrote:
shows that cater for babies ?????

please dear, step back from the keyboard. Your giving us fair sex a right showing up !
6/1/2010 3:41 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

MissJones wrote:
Next they will be demanding nappy changing and breast feeding facilities.

People pay GOOD money to go to the theatre to be entertained, not to be reminded of the more unsavioury aspects of rearing a child.
6/1/2010 3:43 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

RickyBlue wrote:
Grow up ya bunch of hypocrits, Pantos are for children of all ages and yes babies should get in for zilch. Unfortunately we live in a rip off society and to prove it the Pavilion sell cheap gimmiky toys which are overpriced and break before the Panto is even over.
6/1/2010 3:55 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

builder wrote:
how can the cater for babies,by putting sparkly things on the ceiling to keep them occupied?
6/1/2010 4:11 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

AScotAbroad wrote:
No one is disputing a pricing policy for babies here - and lets make the distinction "babies". The point that is being raised is the appropriateness of taking an infant into a noisy, raucous pantomime environment. Either the child needs to be a heavy sleeper or the parents will accept it will get agitated all the time by the other screaming kids.

And for the record I hate pantomime. Having went to my third show in as many years when I was a kid I just got plain fed up telling Allan Stewart that the villain was behind him. I am convinced the guy was either deaf or stupid.
6/1/2010 4:34 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

paulinemac wrote:
im with the pavillion on this, im going to see the same panto tonight, and if there was a greetin kid next to me i wouldnt be amused! common sense tells you they are too young for things like this!
6/1/2010 4:38 PM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk

neetneet wrote:
I must say I registered especially to comment on this...
has anyone ever thought that the babies are crying because the noise scares them??? and usually these things are pretty loud. How often have you left the theatre with that hum in your ears of 2 hours of over excessive decibels still ringing in your ears? What damage is that doing to your babies little sensitive ears???
have some common sense folks - why take your baby to the panto to scare the wits out of them or potentially damage their ears??
I commend the Pavillion - might save a kid's hearing!
7/1/2010 9:29 AM GMT on dailyrecord.co.uk