LINCOLN CENTER’S BIG FREE OUTDOOR FESTIVAL STARTS THIS WEEK
Posted on July 24, 2017 at 11:23 am by West Sider
Lincoln Center Out of Doors, a two and a half week festival showcasing a wide variety of music and other performances, starts on Wednesday. From rock n’ roll to hip hop to Latin music to double-dutch, the festival offers something new every day — sometimes every hour.
It all starts Wednesday with Turning the Tables Live, “a celebration of the pioneering women of the ‘classic album era’ (approx. 1964–present).” Artists will perform songs from NPR’s 150 Greatest Albums By Women list, followed by a discussion.
See the full calendar here. It ends August 13.
YAY! Be sure to get there early to get a seat. Our family looks forward to these concerts every year.
Sounds great! Can’t wait to see and hear Rickie Lee Jones! Loved her! Blast from the past! Just hope people won’t get there early, put personal items on chairs to hold them while they leave the area until just about showtime! Very rude, obnoxious and unfair!
Can’t wait for the series and hope people respect seating and not save seats throughout day until performance.
I haven’t been to any open seating performances, but what is the problem with people going early to save seats?
The problem is people going really early and putting objects (bags, coats etc) on numerous seats and then leaving for the day only to return right before the show starts to “their” seats. I don’t mind getting there early, staying there, and saving a seat for your companion, but what people do to save multiple seats while they leave the area is unconscionable.
I didn’t realize that was happening. The venue should do something to discourage it. Even at school functions the kids are only allowed to ‘reserve, 2 seats for parents.
I like to do this to make sure I get a good seat for me and my friends.
I put my stuff down and then go eat something.
When I come back – VOILA! Our seats are waiting for me.
Sounds fair. I also think its fair for me to take your belongings that are unattended and turn them into the lost and found so I can have your seats. Two can play at that game!
OK, I’m calling for a vote to vote Mark off the island (a la Survivor). Enough is enough, if you can’t behave in a civilized society will we politely ask you to leave.
I vote YES to banning Mark from NYC or at least all free public events at Lincoln Center or Central Park at least…Who’s with me??:)
It certainly doesn’t show much in the way of community spirit.
Who cares about community spirit?
I want to see the show.
We had a huge (and often heated) discussion about “seat warmers” last year on this very topic; Lincoln Center events.
Those that do it see nothing wrong with depositing their stuff on chairs an hour or hours ahead to “reserve”. Some even feel entitled to “hold” seats for people arriving later…
Myself and as stated at the time; if one arrives and finds a seat “reserved” then you’d better be in the immediate area. Otherwise some homeless person is going to get themselves a nice pressie.
These events are open to the public on a first come, first served basis. That does not give anyone the right to reserve seating for themselves and or entire blocks.
Back in the day when there were far more free concerts on the Great Lawn than today the big banks, investment houses and other businesses would give interns, secretaries, assistants, and others in similarly low positions a “day off” with pay; all they had to do was spend it in CP as part of a reserved seating scheme.
You had entire areas of often the best areas (closest to performers) carpeted with blankets, towels and other junk often with “reserved E.F. Hutton, Smith Barney” or whomever signs. Later in the evening closer to curtain time the partners, vice presidents, presidents and so forth along with their spouses, children and invited guests would arrive (carrying hampers full of booze and food) to claim *their* spots.
It wasn’t right then, and it isn’t today either.
o.m.g. I’d forgotten all about this! Years ago when I was new to NYC my boss asked me to go early in the day to reserve seats for his family (8 seats), and I thought it was what people did here. We didn’t have cell phones and it was none of them showed up I debated whether to leave or not. 30 minutes into the show other audience members were getting really hostile with me and I gathered up all of the ‘seat savers,’ and left. So much for the good ol’ days, lol.
From the tone of your previous comments, this does not surprise me.
Oops, that should have read, ‘it was starting to rain and none of them showed up.’