They Changed the Announcement at Brownwood Re: Seat Saving..
 

You know, the announcement they play at the beginning and when the band returns from break? It used to be a man telling us to watch our grandchildren and reminding us that there is no smoking, etc. When we were at Brownwood the other day, the recording was a woman. Not only were we reminded of the same stuff, but there was a blurb added at the end about not saving chairs.

Now, they didn't say you couldn't do it, she just said something to the effect of "out of respect for everyone we ask that you please not reserve seats." Not perfect, but we're making progress!

And as usual, the considerate, well-mannered people will not hog seats by roping them off for hours in advance, and the brazen, obnoxious ones will rope off as many as they please.

I don't know why they put the chairs out hours in advance. It's a magnet for the inconsiderate vultures.

I have been assured that the meek will inherit the earth but it appears they won't have a seat to sit and savor it.:read:

At least someone is acknowledging there is a problem. Step one; identify problem.

Sadly, not progress. This is close to the recording used at LSL and SS for many years, back when staff actually would remove ropes, etc. saving seats, except the old message was a bit more forceful. This sounds like a pretend to do something but really do nothing to me. Kind of like telling a kid, "I'll tell you later, " in the hopes the kid will be quiet and the adults can carry on.

Good one Gracie:BigApplause:

Hooray!
It's nice.
But it's not enough.
Sounds like someone trying to protect themselves from a lawsuit to me.

You are such a good person. But I need to keep reminding you that in a public place only so much can be done about directing people to do things.

Think about the line cutters at Disney. What can or is done about them?

It isn't the management that is at fault, it is the rude, selfish and uncaring people who do this. There is NO law that can be made, only directions given which even if there were flashing signs, there would be those who think...naw....they can't do nuthin' to me.

The world is changing. And I don't like it. I am pleased that nice people like you want to do what is right, but sometimes, there are no viable solutions to this kind of problem.

Unfortunately, the only time someone listens, is when you hit them, in their wallet!!!

I'll bet if these rude and obnoxious people were hit with a $500 fine, they would stop saving seats!!!

Also a problem other places.
 

Saving Seats at the Pool: OK or Not OK? - ABC News

Dawn to dusk seat savers! The 40 minute rule. Sounds like a good one.

IMO 40 mins too long, maybe 15. Mins. IMO if you gone longer than that you are out of that seat.

Gracie, I wish I were as nice, kind, thoughtful, and even as good hearted as you. If so, I'd be a better person. I really admire the way you always advocate for positive solutions, and I agree with your opinion of The Villages in general. It's a great place to live and has few real problems.

I understand exactly what you are saying, but my point is that a civil jury may not agree with you, or with the management at the entertainment venues. I'm not worried about the selfish practice of saving seats hurting someone. I'm worried about someone getting hurt because of an incident caused by the saving of seats. One surly drunk pushes one arthritic senior to the concrete and BOOM. If that happens, you can rest assured that an aggrieved party will take that action to court to try to secure damages from whomever a jury deems to be at fault. And a jury may determine that knowing that the potential for a problem exists, and doing little to correct that situation is grounds for damages to be awarded. Damages have been awarded for far less.

Now I'm betting that if the Entertainment Division and the merchants at the various venues asked for the applicable sheriff's departments to assist with the enforcement of the current rule, in order to ensure a safe environment, they would. Wouldn't cost them a dime, and I think that fixes it. Even if the sheriff says no, they've got a stronger case in court.

I'm very happy that they are now announcing the rule! :BigApplause:

Think about the school crossings and the amount of police presence they have at there disposal.

If indeed the squares are public and not owned by the developer....why can't something like that be used to protect citizens.

Just an idea.

I've been reading about this seat saving stuff on here for about 5 years. It's the perennial topic, like dog poop and round-a-bouts. It normally coincidences with the "season", when there are more folks in the squares. I love it when I go to the square and it's packed with people having a good time. Anytime I take visitors there, I'm always hoping for that situation, so they see we're living in a vibrant, active community.

Like most things around here, it's not nearly the problem some would have us believe. On evenings where there is a very popular band or when there are other celebrations, people do save seats. Always have; always will. I don't think the folks doing it are necessarily rude, but just think; When in Rome....

That's just the way it is in The Villages.

[QUOTE=Cedwards38;1041627]

I'm worried about someone getting hurt because of an incident caused by the saving of seats. One surly drunk pushes one arthritic senior to the concrete and BOOM. If that happens, you can rest assured that an aggrieved party will take that action to court to try to secure damages from whomever a jury deems to be at fault. And a jury may determine that knowing that the potential for a problem exists, and doing little to correct that situation is grounds for damages to be awarded. Damages have been awarded for far less.

Now I'm betting that if the Entertainment Division and the merchants at the various venues asked for the applicable sheriff's departments to assist with the enforcement of the current rule, in order to ensure a safe environment, they would.

I'm very happy that they are now announcing the rule! QUOTE]

How many surly drunks have you personally seen at the squares? I have seen NONE in 5 years and I go to the squares at least once a week year round.

I have not seen any in your face arguements over seating, either.

The sheriff has better things to do than to tell people to be courteous at sitting up chairs. Get real, please!

This is a seasonal favorite topic on the forum. The season is just about over.

:thumbup:

I agree with Sandtrap - this isn't a matter for the Sheriff, no laws are being broken.
Snowbirds and Seasonal Residents will be leaving soon. Sadly this includes us. :( :cold:
By the end of April, the crowds will be gone, and peace will prevail until the Fall.

An announcement when the entertainment is about to begin or during the breaks is useless. People go there are 3:00 in the afternoon and tie up all the chairs.

It might be progress, but it's not going to change anything.

But, if they are going to make an announcement why isn't the same as "coolers are strictly prohibited" or "smoking is strictly prohibited."

It's interesting that if someone has a cooler or is smoking the entertainment staff will go over and enforce the rule, but they won't enforce this rule. Instead they only suggest that we follow the rule.

I like your way of thinking. :BigApplause:

Has anybody actually been told to get rid of a cooler ??

More than once. Cuts into business at the shacks, so is enforced. Actually, I think the smoking in designated areas is less enforced than the cooler rule.

OP here. I've been reading the responses and something occurred to me. Based on the wording of the announcement, I'm actually wondering if there really is a rule about seat saving. I've never seen it written anywhere. I've never seen it enforced.

Yes, it's rude to save seats for hours on end, but if there is no enforcement, then does a "rule" really exist?

Getting police involved over saving seats is just silly, IMHO. I'd rather they take care of important things, like break-ins. I don't think saving a seat is against any law, and now I'm not sure there is a rule against it on the squares.

From FAQ - The Villages Entertainment * Special Events * Box Office
Q: May we rope off a group of chairs prior to an event?
A: No. Roping or taping chairs together inhibits event setup. If you need to hold chairs, at least one person in your party needs to be with your chairs at all times.

Saving seats = Selfish.

Thank you for this. I hadn't seen it.

Maybe it's time to send out flyers, or some type of communication, to notify everyone of this. It appears that its past time for the Entertainment Department to be pro-active on this issue and provide notice. Then they can start enforcing it.

The answers from the entertainment department are vague at best, but several people have called and been told that saving seats is not allowed. When they called to complain about people saving seats they were told that there was nothing that could be done about it.

You wouldn't get law enforcement involved over seat saving. They would become involved only if a person refused to follow the instructions of the entertainment staff and became belligerent or threatening. What would happen if someone had a cooler or were smoking in the square and the staff confronted them and explained the rule and the person refused to comply. You can bet law enforcement would be called. Why is this rule any different?

In most cases the staff would not have to even confront the people tying off seats. They could just do a sweep of the area at 4:30 or 4:45 and remove everything that "reserves" a seat. Also signs in the area explaining the rule may not stop everyone, but they would help. Some of the people will obey the rule. As has been suggested have "No Seat Saving" stamped right on the chairs would also go a long way to improving the situation.

After a while the offenders would stop. There would be very few that would become belligerent. I actually believe that many of these people do not know there is a rule against seat saving. It's difficult for people on this forum to get a definite answer about it.

Has the new, updated announcement changed any of the seat saving behavior...yet?

This is what bothers me the most about the seat savers. They take over something that does not belong to them, and by seizing their territory, they are telling newcomers, visitors, guests, lifestyle preview people, and all other residents to DON'T BOTHER COMING tonight if you want to sit down for awhile.

I expect TV to do what is in keeping with their motto of having a "friendliest HOMETOWN" atmosphere. Allowing those selfish, ornery seat ropers to take control of what is offered for free to everyone totally defies the "welcome to our hometown" goal.

Just imagine if the executive golf courses were run on no tee time reservations in advance, and every morning they put up a poster where the selfish, ornery, greedy golf groups could come at 5:00 a.m. and write themselves into all the tee times they want for the day. It would be piggish and UGLY.

That is not how TV presents itself and I don't know why they allow this at the town squares, a MAIN attraction to TV.

Would it be a stretch to say saving seats is theft of services ?

I have no idea of how often you go to the squares for the nightly entertainment. I go at least once a week.

Yes, for the MOST popular entertainers like Scooter, Rocky, Uncle Bob, and Cactus Jack, there will be seats saved BUT also if you get there a half hour before showtime, there will be plenty of free chairs to be had. For the majority of entertainers, there will always be lots of free chairs available until 5.

Also, at 5 when the show starts, any tied off chair is free game if the saver has not shown up. No one will kick you out.

We go to the squares 4-5 nights per week, to all three of them. We go after dinner at home or out at the squares, so going at 5pm or before does not apply to us and many others who want to show up there at 6, 6:30, 7, etc.

Again, my problem with it is not so much about finding/bring a chair as it is about the selfish, cliquish, unwelcoming behavior that is not "hometown friendly". It's about the enabling of selfish, childish, playground behavior!

It makes a bad impression on people as they have stated recently on these threads. It tells the well-mannered and considerate people that the bullies got there first, so "too bad for you".

I'm just curious. Those who believe saving seats in the town squares is not a problem, imagine these scenarios:

The movie theaters begin showings around 10:00 or 10:30 AM each day. Would it be allowable for someone to show up when they open the doors at 9:00 or 9:30 AM, buy one ticket, go into the theater and rope off 20 seats in the center of the theater, leave the theater and meet a group for breakfast, then return with the group to purchase tickets right at showtime and expect the seats to be available for them? Would this cause a stir? Would someone complain? Would it be right? How is this different from roping seats in the squares?

How about someone goes to church early and ropes off the first two pews, returning as the service begins? How about high school graduations? How about if there were a free and open seating event at the Savannah Center or on any other stage in The Villages? How about roping off a couple of rows of parking spaces in the town centers prior to a performance? How about roping off a section of sidewalk prior to one of the popular parades?

For those who believe that the residents who are complaining about the practice of seat roping in the squares are completely wrong and off base, do you think these practices are ok too? How are they different? And please don't just say I'm being ridiculous! Tell me the details of how those things are different.

Thanks in advance.

Crickets.......

New announcement at SS tonight. Out was the old Rob Newton speech and in was the new female announcer. The last part of the announcement was "out of courtesy for your neighbor we ask that you please don't reserve seats".

Lame.

It will take actions, not recorded words tacked onto an announcement they've heard 200 times and no longer pay attention to.

The chairs shouldn't even be put out before 4:00 anyway.

I love the idea of stamping a sign on the seat part where you would actually put your butt that says, "If you can read this then this seat is available." Or something like that . . . I can't remember who came up with it on a separate thread but thought it was perfect.

lol, you are obviously not from the south. Had you said the back two rows it would be a problem

Good point! Let's make it "any two rows." :wave:

...... and I'm still waiting for someone to tell me the difference.

I think that may be part of the problem (saving seats in other venues). And how often have you gone to a movie where seats weren't being saved for someone else? Apparently, it is common in the Midwest for folks to mark off their "territory" for parades, picnics, etc. and just come back when the event is to start. Sides, no one has to mark off a pew, everyone knows where everyone sits and someone will be quick to tell you if you're in someone's seat, dontchyano. Sometimes it really isn't selfishness or ego, it is a simple doing what has always been done back home. For these folks, a simple announcement will do the trick. For the others, it will take some real enforcement by staff to get the message across and I just don't see that happening.

You will not find tied off chairs if you arrive at any square at 6, 6:30, 7, etc. people come and go between sets but there are never tied off chairs at those times.

Wait until the set is over, take an empty seat, enjoy the upcoming set.