Don't put the chairs out in advance, and charge a dollar for a numbered chair to use, at the entrances. They can't save bunches of chairs that aren't in there.

The demanding cheapskates that expect everything "for free" will have a fit about the dollar charge and they'll leave, if the normal, appreciative people are lucky.

Charge them $5 and reduce the amenity fees.

Oh. So now it's a matter of too many guns. Chair issues are going to provoke a gun to pull and fire itself because the owner was legally allowed to own a gun.

Like road rage is a matter of "too many cars" in the hands of people who would bash or run over somebody with the 3,000 pound mass of steel.

I like the idea of bring your own seat.

Too, the powers-that-be could lend one chair to each card carrying Villager and rent chairs for $5 to nonVillagers. A $10 refundable-upon-return deposit might help get the chairs returned in good shape. The $5 fee for nonVillagers could go into the amenity fee kitty. That way outsiders would help pay for the performances that Villagers' amenity fees may be covering (???not sure on this???). Are outsiders getting free seats at music performances that Villagers are paying for one way or another?

Maybe the rental charge should be higher.

I don't think anyone is trying to make this a Second Amendment issue, but is merely pointing out that if you mix alcohol, anger, and legal concealed carry, and possibly toss in the "stand your ground" law, you might have some regrettable gunfire. It could just as easily be someone getting pelted with a blackjack or punched. The issue to be fixed here is the seat saving leading to a lack of safety, but there are other peripheral factors at play.

So, once again we find ourselves in the position of having to "legislate" good behavior, something Mommy should have instilled in us 60 years ago.
So IF (note IF) the problem is non-Villagers, that's easy---the squares themselves are private property, so only allow admittance with a Village ID. Yes, yes I know the merchants need outside consumers, but I doubt the people who come for FREE entertainment, save FREE seats, and probably bring their own cooler as well are spending much money in the shops.
IF (again IF) the problem children are Villagers saving seats, then have numbered seats, you get a ticket with a Village ID, or buy one for $5 without ID. If someone is in your numbered seat, staff can deal with it, if they become hostile, LEO can be called. No one should lose their seat if they dance, get a drink or go potty any more than you lose it at a stadium or theater. The second alternative is to have no seats other than what you bring, but then there is the problem of the bleachers at Brownwood.

Hmmm... Interesting... BYOC
 

Bring-your-own-chair (BYOC)... Sounds interesting.

What about waiting until 5:00 to setup the chairs? i.e. no chairs to "save" earlier.

Won't solve the issue of coming back from dancing and having your seat occupied

Rude behavior short of shoving or hitting is not illegal. So it is not enforceable in a public place.


Staff can tell people to remove seat saving things and people can (and will) ignore staff. Staff get's stern in demeanor and language and drunk decks staff. THEN the law can step in.


The entertainment staff is not as dumb as some think.

if you can't act like an adult you should be sent to bed without your free entertainment!