When we had graduation ceremonies we would have a roped area with the best viewing for the handicapped and their spouses or caretakers. There were police for crowd control and emergencies.

I wonder if we could do that.

It seems more fair than first come, first served. Besides, I would not want to be taken advantage by someone more clever in getting a good seat. But I would gladly give my seat, or right to a seat away to someone less fortunate.

Who wouldn't?

Exactly. Totally different topic than the type of seat-saving that irritates many who post here.

How can this be solved? With bouncers? It can't. This is an unsolvable problem because it isn't a law and I don't see how it can be made into a law which the police have to uphold.

You can say Money...but it really doesn't apply. It isn't the reason or the solution.

Sadly, given past history, it is more likely that all chairs would be removed before those in charge would enforce a rule. seems the solution by those in charge is to ignore a problem until too many complain and then come up with most Draconian solution short of losing money. The entertainment will continue since it draws people to the squares, stores and restaurants and is a big part of the lifestyle advertised.

I guess that leaves it to individuals to take it upon themselves to remove ropes, etc. and plop themselves down. Maybe cards could be made citing the rule and leaving it with the offenders' items?

If YOU were in charge...WHAT would YOU do????? YOU really cannot follow through. YOU can say, yell, sign, stomp and have a hissy fit but that is about it. The only solution is to wait until minutes before the event and dole out the chairs.

Just what would YOU do if you were the people being criticized. Then as soon as the chairs are doled out and the folks are reminded and the signs go up, you will have some people calling the entertainment staff the chair ...No I cannot type that word.

It is an unsolvable problem. NO ONE CAN TELL ME what the "negligent, greedy, wussy" people can do to stop chair saving.


Can't you see the numerous meetings the unseen smart people have had and hashed this over and over?????? They are trying to respect our being adults and trying to continue to "sell" the friendliest home town. I cannot blame THEM.

Maybe if there were no chairs available...bring your own...and no roping allowed, people would feel a little less inclined to come at 8 a.m. and leave their own unroped chair unattended. Might be annoying for people initially but ...

It's first come, first served, just like our squares should be. What would happen if someone showed up on the parade route in NYC and tried to reserve a whole block for a group!:boxing2:

Seems to me they HAD a solution and used it right up until the employees were told not to enforce the rule any more. At one time, they picked up cushions, ropes, strings... now they don't.

...... and that line of thought works both ways.

They DID????? I can't recall this happening in the eight years we have been here.


What do they do on cruise ships???

I remember the first time anyone stepped in front of us in line at Disney years ago when our kids were small. I was SO mad. I had never been part of that happening. It is the same emotions we are all talking about. We were taught to think of others and respect others. We were taught it in Sunday School and regular school and our mothers who stayed home with us taught it to us..(OR ELSE)

We were expected to be nice. We were ......fill in the word.

Right is what I would use but naïve comes to mind too.

I hate that the world is changing like this. I am glad I was born when I was born.

See the thread that you posted a link to.

OUCH.

Thank you, sir/madam. These chickens sure are smart on this forum.

Saving of blocks of seats is a rude, selfish, inconsiderate, and obnoxious practice that should be stopped. As long as we say "nothing can be done" then that is true. But some things can be done.

(1) Complain in the annual survey.
(2) Continue to complain on this forum.
(3) Complain to the Entertainment Department. This has already demonstrated a sympathetic, but ineffective response as our friend 2BNTV emailed Ms. Vesco and got a "we can't do anything about it" response. Still we need to let them know how we feel.
(4) Complain directly to the business interests in the town squares, who I'm told provide the funding for the entertainment. Let them know that they need to complain to Ms. Vesco also.
(5) Complain to the applicable sheriff's office and demand that they step in to provide some oversight and enforcement. You and they may say that they don't have any authority to do this, but I'm not sure about that. My though process is this: If an business or governmental entitiy creates policies to govern how they operate and someone willfully and aggressively violates those policies, doesn't the business have the right to seek assistance from law enforcement? EX: (a) Movie theater requires quiet during shows and someone obnoxiously and repeatedly violates that. (b) Clothing store stipulates a certain amount of clothing can be taken into the dressing room to try on at one time and someone insists on violating this repeatedly. (c) Concert venue stipulates that no one may be seated after the beginning of a performance until the first intermission, but someone repeatedly violates this. Are these examples absurd? Maybe, but not if they happen over and over and over again and cause as much public outcry as the seat ropers do.

I totally agree Connie . . I just wish people would deal with it!

The St. Patrick's Day Parade is a once a year gig. Yes, seats are roped off, the square is extremely crowded, etc. That is not going to change. Either go or not. It is only once a year. Lots and lots of Villagers and visitors have a great time at the activities that day.

However, for the other non-event days of the year, there usually is no problem in finding seats at any of the squares.

I went to Spanish Springs a few nights ago to see the very good entertainment of Susie Casta. She put on a great show. People were plentiful but there were lots of chairs to be had by anyone who wanted one. We also went to Lake Sumter Landing last week to see A Slice of Lime (enjoyable Caribbean style music) and the 41 Corvettes of the Corvette Club. Once again, no chairs roped together and plenty to be had.

Go for yourselves to see if there is a problem with roped off areas. Arrive by 4:30 or so, bring a snack, a cooler, and enjoy the evening. We do.

Truly I believe that the simplest thing to do would be remove the chairs. As one poster mentioned in New York there are no chairs and we did just fine.

It's called strength in numbers and everyone that is ****ed off about this has got to repeatedly complain and complain and complain to get something done. One person complaining is not going to do it. If a bunch of people go to the square and attempt to take a lot of seat savers chairs, there will be confrontation and no one wants to go to jail over a :censored: seat. A couple "un-reserving" two seats more than likely won't start anything; a bunch of people going down to a square "en masse" to cut rope and throw cushions in the trash - someone will get an ass whipping. Trust me on this - I know. Let your fingers start clicking and complain in numbers by written text over and over and over. The seat savers are persistent, people that don't like it have to be persistent also.

By the way, does any of the seat savers ever post on TOTV to justify their actions?

Gracie. I don't know you yet, but I love your outlook and take on life.

You got it! If "management" wanted to end seat saving, they would. They would send a couple of staff through at 4:30 to 4:45 PM to cut down the ropes and take up the cushions. They would only have to do that a few times and word would spread. What would that really cost?

All they have to do is not put the chairs out (for the nightly entertainment IN the square). Hand a chair to people as they walk in, as Brownwood does, starting a half hour or so before 5pm when music starts. Allow no more than 2 chairs given to one person entering.

Better yet, charge $1 for the chair and give a numbered ticket as it's handed to them, and then at 7pm have a drawing for half the pot. Require the winner to be present to win. The other half of the proceeds would be put toward costs of the entertainment. Then after the drawing, a lot of the people would leave, freeing up chairs for the last 2 hours.

All they have to do is not put the chairs out (for the nightly entertainment IN the square). Hand a chair to people as they walk in, as Brownwood does, starting a half hour or so before 5pm when music starts. Allow no more than 2 chairs given to one person entering.

I admit, even though I live less than a mile from Brownwood, I don't go to the
Square very often. The few times I have gone, the entertainment didn't hold my interest. Your solution that is put into practice at Brownwood is perfect.

I don't understand why this isn't done at the other 2 Squares.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...whoever "Management" and "They" are, there is absolutely no interest in fixing any of these issues, just like confronting people misusing golf carts (allowing young kids to drive or overloading with kids, etc.), and exercise classes in neighborhood pools, or roping off and saving seats at the squares. You're own your own down here. "Management" ("They") don't get involved in problem solving at all - that's why "They" can tout TV as being "America's Friendiest Hometown" in the advertising. For the most part, it is, but when it isn't...

How about just going in and sitting with the group. If it's roped off, just go in and have a seat. If they ask, it's public property. They can't make you leave.

I have seen lots of chairs out at Brownwood well before the music starts. I am not sure exactly what the policy is but it doesn't appear to be applied consistently.

I agree. I have stated this before: there is no upside to the The Villages Entertainment for confronting a customer about seats. The only "confrontation" I have ever seen was when they asked people to move seats out of the "aisles" for safety reasons.

I think the next time I take my own chairs that I will put them right in front of the "saved" seats. :boxing2:

More than fair
 

If a row of seats are "saved" and no one is in them and you come with "your own seat" and sit in it you have every right to place your seat in front of the "empty" saved seats.

I've gone to Brownwood a number of times. I do like the way seats are just stacked on a cart and you can go pick them up...if any are left. But I haven't yet seen anybody handing out seats.

No coolers on the squares,this is announced when there is any event,and at every intermission along with No unsupervised children, perhaps they should add No seat saving :boom: