[foxmeadow]

There have been previous posts regarding the roping off and saving of chairs at LSL, especially when Rocky & The Rollers are there. Last Sat. my wife and I decided to venture to the square, knowing it would be packed. We were fortunate enough to find 2 seats at the fence, in front of the clock. Our seat was next to a fellow who is an avid TOTV member. During our conversation, he mentioned that he was paying special attention to an area in front of us that had been roped off (approx 16 chairs) since he got there at 5pm. He said he watched some folks take the rope down and sit in those seats. It was now about 6:45pm and the chairs were full of people. Pretty soon a large group of people walked in front of us checking that area that they thought was being saved. They were overheard grumbling about the fact that people were sitting in THEIR chairs. I was overjoyed to see that the villagers are no longer going to honor chairs sitting empty, for hours on end, while others have to stand. Finally, a member of the party decided they wanted their rope, so while the folks were dancing, they collected their rope, still muttering about stealing their chairs.
As far as I'm concerned, the only seats that should be saved are for folks who get up to dance, go to the restrooms, or get something to drink. The entertainment dept. should be policing this activity, particularly on a busy night. We see many people, with "Staff" or Event" shirts on, walking around, but seldom see them attempting to enforce the rules. I'm not sure what they do. Maybe we really don't need them if enough people dis-honor those "saved seats". I for one hope this starts a movement.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by foxmeadow

There have been previous posts regarding the roping off and saving of chairs at LSL, especially when Rocky & The Rollers are there. Last Sat. my wife and I decided to venture to the square, knowing it would be packed. We were fortunate enough to find 2 seats at the fence, in front of the clock. Our seat was next to a fellow who is an avid TOTV member. During our conversation, he mentioned that he was paying special attention to an area in front of us that had been roped off (approx 16 chairs) since he got there at 5pm. He said he watched some folks take the rope down and sit in those seats. It was now about 6:45pm and the chairs were full of people. Pretty soon a large group of people walked in front of us checking that area that they thought was being saved. They were overheard grumbling about the fact that people were sitting in THEIR chairs. I was overjoyed to see that the villagers are no longer going to honor chairs sitting empty, for hours on end, while others have to stand. Finally, a member of the party decided they wanted their rope, so while the folks were dancing, they collected their rope, still muttering about stealing their chairs.
As far as I'm concerned, the only seats that should be saved are for folks who get up to dance, go to the restrooms, or get something to drink. The entertainment dept. should be policing this activity, particularly on a busy night. We see many people, with "Staff" or Event" shirts on, walking around, but seldom see them attempting to enforce the rules. I'm not sure what they do. Maybe we really don't need them if enough people dis-honor those "saved seats". I for one hope this starts a movement.

What rules are you referring to?

[memason]

Hmmmm..... Doesn't seem to me that anyone needs to police anything. Whomever took the "reserved" seats, policed the area just fine.

Is it just me ??

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Sounds like that whole thing worked out well. Sorry about the folks with the rope!

Bill

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

Sounds like that whole thing worked out well. Sorry about the folks with the rope!

Bill

... or was it the dopes with ropes?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by Pturner

... or was it the dopes with ropes?

HA!!

Bill

[redwitch]

Maybe this is what Ali meant by rope a dope?

[gear gal]

I myself was at the square in that very location Saturday night and and saw the roped off chairs. I had my own chair so I was quite comfortable. However I did see the roped off section of chairs and thought it was uncalled for. People were walking around looking for a place to sit and there the empty chairs were right under their nose. They wre circling like buzzards but no one made a move to take any of them. Finally a gentleman sick of walking around
took the rope from one of the chairs and sat down. He wasn't approached by anyone else. This was the signal to the other chairless people to make their move. In three minutes the dozen or so chairs were occupied. The time was well towards 6pm so I assume the "rope a dopes" felt their chairs were safe all night. Hats off to the guy who made the first move to sit down. Maybe if more people would step up to the plate like that, this roping off of chairs and tables would become history. A heads up though, on a Rocky and The Rollers
night bringing you own chair is a great idea..

[disney07]

Nice work to those who said "This is BS" and took those seats. 16 seats? That is outrageous. Almost 2hrs after the band starts in walk the Special People to claim their selected seating. Would have enjoyed watching.

[l2ridehd]

Some folks think it is there God given right to inconvenience others so they can be taken care of and do as they please. Hats off to the chair takers. I hope it starts a trend.

[Mudder]

I am happy out of my mind that someone finally sent a little message to all the chair savers who don't even bother to show uo til late !!!! In Spanish Springs people now put washcloths, chair pads, magazines and even tie two chairs together with a plastic bag. Almost all chairs are "spoken for" by 2 PM sometimes. Now I can't wait til Weds......I will be sitting in any empty chair I find. Wonder how someone will prove to me that 's their plastic bag saving a chair??? Let the revolution begin, chair by chair !

[BobKat1]

It would be interesting to hear from some chair savers for their side of the disussion. I'm guessing that ain't gonna happen though.

[Larry Wilson]

Yes Yes Yes! This has always upset me. In the past I have seen a man sitting next to me tell about 100 people that 4 empty chairs were saved. Finally 4 people show and say they can't sit as they needed dinner.
Another time someone had put a chair on top of a chair to save two chairs. After standing 2 hours, a man walked up and sat in the two chairs telling the people saving them that as soon as their friends came they would get up. Never had to get up. Just a couple nights ago Scooter was at SS and it was packed. People standing all over the place with saved empty chairs all over. I bet less than half the saved chairs were ever used. I always bring our own chairs but saving chairs is for the birds.

[tghoul]

A couple of weeks ago I got in line at 8:00am at the ticket booth at Lake Sumter Landing to purchase tickets for a show at the Savannah Center. There were a few empty chairs at the head of the line. At 8:20am the people showed up, put the chairs in their cars and came back to the head of the line. The person standing next to me said those folks put the chairs there last night so they could be first in line.

[ijusluvit]

Someday, someone is going to find a secret set of written instructions, circa 1990, used to train new new Villages staff who work in the squares.

Up near the top, one of the statements will probably read...

"UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you pay any attention to patrons who reserve chairs in the square areas. Ignore any comments about this. If you are approached by persons making a complaint, do not engage in conversation or show support for what they might feel is an unfair situation. Our policy is that if patrons see this as a problem they will resolve it, if and when they choose to do so."

Congrats to the guy who moved the rope and sat down. If enough folks read this thread and pick up on it, then he's responsible for starting a small cultural shift here in TV. And I'd like to know who he is. I'd buy him a drink and we'd go sit down and enjoy the music.