Very tall people sitting in front of you

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 4:06pm

I saw Parade last night, and a couple minutes before the show started, a very tall gentleman with a manbun sat in front of me.  I am short, so most people are taller than me, but even with the decent sight lines/rake, my view became extremely obstructed and I had to move my head constantly to see what was going on (which in turn made me fear that those behind me had a similar experience).  It put a major damper on my enjoyment of the performance, even though I still loved it.

Anyone else find this sort of thing happens to them more often than not?  Have you been able to do anything to rectify it beyond switching seats or getting a booster (both of which would have been impractical last night)?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 5:06pm

As a tall person, I always feel bad if I'm obstructing someone's view, but it's not really something I can help or control, and I hate it when I sit in my seat only to hear some snide comment from the people behind me about my height.

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 5:11pm

bwayphreak234 said: "As a tall person, I always feel bad if I'm obstructing someone's view, but it's not really something I can help or control, and I hate it when I sit in my seat only to hear some snide comment from the people behind me about my height."

Totally!  I never say anything- the man in front of me did absolutely nothing wrong.  It’s just a frustrating situation that tends to happen frequently and I never know how to handle (since no one is at fault the vast majority of the time).

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 5:42pm

Wait, did the manbun make him taller? 

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 5:47pm

Sutton Ross said: "Wait, did the manbun make  him taller? "

Yep!  It took him from around 6’3 to 6’6 (otherwise I wouldn’t have had a reason to mention that he had a manbun lol).

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 5:49pm

Wow, that is a tall dude! I'm sorry that happened to you, that definitely is a problem without much of a solution unlike drunk people or weirdos filming. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 5:49pm

I know what you mean as it has happened to me in the past.  In the winter/spring/fall, I simply sit on my jacket and it provides a little lift (not as much as a booster seat but it's at least better sight lines) and no one behind me ever complained that I did this. 

I have a friend who is 4'9 and she brings her own inflatable booster seat to the theater. Several years ago she asked an usher for a booster seat but was told it was only for kids. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 5:59pm

I've seen many an adult using booster seats.

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 6:16pm

bwayphreak234 said: "As a tall person, I always feel bad if I'm obstructing someone's view, but it's not really something I can help or control, and I hate it when I sit in my seat only to hear some snide comment from the people behind me about my height."

Totally agree! I was at a touring production of Pretty Woman recently and as soon as I sat down the woman behind me (who was in her late 60s) let out a big sigh and said “oh great” really loudly. She then proceeded to complain to her friend really loudly about how now she won’t be able to enjoy the show. At intermission she said to her friend loudly how she wasn’t able to fully enjoy the show. I felt like turning round and saying something especially for the little girl I used to be who was horribly bullied in school about my height (it’s not like I’m that tall, just a shade over 5’11) but instead I just sat up straight…

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 6:38pm

I'm 6'6" and I almost always turn to the people behind me and ask them if I can position myself in a manner that ensures they have a decent sightline.  Sometimes I can.  Sometimes I can't.  I try to get aisle seats for my own comfort, but also because it is easier to lean out or angle myself a bit to help out the person behind me.

[sweaterbox]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 6:47pm

Other ideas:

Try to book an aisle seat so you can at least always lean to that side unobstructed.

Look at seating charts for any staggered seats or rows with an aisle in front.

Go to the theater with a taller companion when you can so they can more comfortably take the seat with the taller person in front! Growing up if a taller person came in the row, we made my dad take the seat behind them, and inevitably people behind us would start to do the same. 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 7:09pm

"As a tall person, I always feel bad if I'm obstructing someone's view, but it's not really something I can help or control, and I hate it when I sit in my seat only to hear some snide comment from the people behind me about my height."

Wow!! You can't do anything about how tall you are so why the snide remarks. One thing I have done is check to see who is sitting behind me and ask them if they want my wife and I to switch seats since she is much shorter than me.

[lapinitsa]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 7:12pm

JasonC3 said: "I'm 6'6" and I almost always turn to the people behind me and ask them if I can position myself in a manner that ensures they have a decent sightline. Sometimes I can. Sometimes I can't. I try to get aisle seats for my own comfort, but also because it is easier to lean out or angle myself a bit to help out the person behind me."

Yes. While not as tall as you, I'm over 6' and have the same experience. Unless sitting on an aisle, in most houses I cannot position myself so the person behind me can have a better view. My knees are already up against the back of the seat in front of me. The Barrymore is a comfortable exception, and one or two others.

 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 7:56pm

You can absolutely ask for a booster seat. My Mom is 5’ but has a short torso so she always gets one and it puts her at the same height as me (5’2&rdquo. it usually does the trick. Otherwise, as others have mentioned - center aisle seats in the left or right orchestra are usually the best seats to have 0 obstruction due to tall people in front of you

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 8:54pm

The aisle seat is a great idea!  I usually don’t purchase ticketa via a method that gives me the ability to choose seats, but when I do I always choose front row mezzanine or a first row in a section. 
Also, sitting on a coat is something I have done, as well!

[NotThatSmart]

Posted: 6/10/23 at 9:25pm

I am a 6’6 frequent Broadway theater patron. I ALWAYS ensure that once the seat directly behind me is sat, I turn around and ask if the person can see. I have never had anyone tell me no (unless they lied!). But, it is very important to me that the person is able to see, as they didn’t spend hundreds of dollars to see the back of my head. 

I’m not sure what I would do it the person said they couldn’t see past me. I guess I would slouch!

[forfivemoreminutes]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 12:38am

I’m also 5’0 and run into this problem a lot! I have my own mini booster seat I always bring that makes me about two inches taller, but I also typically will get a booster seat at the venue too, in case I need a taller one. Sometimes I need it, sometimes I don’t, depending on who is sitting in front, and if I don’t need it, I just leave it under my seat and return it at intermission. Ushers are typically happy to give me the booster without a problem, and in theatres with very poor rakes I sometimes put the theatre’s booster on top of my own booster seat for extra lift. I know using the theatre’s booster can make me substantially taller (although still only equivalent to about 5’5 or 5’6), so I’ll usually check behind me to make sure the extra height isn’t obstructing the person - on several occasions where the person behind me was quite short, I offered to get them a booster seat too (and in each of those cases, the person didn’t realize they could get a booster seat and was very appreciative of my suggestion, and enjoyed the show much more with the booster).

[melora]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 6:33am

As a certified short person, I don't begrudge the height of the tall person in front of me.  But that person's behavior makes a big difference in how I can enjoy the performance.  Dear tall person:  please recognize that I must look around you to see.  Do not lean over to your date for a hug, kiss, or chat - that blocks me completely.  Please do not reach up your hands during the show to stretch, to scratch leisurely, or to attract attention by clapping up in the air, as that also blocks me completely.  And you don't have to move to see in front of you, so please don't switch positions constantly, as every time you do, I have to switch.  

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 8:10am

As a man of a whopping 6’8 (and built like a linebacker) and hundreds of shows under my belt…I’ve personally stopped caring about others around me as I’m just there to respectfully watch a show.

Hear me out. I’ve bought my tickets to try and curate my experience where I can try to be comfortable (leg room is a NIGHTMARE and I also have lower back joint disease), but as someone who also often deals with the luck of the draw with rush and lottery seats, often I get what I get. Sometimes, if my comfort is impeded, I may try to move (with permission from house staff), but I will NEVER change my seat because someone had the misfortune of getting the seat behind me.

I paid my ticket and therefore I’m entitled to my seat. Sure, I will try to be mindful of certain actions (i.e standing ovations), but I know even those of average height struggle when sitting behind me. If someone else has a problem, they can talk to the house manager and look for alternatives.

[B.JAMES]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 8:44am

I am 6'3 and always ask for an aisle so I can slouch down because I am so self-conscious. The side commentary from people also puts a damper on my evening as well.

I try my best to accommodate. I went with my sister to Taylor Swift a few weeks ago. We had 5th row, and before the show started, I apologized to the girls behind me. They were lovely and told me not to worry. I sat down and missed about 1/3 of the show because I wanted to make sure they could see.

It's not my fault for being tall, as much as it is not yours for being shorter. Get a booster. Get a seat in the front of the mezzanine. Get a seat on the aisle so you can lean a tad to the side and have a good sightline. I can promise that my knees practically to my chest in some of these seats are my karma, LOL.

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 6/11/23 at 08:44 AM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 1:54pm

 Dear tall person:  please recognize that I must look around you to see.  Do not lean over to your date for a hug, kiss, or chat - that blocks me completely.  Please do not reach up your hands during the show to stretch, to scratch leisurely, or to attract attention by clapping up in the air, as that also blocks me completely.  And you don't have to move to see in front of you, so please don't switch positions constantly, as every time you do, I have to switch.

Imagine trying to control a stranger's perfectly normal actions at the theater. People will do whatever they want in the seat they paid for. Be grateful a few care about your experience. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 2:14pm

I guess people must hate sitting behind us as we're both over 6' lol but most of the time we get an aisle seat

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 2:57pm

bwayphreak234 said: "As a tall person, I always feel bad if I'm obstructing someone's view, but it's not really something I can help or control, and I hate it when I sit in my seat only to hear some snide comment from the people behind me about my height."

This. I always feel so guilty but what can I do to fix it? Should I be relegated to the back row because of my height?

 

[jagman1062]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 3:37pm

At 5'8", I'm average height for a man, so I do occasionally sit behind someone who is much taller than I, and I either try to make the best of it or try to get a different seat. I was at Parade on Tuesday night, and the person in front of me was tall, but I managed to see around him. There were only two times that someone incredibly tall sat in front me and I couldn't do anything about it. Once was at The Iceman Cometh in the late 90s. Unfortunately, that performance was sold out and the tall person took his seat just as the houselights dimmed, so I was stuck trying to look around him. The other time was at My Fair Lady in 2018. I was in the second row, where the seating isn't raked. I asked if I could be moved and was simply told, "no."

I find it frustrating when people aren't that tall, but have hairstyles or wear hats that obstruct my view. I had two situations like these last November. At A Christmas Carol, the woman in front of me had a hair style with hair braided on top of her head that was several inches high. I asked to be moved, and my companion and I were moved to much better seats. At Death of a Salesman, the man in front of me was wearing a hat. As the show was about to start, I tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he would mind removing it as it was blocking my view. He replied that he would not because he didn't want his head to get cold. I tried to move at intermission, but was unsuccessful. It's these situations that are more problematic for me than someone being tall and unable to adjust their height.

[TweetyPie2]

Posted: 6/11/23 at 6:07pm

Sit in the mezzanine. You are one step’s height above the person in front of you.