No Camera Needed

[dave lackey]

This is happening too often.😱

Tonight, we went to our oldest grandson's (age 7) Spring Program at the Performing Arts Center located within walking distance of our home. Having been to a few similar programs that were a complete disaster and being frustrated for even carrying the M3, I decided once again NOT to carry a camera. Good decision.😛 Oh, there were all kinds of P&S screens lit up all over the place, even a lady sitting in the aisle on the floor with her iPad lit up while recording the songs. Like it isn't going to be on the local TV station for the next 8 weeks...blech.

One would think that a joyous event with the grandkids would be an excellent time to snap some photos. Good memories for all....Not.

This school has the worst music/dance teacher in the world. The new PA center is large and nice but the kids are seated on the opposite side of the auditorium and the only time you can see them is the six minutes of songs they "sing" after their group is herded like cats onto the stage. No opportunity for a decent photo either while seated or while on stage as it would take at least a 200mm lens. I long ago sold off my DSLRs and no regrets.

Even after the program, it was total chaos with moms trying to get their kids and ushering them through the crowd to the parking lot. Again, no way for photos of any kind or any interaction.

Granted, the school is located in the "redneckest" area I have lived in for a long time and sophistication is a huge concept for them, but is it normal these days for such chaos and separation of individuals (not to mention a not very good program at all)??? Grab the kids, get the program done and haul a** home because it is a school-night! We could only fight our way through the mob to hug our grandson and give him a treat before saying good night...He wasn't even smiling....none of them were.

What is this really doing for the kids?

IMO, the purpose of these programs is to give the kids an opportunity to enjoy performing arts. The audience should be able to enjoy the performances as well. What is resulting is an alienation of the kids because of the poor organization and management...and they are not finding this to be a good experience. It is doing the opposite.

I hope other schools are a lot more kid-friendly than this one.🙁

Oh, and did I mention that the entire program itself sucked?

 

[Pastor Chris]

A sad state of affairs indeed. I don't know that your experience is necessarily unique to your area either. It seems like so many public schools are pushing our kids so hard to prepare for. . . what? Events like the one you describe seem worse than pointless. Perhaps is is reach exceeding grasp, really bad planning, the desire to have a feather in the school's cap at the expense of the kids, mostly, but the collateral damage seems extreme.

In a few weeks, our church is showing a movie called "Race to Nowhere" that deals with many of these issues. I would have been glad to not have a camera as well. Some things are simply best left forgotten, and that is not a statement I make lightly.

 

[dave lackey]

A sad state of affairs indeed. I don't know that your experience is necessarily unique to your area either. It seems like so many public schools are pushing our kids so hard to prepare for. . . what? Events like the one you describe seem worse than pointless. Perhaps is is reach exceeding grasp, really bad planning, the desire to have a feather in the school's cap at the expense of the kids, mostly, but the collateral damage seems extreme.

In a few weeks, our church is showing a movie called "Race to Nowhere" that deals with many of these issues. I would have been glad to not have a camera as well. Some things are simply best left forgotten, and that is not a statement I make lightly.

Yes, I agree that someone's ego is at work here. But putting kids on stage with every conceivable form of blue jean/shorts/t-shirt combinations and zero preparation (except for remembering most of the words) shows their lack of knowledge about a performance. But, the other problem is cramming it in on a school night (at 7:00pm) with no reception, no recognition from adult role models, and no interaction with attending family members.

There are just certain events that I have found to be a "No Camera Needed" event and I am very happy to go without one.😛 Birthday parties are an excellent example of that...with the occasional exception of this image from our oldest granddaughter's birthday in March (of course, I had to wait ten minutes for her to raise her head whilst pouting about no nap!):

 

[Keith]

Sounds like they're preparing them for 'American Idol' or a roll in 'Glee' to me Dave! 😀

I feel your pain.

 

[dave lackey]

Sounds like they're preparing them for 'American Idol' or a roll in 'Glee' to me Dave! 😀

I feel your pain.

Ha, ha! Yeah, from the looks of it, you may have hit the nail on the head! Gack, how I hate those TV shows...😛

 

[Contarama]

It is the wolf you feed that wins sir...

 

[ssmc]

There are just certain events that I have found to be a "No Camera Needed" event and I am very happy to go without one.😛 Birthday parties are an excellent example of that...with the occasional exception of this image from our oldest granddaughter's birthday in March (of course, I had to wait ten minutes for her to raise her head whilst pouting about no nap!):

That is an awesome pose 😀

I stopped taking cameras of any sort to parties, dinners, etc. a long time ago.

Rest assured however that if you happen to be seen looking foolish even for an instant (preferably with a red Dixie Cup in your hand) someone will immortalize you on Facebook within 24hrs... :bang:

 

[jesse1dog]

Maybe the photos were there to be taken - of the chaos, the bedlam, and the general agony and not of the children!
Sounds a not untypical school function - a bit surprised that cameras were not banned anyhow under 'child protection' or something.

jesse

 

[dave lackey]

It is the wolf you feed that wins sir...

Sorry, I have no idea what you are trying to say. I am feeding no wolf as in my signature. It is purely a like or dislike based on my educational background. There is nothing about this thread that says anything about character or doing what you seem to suggest.

That said, public schools in my area are absolutely awful in some respects while at the same time, both of my grandsons are well advanced for first graders and kindergarten kids. So, academically, the schools seem to be doing well, at least in some schools. However, the facilities, the music program, and the big leap from elementary to middle school leave a lot to be desired.

And then, there is the abyss....high school.😱

Frustrating, as I believe in ""being the change I want to see....however, I cannot become involved no matter how much I would like to be. Grrr.

 

[dave lackey]

Maybe the photos were there to be taken - of the chaos, the bedlam, and the general agony and not of the children!
Sounds a not untypical school function - a bit surprised that cameras were not banned anyhow under 'child protection' or something.

jesse

Funny you should mention that. I saw more phones, iPads, etc. than actual cameras. The good thing in this country is that we have no laws or regulations that ban taking photos. Even on school property.

Hopefully the IC (idiots in charge) will never try that here. Knock on wood.

In the meantime, I give my cameras to the grandkids to shoot every time we are with them.... fostering, I hope, a love for photography that may benefit them at some point in the future.

 

[daveleo]

I attended a music class recital a few years back. Before it started, they stated that cameras could be used only if you were standing along the back wall. Worked fabulously . . . no cell phone cameras, no ipads, no glowing LCD's in front of you.

It was in a large conference room, not an auditorium, so it was more intimate.

(They also had a photography student with a movie camera on a tripod shoot the whole thing that played on local access TV for the next month or so.)

(but it was till boring 😀)

 

[dave lackey]

I attended a music class recital a few years back. Before it started, they stated that cameras could be used only if you were standing along the back wall. Worked fabulously . . . no cell phone cameras, no ipads, no glowing LCD's in front of you.

It was in a large conference room, not an auditorium, so it was more intimate.

(They also had a photography student with a movie camera on a tripod shoot the whole thing that played on local access TV for the next month or so.)

(but it was till boring 😀)

That seems to have been a great idea.

Now that boring part is impossible to solve, though.😛

 

[kossi008]

[...](of course, I had to wait ten minutes for her to raise her head whilst pouting about no nap!)[...]

Wait a minute! Pouting about NO nap? The exact opposite to my daughter then. Great picture, though.

 

[oftheherd]

Yes, I agree that someone's ego is at work here. But putting kids on stage with every conceivable form of blue jean/shorts/t-shirt combinations and zero preparation (except for remembering most of the words) shows their lack of knowledge about a performance. But, the other problem is cramming it in on a school night (at 7:00pm) with no reception, no recognition from adult role models, and no interaction with attending family members.

There are just certain events that I have found to be a "No Camera Needed" event and I am very happy to go without one.😛 Birthday parties are an excellent example of that...with the occasional exception of this image from our oldest granddaughter's birthday in March (of course, I had to wait ten minutes for her to raise her head whilst pouting about no nap!):

That is a great photo. And the best argument possible for why you should always have a camera on hand (even though I don't always).

 

[burancap]

Very timely...

My annual dance recital duty is tomorrow.

The experience clearly hinges on the production talent, or lack thereof.

In my case -well produced, painless, and in all of these years -never saw a single tantrum.

I will be bringing either a DSLR or my NEX...

 

[shadowfox]

That is just precious, Dave!
A perfect one to show on her wedding 😀

Speaking about performing arts, we took our daughter to her first full-blown opera last Saturday. To her credit, she actually enjoyed it (about 4-hours with intermission).

It's a unique event where the live performance at the opera house was simulcast-ed(?) to that gigantic screen at Dallas Cowboy's Stadium.

Us and thirty thousand others can see single beads of sweat as the actor and actresses strained to hit those high notes. It was amazing.

Later in the week our friend who watched from the opera house mentioned that through her binocular, she hardly can see any details, and I just thought that was funny.

 

[wjlapier]

Hey Dave, my kids have been doing the school programs for years. I learned to ask where they would be on stage so I would be nearly in front of them. I arrive way too early because I want that front seat to get my shot. My youngest had a program and as usual I know where he will be and I got my front row seat. One of the best school programs I've ever witnesses ( 12 years of them ). I brought my D700 and 200/f2 AFS lens.

 

[dave lackey]

Hey Dave, my kids have been doing the school programs for years. I learned to ask where they would be on stage so I would be nearly in front of them. I arrive way too early because I want that front seat to get my shot. My youngest had a program and as usual I know where he will be and I got my front row seat. One of the best school programs I've ever witnesses ( 12 years of them ). I brought my D700 and 200/f2 AFS lens.

Nice photo! Must be nice to have a school that really does good programs for the kids!:angel: