yk

I looked through some older threads and I *think* I get the idea, but I just want to make sure before I buy tickets for August.

For the regular BSO concerts in the main shed, the cheapest seats are $20 on the sides in the back. The lawn tickets are $18, which I believe is the area further back? So, what am I missing here? Why would I want to pay $18 for a "seat" in the lawn and not an extra $2 for a real seat inside the main shed, esp if the weather is bad and it rains? My understanding is that all real seats are covered, but not the lawn, right?

If we have tickets for seats, we can still go early (doors open at 5:30pm) and picnic in the lawn before going to our seats when the concert starts, right?

Are the concert amplified? If yes, is it amplified throughout the shed or just back in the lawn area?

How about mosquitoes? I assume I need to be covered in bug spray head to toe?

Thanks in advance!

tchoiniere

All real seats are covered by the Shed. Lawn is completely open. Personally, Id rather the lawn but agree about the weather. You can hear the sound just as well, if not better than in the shed. The times I have been there, there has never been a mosquito problem but better safe than sorry.

china_cat

Paying the extra $2 so you have the opportunity to be undercover is a fine idea. We have often brought picnic gear and then moved to a seat when the concert started. About the only downside of this is what do you do with your picnic gear. If its small enough to fit under your seats, fine. Otherwise you either have to leave it out on the lawn, or take it back to your car before the concert starts.

I've actually never had much trouble with mosquitos. We sometimes bring citronella candles. I always bring bug spray but rarely use it. If its breezy, it will be fine. I think they must spray the grounds to keep the bugs down a bit.

Bring something warm to wear, even if you don't think you'll need it. It gets quite cool up there at night, and I almost always want a sweater before an evening concert is over.

The concerts are amplified. I "think" there is amplification in the shed, but I admit there have been some concerts where a soft soloist is a bit hard to hear from the back of the shed. So I'm not completely certain about that.

There are large video screens mounted outside, on the shed roof, that are only visible from the lawn. These give you a pretty nice view of the orchestra and soloists. For this reason, and because my own lawn chair is more comfortable than a shed seat, and because I can drink wine during the concert, I really prefer the lawn to the back part of the shed. Rain is the only thing which would drive me inside. Or if there is an interesting conductor or soloist that I want to SEE, then I try to get a good seat inside.

Ackislander

Other than rain, the only downside of the lawn is the occasional jerk who will be having a cell phone conversation while you are trying to hear the music.

yk

Good point about the picnic gear. I guess we can just bring a picnic blanket but not chairs, if we decide to have a picnic there before the concert.

I also read that children can get into the lawn area for free (with paying adults). I think that alone is a good reason for us to get real seats. I can imagine some children can get bored and get noisy.

We're thinking of seeing the concert with Hilary Hahn, but I don't feel like paying $50 for a ticket, as there will be 4-5 of us and the extra cost adds up quicky!

china_cat

Is it an evening concert? Oh yes, you said gates open at 5:30... I think the lawn is fine at night. The kids will tend to fall asleep on the picnic blankets, and even the adults are better behaved.

I actually hate sitting on the lawn for Sunday afternoons. You basically can't hear the music at all. The kids run around, the guys read the newspaper, and everybody has a harder time being quiet. And it can be very, very hot.

If you go early (5:30, as you are planning), and park by the Lion Gate, not the main gate, your car may not be all that far from the grounds. You can send DH back to the car with the chairs and cooler before the concert starts.

jubilada

The lawn is a different experience which many people prefer. IMO Tanglewood is miserable in the rain even in the shed. They spray for mosquitoes so no problem there. Sound is actually better on the lawn.

jubilada

Not sure if this is true this season but Friday night lawn tickets were very cheap the last two years.

yk

Fri eve lawn tickets are $9; cheapest seats in the Shed are $18. However, it's difficult for us to make it to the Fri evening concerts; DH usually doesn't get off work until 7:30-8pm.