How Close is Too Close in a Cirque Show
 

I know this will be different depending on the venue but in general, are the first few rows too close? I'm getting tickets at a local venue and have the opportunity to be in the second row. I'm wondering if this is a disadvantage....or not.

The Cirque shows tend to be on so many levels that I wouldn't want to be quite that close.

I just learned the hard way at the Cirque du Soleil Delirium show that the front row was AWFUL!!! And the funny thing is you pay more for it. That show was on a stage 8 feet tall so I had to crick my neck worse than if I was in the front row of a movie theater and I still missed a TON of it. Needless to say, I was really ticked - I would have complained; however, my friend works for the arena and got the tix for us (although we paid the $100 fee). In fact, for that show, I would say all floor seats are bad and to try to get in the bleacher seating.

I think it definitely depends on the particular show. I've actually seen most of them and I think the first few rows ARE, in fact, "too close." If you could get them, my recommendation would be for the middle or rear of the closest section at the very closest, especially if there are the usual aerial components of the show.

We saw Varekai from the FIRST row. It was pretty unbelievable. Some of the performers whispered to our little grandson when they were leaning over the stage.
The venue is quite compact so I really do not think there is a bad seat. We have sat very close for the two we saw--last time in the 4th row. Can't speak for Delirium except it is coming and is in our arena and for only 2 days so I think the setup must be quite different.
If that is the show you are seeing then take Radiofanatic's advice.

Would this seating advice also apply to the bigger Cirque shows in Vegas? We're planning to see KA and have seats in Row F, dead center. Is that far away enough?

I don't know about LV, but I think closer is better. It is just a terrific show. With the caveat about Delirium. It must be quite different since I think it must take days and days to put up the venue.

Gretchen, thanks for the response. Obviously, it's too late to change my seats at this point, so I'll have to hope they're good. Just got a little concerned after reading this thread.

When Cirque was in Raleigh (Dralion?) I had tickets too far to the side. I could see the performers climbing up to the cat walk (dressed in all back with hoods) so I didn't get the magic of performers appearing in the middle of nowhere.

We saw Mystere in Vegas from the 2nd row and it was great. It's an interactive show. Someone on the 1st row got picked on, as well as someone from maybe the 7th row or so :-)

Oh, we loved seeing the performers going up. POinted it out to our DGS.

I saw Varekai from the 4th row of their own Shapito tents they carry from place to place. Somebody warned me, my neck will hurts. No! Didn't happen! I felt fine (5'6")

I also saw people bringing their own cusions to the show, not needed!

Do it! Unless it is O, because you will get wet. We have been to every Cirque show that has visited Houston since 1996. The closer in, the better.

I took my ninety one year old mother to see a Cirque show (she requested it for a birthday present). Because she is wheelchair confined we were seated in the first row. When the show was over I asked her how she liked it. Her reply " I thought the shoes were very interesting." Apparently that was about all she could see from the front row. I am with radiofanatic on this...sit a bit further back to get the full effect.

If the show is in their tent, our heads were just above the stage. It was not a problem. I think grandma was being cute. But the rows go up a half step or so and I think the top row would not be more than 12 rows high. It is a very intimate venue.

Just saw Corteo in San Jose last week. We bought discounted tickets on the Cirque du Soleil website, but watch out for the add-on fees. The least expensive tickets were right in front of the orchestra (four different locations) and the most expensive seemed too close to the stage. We ended up with tickets on the front row of the next-to-the-least expensive area. Here's the trick: We went in mid-week, and the more expensive section in front of us was almost empty, so as soon as the performance began we moved down from row P to row K (Section 206). If you go in mid-week you could even chance buying tickets at the box office. We were able to park on the street a couple of blocks away. We'll use the same strategy again. By the way, the performance is the best of the best of all the Cirques we've seen. Totally breath-taking!

Gretchen, I am glad front row seating worked for you.
I assume your reference, "grandma was being cute" was an allusion to my mother's remark. The statement accurately described her experience. I understand that is not a universal sentiment and tried to be clear about her circumstances and limitations.

We were in the first row for the Corteo production and felth that we were too close.

Betsy, I was the original poster to the question and I too, will be buying the mid-week discount tickets for the performance in San Jose. I have never had the desire to attend any of the Cirque shows when in Las Vegas. I thought seeing one here in San Jose would either insipre me to see others or take a pass. Thanks for the insight...and to all of those who had input to my question.

Judy24, I think you'll be ok. I just saw Ka at MGM Grand and sat in row K in the center. During the show some of the actors come down in the aisles and perform briefly. They stopped right around row K, so they will be behind you. At the beginning of the show there is some limited action to the sides, but this doesn't last long. Most of the action will be right in front and not as close as row F sounds.