I'm new to my district this year and I'm expected to have a spring concert with about 150 - 175 students at the high school auditorium using four three tier risers. Hum...NOT going to work! The music teacher before me worked with the situation by having a couple classes come up to the stage to sing for about 8 - 10 minutes and then they rotated to the next group - choo, choo! Train stops....1st stop some kids sing...kids go off stage while next group gets on risers...talking/parents talking/off task....2nd stop....interruption/off task....3rd stop....where is the caboose to the train :)!!!

 

My thoughts are setting up chairs in rows (choir circle or straight rows) on the floor in the gym, yes acoustically not ideal but works for seating...and then have my instrument players in front in a marked area sitting on the floor. This wouldn't be new to them since we have no chairs in one of my buildings and one building the students don't use the chairs that we do have because their WAY to tall - legs swinging, etc. headache for the teacher! The audience then could see all the performers by sitting in the bleachers....Just like watching a basketball game :) This way I'm hoping all the parents can see their students. The auditorium this seating arrangement wouldn't work since the stage is higher up then the flooring - last school it was the opposite. Stage with stadium seating - loved it! Oh and 6 step risers to fit 200 students at one time....layoff :(  Oh-well, new jobs, new challenges, love the kids!

 

Please help! Please forward any suggestions. Thanks!!!