Best seats for kids at a concert: orchestra, mezzanine, or balcony

For a child at an orchestra concert, the best seats are often in the front rows of the first raised level, near the center. From there, a child can see over the heads in front and look down on every section of the orchestra. On the main floor, choose an aisle seat a few rows back. The front row is not a good choice, because a child sees shoes and music stands and little else.

What the names mean

Halls use different names for the same places.

Level	Names in North America	Names in Britain	What you get
Main floor	Orchestra	Stalls	Close to the players, and level with the stage or below it
First raised level	Mezzanine, loge, or first tier	Dress circle or grand circle	A clear view down onto the stage
Top level	Balcony or gallery	Upper circle or gallery	The widest view, far from the stage
Side sections	Boxes	Boxes	A side view, close to the stage

The word “orchestra” here means the seats on the main floor. It is the same word as the group of players, and that confuses many first-time buyers.

Orchestra seats: the main floor

Good. You are close. You can see faces, bows, and fingers. Getting in and out is easy.

Not so good. The floor is flat or slopes only a little. A child may see the back of an adult’s head. From the first few rows, the stage is above eye level, and the violins hide everyone behind them.

Best picks for a child. Sit about a third of the way back, on an aisle. An aisle seat gives a sight line down the aisle and a quick way out.

Mezzanine seats: the first raised level

Good. The rows are stepped, so each row looks over the one in front. A child can see the whole orchestra, with the woodwinds, the brass, and the percussion at the back. Many musicians say the sound is best here, where it has had room to blend.

Not so good. You are farther from the players’ faces. The front row has a rail that may sit at a small child’s eye level.

Best picks for a child. Sit in the center, in the second to fifth row. If you choose the front row, bring a booster cushion.

Balcony seats: the top level

Good. These cost the least. The view takes in everything, and the sound carries well in most halls.

Not so good. The players look small. The steps are steep, which worries some children and some parents. It is a long walk to the washroom.

Best picks for a child. Sit in the front few rows, near the center. Bring binoculars. Children love them.

Boxes and side seats

A box has a few loose chairs and its own door. A restless child has room to shift, and the family can slip out without climbing over anyone.

The view is from the side. You may see only part of the stage, and the sound is less even. Check the hall’s seating map for the words “limited view.”

Seats behind the orchestra

Some halls have seats behind the stage. From there, you look straight at the conductor’s face and down on the percussion. Children find it thrilling. The sound is out of balance, with the brass and drums in front of you. These seats are often cheap.

Seats to avoid with a child

• The front row. Necks ache, and the view is of the front desks alone.
• Under a deep overhang. Far back on the main floor, the level above forms a low ceiling, and the sound is duller.
• The middle of a long row. A trip to the washroom means climbing past 15 people.
• Seats marked “limited view.”

It depends on the show

Show	Where to sit
Orchestra concert	First raised level, center
Piano recital	On the left side of the hall, to see the pianist’s hands
Ballet	Higher up, to see the patterns the dancers make
Opera	Center, where you can read the translated words above the stage
Family concert	Close to the front. These are short, and children like to be near.

Tips for booking

• Look at the hall’s seating map before you choose. Many ticket sites show the view from each section.
• Ask the box office which seats they suggest for a child of your child’s age. They get this question often.
• Ask whether the hall lends booster cushions.
• For a first concert, an aisle seat matters more than a perfect view.
• Afternoon and family concerts often cost less than evening ones.

Things to do together

Read the map. Open the seating map with your child. Find the stage, and let them point to where they would like to sit.

Find the sections. Before the music starts, find the violins, the cellos, the flutes, the trumpets, and the drums from your seat.

Trade places. At the break, walk to another level and look at the stage from there. Talk about what changed.

Print and play

Print the orchestra seating chart and take it along. Read who sits where in an orchestra, first orchestra concert with kids, and what to wear to the symphony with kids.