School Concerts FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long is the performance?
2. Does everyone need a ticket?
3. Will we all be sitting together?
4. Is it general seating?
5. How can I find out if you have seats available?
6. What is the best way to order the correct number of tickets?
7. How much are tickets?
8. Do you charge GST?
9. How do I calculate the total amount owing?
10. My school requires a ratio of 8 students per supervisor, but you only allow 1 free ticket for every 10 purchased. Will I get extra free tickets for all of the supervisors?
11. Can I order tickets by phone?
12. How will I know you received the order?
13. Several students were ill on the day of the concert. Will we get a refund for unused tickets?
14. Will students in wheelchairs be seated with the group?
15. When do I have to send payment?
16. Will I receive tickets before I pay?
17. Can I pay for the tickets when we arrive for the concert?
18. Will you send an invoice to the school?
19. Do I have to pick the tickets up?
20. When will I receive bussing information?
21. When should the buses arrive?
22. Where should our buses drop off the students?
23. Where should our buses pick us up after the concert?
24. Are there any other bussing hints?
25. Do I need to hand out tickets to individual students?
26. Is there an easy way to figure out how many seats are in each row?
27. Do students need to sit in the exact seat for which they hold the ticket?
28. Are these performances open to homeschoolers?
29. May I bring my grandchildren to the performance?
30. May I bring my toddler or baby to the performance?
31. Will my toddler or baby need a ticket if they sit on my lap for the entire performance?
32. What happens if the weather is lousy on concert day?
33. We are not coming by bus. Where can we park?

Answers

1.   How long is the performance?

The performance is one hour long.

2. Does everyone need a ticket?

Every person who comes to the performance MUST have a ticket!! This includes teachers, students in wheelchairs, EAs, parents and (for homeschoolers) toddlers and babes in arms!

3. Will we all be sitting together?

Generally, yes, you will all be sitting together. Groups may be split between 2 or more levels in the auditorium, depending on seating availability and sight lines for some performances. (very young children cannot be seated in the balcony, so for the Grade JK – 4 shows, only Grade 2 and up are seated in the balcony) You will be informed if this is the case.

4. Is it general seating?

No. All seats are reserved.

5. How can I find out if you have seats available?

You do not need to check seat availability. Nancy will let you know if there are not enough seats for your chosen performance.

6. What is the best way to order the correct number of tickets?

Count the number of students, including students in wheelchairs. Add the number of teachers, EAs and parent volunteers required. Order this number of tickets.

7. How much are tickets?

Tickets are $6 each for adults or children.

8. Is there GST?

No. There is no GST payable on tickets for a performance which is for student audiences.

9. How do I calculate the total amount owing?

For every 10 tickets purchased, you will receive 1 free ticket, presumably to be used by one of the supervisors.
For example:
  • 55 tickets in total, you pay for 50 and get 5 free. 50 X $6 = $300.
  • 265 tickets in total, you pay for 241 tickets and get 24 free. 241 X $6 = $1,446.

10. My school requires a ratio of 8 students per supervisor, but you only allow 1 free ticket for every 10 purchased. Will I get extra free tickets for all of the supervisors?

No, you must pay for those few extra tickets.

11. Can I order tickets by phone?

Yes! Call 519-745-4711 ext 274. You can also order by e-mail schools@kwsymphony.on.ca or mail or fax the order form to Nancy at the KWS. Include the total number of seats required and the performance date. Remember to indicate if you need wheelchair seating. Click here to download the order form.

12. How will I know you received the order?

An order confirmation will be sent to the school. It will tell you the total amount owing. This will serve as your invoice. The number of seats required can be adjusted until tickets are issued, about one week before your performance.

13. Several students were ill on the day of the concert. Will we get a refund for unused tickets?

Sorry, once the tickets have been issued, no refunds can be made. You cannot return unused tickets for students who are ill or absent on the concert day.

14. Will students in wheelchairs be seated with the group?

Students in wheelchairs will NOT be seated directly with the rest of your group, so they MUST have someone seated with them. Some consideration will be given for extra free tickets for this purpose. The Centre In the Square’s disabled seating area is not on the main floor, but is located in the boxes on the stage to either side of the orchestra. This seating area is very limited, and may be further limited by scenery pieces for some productions.

15. When do I have to send payment?

Payment is due one month before your concert date. You can pay by cheque, Mastercard, or Visa. If you prefer to pay by cash, please phone to make those arrangements.

16. Will I receive tickets before I pay?

Tickets will normally not be issued unless payment has been received, or advance arrangements have been made.

17. Can I pay for the tickets when we arrive for the concert?

Yes, as long as this is arranged in advance.

18. Will you send an invoice to the school?

Your order confirmation will serve as your invoice. A receipt will be sent to the school once payment has been received.

19. Do I have to pick the tickets up?

Tickets will be delivered to the school three or four days in advance of your performance.

20. When will I receive bussing information?

Your ticket package will include bussing information and unloading instructions.

21. When should the buses arrive?

Plan to arrive at the Centre 30 – 45 minutes before your performance. There may be more than 30 buses to unload, and 1700 students to seat! The performance will NOT be held for late arrivals.

22. Where should our buses drop off the students?

This information is in your ticket package. Please give copies to all of the bus drivers. Many bus drivers will make multiple trips to the Centre for school matinees, and it is important that they come to the correct side of the building to unload. This speeds up the seating in the hall tremendously. If your bus comes to the wrong side, the driver will be required to go around the building before students can be off-loaded.

23. Where should our buses pick us up after the concert?

Ask your bus drivers to pick you up in the same location at which they dropped you off, i.e. either Ellen St or Otto St.

24. Are there any other bussing hints?

If you have more than one bus bringing students, ask the drivers to line up together for pick up after the concert.

25. Do I need to hand out tickets to individual students?

Yes! Please hand out tickets to students before unloading the bus. Every person must have a ticket IN HAND before entering the building. There is not enough room in the lobby to hand out tickets to everyone arriving at once.

26. Is there an easy way to figure out how many seats are in each row?

The first ticket in each row will be identified. Please hand out tickets in ascending or descending numerical order for each row.

27. Do students need to sit in the exact seat for which they hold the ticket?

Yes! That way, if they go out to the washroom, they can be directed back to their seat.

28. Are these performances open to homeschoolers?

Absolutely! You may bring just your own children, or you may organise a trip for your homeschool group.

29. May I bring my grandchildren to the performance?

Yes! These performances are open to the public. All tickets are $6, but are only available through Nancy Wharton in the KWS office. Call 519-745-4711 ext 274. You can also order by e-mail schools@kwsymphony.on.ca or mail or fax the order form to Nancy at the KWS. Click here to download an order form. Don’t forget to include the total number of seats required and the performance date.

30. May I bring my toddler or baby to the performance?

Yes, as long as the child can sit quietly for one hour, and not disturb other attendees.

31. Will my toddler or baby need a ticket if they sit on my lap for the entire performance?

Yes, every person attending the performance requires a ticket, even a baby in arms.

32. What happens if the weather is lousy on concert day?

If region wide school buses are cancelled due to inclement weather, performances will NOT go ahead. Every effort will be made to reschedule the concert, or accommodate all confirmed attendees at a future KWS or Centre In the Square school performance, subject to availability. Sorry, but refunds cannot be made.

33. We are not coming by bus. Where can we park?

There are several pay parking lots in the immediate area around the Centre In the Square. They fill up fast on a weekday, so plan to arrive at least 45 minutes in advance of your concert so you have time to find a parking space.