<p>I'm now going to sound like the uncultured classical music parent that I am!</p>
<p>We are getting tickets to the Tanglewood concert next Saturday night featuring John Williams. We have never been to Tanglewood and will be driving 6 hours to get there. </p>
<p>A few questions: </p>
<p>What is concert attire in the shed? I know a lot of people sit on the lawn and picnic, so we're not talking formal or are we? </p>
<p>Is the lawn a neat experience or is it better to be closer and have a ticket inside? I'm thinking we may want to do inside, but I don't want DD looking out longingly at the people picnicking. Then again, we usually don't eat during concerts and would like to stay dry if it rains.</p>
<p>If you take the walking tour of Tanglewood, do you have a guide that speaks or at least mentions the young artist program? </p>
<p>Any Hotel recommendations? </p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>redeye41,
Jealous Tanglewood is beautiful. Attire is definitely CASUAL even in the shed. I can’t speak to where the best acoustics are because I have always sat on the lawn and not exactly gone to Tanglewood for the music. The music is amplified. Sitting on the lawn is a wonderful experience. Families are there and often there are people drinking wine and eating elaborate picnics that they packed and kids throwing frisbees and balls around. If that would bother you then you might want to sit in the shed. But sitting on the lawn can be pleasant and if you get there early you should be able to get a spot close enough to the shed that you can hear the live music. If it were raining having shed tickets would be a good idea because I am not sure what people do when it rains who have lawn tickets. We always used to get tickets at the last minute and so we never dealt with rain. I would bring BUG SPRAY and be prepared for mosquitos. And post concert even if you sit in the shed I would make sure to do a tick check. Just standard New England protocol.</p>
<p>Hotels in the Berkshires and the surrounding towns are outrageously expensive at this time of year. If you do not already have accommodations then you might just have to take what you can get. There is a B&B association that might be of assistance. Some of the chains and motels are rather grungy. Again last minute is going to be a challenge. One place that is unique is the Kripalau Center which is right near Tanglewood. They have dorm style accommodations and amazing natural healthy food served cafeteria style. Their grounds are beautiful and you can enjoy yoga classes and more there. But I have no idea what availability would be like in late August.</p>
<p>I have never taken a formal tour of Tanglewood, so I have no idea what they mention. I have wandered the grounds at various times of day and love hearing the musicians practice.</p>
<p>We just got back from a trip to Tanglewood last weekend (have been there many times). We have done both lawn and shed, and while the lawn is nice and they do have the music amplified, along with large screens to watch the concert, I prefer the shed just for the peace of mind if it rains. We got caught in a downpour on the lawn one year and basically everyone ran to the edge of the shed to try to get under the roof a bit - it didn’t help much. They won’t allow you in the shed itself. But many people do the lawn - you just have to take your chances. Yes, dress is very casual inside or out - bring bug spray, and a sweater or jacket for potentially cool evenings. Good luck with accommodations. Many places sell out within days of the tickets first being available in April, particularly for the more popular concerts. Also, a lot of the inns (which ARE very expensive) have 3 day minimum stays on weekends. The Village Inn in Lenox (where we stayed), which does not require a minimum stay. The motels are cheaper, but yes, a lot of them are kind of grungy. But good luck and enjoy!! I love Tanglewood!!</p>
<p>Definitely casual attire. If you want to sit on the lawn but not lug your own chairs in, you can rent chairs there. </p>
<p>The shed is nice if it rains, but the seats are summer-camp classic. Personally, sitting on the lawn is the entire point of going to Tanglewood - you can stretch out on your blanket, watch the stars come out, bring snacks or a nice meal, watch the video screens, walk up to the shed and peer in at the big spenders squirming in their chairs, just enjoy a summer evening.</p>
<p>Etiquette: Don’t step on other people’s blankets. Don’t make a lot of noise or stand up in front of them during the performance. Pick up your stuff and dispose of it properly. Get out of the headspace that classical music needs to be a stuffy, formal affair. :)</p>
<p>Hotels will be pricy. The farther away you’re willing to drive, the better price you’ll get.</p>
<p>Plenty of good advice above.</p>
<p>Give yourself a walking tour of the grounds during the daytime. They are very nice. Also, go visit the BUTI Tanglewood camp, less than one mile down the road, in case your daughter wants to attend next summer.</p>
<p>Check the temperature as it can get very, very warm in the shed! A sundress with a shawl, linen slacks, or for men, khakis or “golf-type” slacks and a polo are just fine (even Bermuda shorts and a polo shirt would look great).</p>
<p>It can also get quite chilly at night in August. :)</p>
<p>We were there Sunday and it was very chilly on the lawn. Need layers. Remember, you are up in the mountains. Agree, the lawn is the experience- my favorite moments are the utter silence around us, as the music is performed. A star filled sky. Some people will set up their picnics on the lawn, bide their time, then head into the shed for the concert.</p>
<p>Agree you have to check the weather. We were originally going out when heavy rain was predicted and the office told us local flooding was also possible. Lawn plans can be converted to last minute shed tix, if available.</p>
<p>We usually bring a bus lamp and spray- but usually go in July.</p>
<p>Just went to Tanglewood on Parade (again). It is a whole day of concerts around the Tanglewood grounds. The cello ensemble is great playing classical , the Beatles hits and Stars on Stripes (yup all on cellos!). Our group sets up a blanket and picnics for lunch and dinner. I always purchase a seat inside for the main concert in the evening but I enjoy listening to the concerts during the day on the lawn. Since all the Tanglewood musicians are performing that day, the 1812 Overture with combined orchestras is great to see and hear from inside the Shed. Also the cannon shots aren’t quite as loud! The timing of the last note and the last canon blast was perfect - I don’t know how they did it! The Fireworks are first class. It really is a great place.</p>
<p>Thank you all! I knew where I’d get my answers!!</p>
<p>Others pretty much covered what I would say about it, it definitely is casual (then again, even at the ‘staid’ music halls, dress is not exactly three piece suits and stuff these days).</p>
<p>For something like the John Williams concert with movie music (and no, I am not turning my nose up at movie music, far from it, in many ways I think movie music is a lot better than a lot of the stuff they program these days…) being outside on the lawn with the big screens is probably less of a drawback than a ‘straight’ symphonic concert in that the amplification will be less of a detriment. </p>
<p>One thing I agree, the shed IMO doesn’t have great ventilation, it gets very stuffy in there, and it seems like when we sit in the shed, we are surrounded by (mostly older) women who don’t quite realize they have put enough perfume on to cover for a squadron of skunks or something…in any event, if you are going to sit in the shed wear light clothing and bring stuff for later when the temperature drops. I also found the shed to be a bit more stuffy in other ways, the vibe there to me always seemed to be more formal than the lawn. </p>
<p>Bug spray is important, given the weather we have had, mosquito season is pretty rough, though in past years I never really noticed it being that bad (then again, I am from a part of NJ where you seriously don’t go out at dusk…), they also have biting flies which I hate more than mosquitoes.</p>
<p>Let me tell you, when you go there, though, it doesn’t matter, it is a magical place. I have been to Saratoga (where the Philadelphia Orchestra resides for some weird reason, not the NY Phil), and other summer places, and Tanglewood is quite special.</p>