You have questions — we have answers. Whether you know a little or a lot about classical music, we want you to have an excellent experience. These are the things first-time concertgoers tell us they want to know.
Don't see your question? Email info@symphonytacoma.org or call 253-272-7264. You can also stop by our information table in the lobby before the concert or at intermission and say hello.
Frequently Asked Questions
TICKETS & BOX OFFICE
BEFORE YOU GO
AT THE CONCERT
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You can buy online HERE, or call 253-272-7264 ext. 1 to speak with our Box Office Manager; we always love the chance to connect with you.
The box office is open 10 am – 3 pm Tuesday through Friday, and in person only on concert days, opening two hours before the performance.
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A subscriber buys a season package, which includes seats for multiple concerts at once, usually at a discounted rate. Subscribers also get perks like free ticket exchanges and, with a Premier subscription, free parking.
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You have a few options:
Subscribers may exchange tickets free of charge — one of the many subscriber benefits.
Single-ticket buyers can exchange for another Symphony Tacoma performance in the same season by contacting the box office. A small administrative fee may apply; there may be an additional cost if you move to a higher-priced seat, and all exchanges are subject to availability.
Anyone can donate tickets back to Symphony Tacoma so they can be resold. You'll receive a receipt, and the donation is tax-deductible.
Refunds are not available.
Please request exchanges or donate your tickets at least two days before the performance. Contact the box office at 253-272-7264 ext. 1 or tickets@symphonytacoma.org.
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Yes! Discounts are available for seniors, students, youth, and military at all concerts at the Pantages Theater, and you could save even more by buying a season package.
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Most Symphony Tacoma concerts take place at the historic Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway in downtown Tacoma. Our Mini Maestros family series is presented at Schneebeck Concert Hall at the University of Puget Sound. A few special concerts are performed in other venues, so always check your ticket or the concert page to confirm.
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More than anything, we want you to be comfortable. If you like dressing up for an evening out, do it, you won't be the only one, we promise. But tuxedos and evening gowns aren't required, and they aren't the norm.
Most concertgoers wear business or cocktail attire, or "Sunday best," but you'll see everything from jeans and sweaters to suits and ties. A coat check in the lobby means you don't need to bring a damp raincoat or heavy winter gear into the hall.
One request: please skip large hats and strong fragrances, which can affect the experience of the people around you.
Pro tip: The name of the game is comfort and practicality. Dress in a way that lets you enjoy the music.
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Program lengths vary, but a Classics Concert runs approximately two hours, including one 20-minute intermission.
Mini Maestros concerts are about 45 minutes long with no intermission, and the Instrument Petting Zoo opens an hour beforehand, so plan for a little extra time if you'd like your child to try the instruments.
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Not at all! You can simply come to the show and enjoy yourself, and you definitely won't be alone in doing that. At the concert, you'll learn about the music, the composers, and often the story behind it from your program book, and the conductor frequently introduces pieces from the stage.
If you'd like to prepare, here are three easy ways:
Come to the pre-concert talk. Held before Classics Concerts only, it starts 90 minutes before the concert on the Orchestra level of the Pantages, is free to ticket holders, and lasts about 30 minutes. PLU Professor Greg Youtz hosts a conversation and, when available, guest conductors, soloists, and composers. You'll learn what to listen for, who the composer was, and what history shaped the piece, with time to spare before the concert begins.
Visit the concert page. Each one includes an overview of the program, notes on every piece, and a "Listen to Sample" button so you can preview the music.
Read the program notes ahead of time in the online program guide, or listen to the works on a streaming service or YouTube.
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Great music — that's the short version.
Let go of any preconceptions about classical music or concert halls. Sit back, let your thoughts settle, and focus on what you hear. Watch how the conductor and musicians interact. Notice the beat, the melody, and the way the music makes you feel. There's no wrong way to listen.
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This question causes more anxiety than it should. The current convention is to applaud at the end of a piece, not between movements.
The conductor will typically keep their back to the audience during the silence between movements, that's your cue to hold your applause. At the end of the piece they will slowly lower their hands and turn to face the audience, that's your cue to clap.
Sometimes the audience just can't restrain itself and you'll hear a smattering of applause between movements. It's perfectly fine to join in if you're moved to. It happens most often during a concerto, when a soloist has done something spectacular.
Pro tip: If you're uncertain, wait for others to clap first.
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Nobody enjoys a ringing phone mid-concert. Please silence your phone and refrain from talking or texting during the performance, the light from a screen is as distracting to your neighbors as the sound.
If you want to check the concert program during the performance, we ask that you do so between movements or pieces.
Flash photography is always prohibited; it's genuinely disruptive to the performers. We also ask that you not take photos or video during the concert. Before and after, though, please have fun with it, take your selfies, tag us, and check in on social media.
Occasionally your phone is part of the show. (It's happened, and it's wonderful.) When that's the case, we'll tell you in advance.
If you need to be reachable during a performance, leave your phone with the House Manager along with your name, row, and seat number.
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Yes. Beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks are available for purchase in the lobby before the concert and during intermission. At most concerts you may bring your refreshments to your seat, just be mindful of packaging that's noisy to open. You can also order a drink before the concert and have it waiting for you at intermission.
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If you must leave, please do so between pieces, ideally while the audience is applauding. Better still, wait for intermission if you can.
Pro tip: If you have a cough, unwrap a cough drop before the music starts and keep it handy.
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Yes. Tacoma City Theaters screens all patrons entering the Pantages. All bags are subject to search, and you may be asked to open your jacket. Please allow a few extra minutes, and thank you for your patience.
Please Note: No outside food or drink other than commercially bottled water is allowed into the building.
BRINGING CHILDREN
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It depends. We generally recommend our Classics Concerts for youth twelve and older. That said, if your child has a real interest in classical music, a concert together can be a wonderful family experience, and we offer youth ticket discounts.
Pro tip: For younger children, our Mini Maestros series introduces kids to the symphony with 45-minute interactive concerts at Schneebeck Concert Hall, with free parking, room for strollers, and an Instrument Petting Zoo an hour before the music starts.
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At the Pantages Theater, everyone needs a purchased ticket, including infants. Babes in arms are not admitted to concerts at the Pantages without a ticket.
At Schneebeck Concert Hall, babes in arms are welcome at Mini Maestros concerts. We ask that you reserve a free infant ticket for them. It costs nothing; we simply need an accurate count of everyone in the hall for safety — if there were ever a fire or evacuation, we need to know exactly how many people are inside.
ABOUT THE ORCHESTRA
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Just like basketball players taking shots before the game, musicians need to warm up their muscles and focus their concentration, and it's fun to watch and listen to. Some are polishing the passages they're about to play.
Not everyone warms up onstage. Like the audience, everyone has their own routine: some are talking, some are paging through music, and some don't come out until a minute or two before the downbeat.
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It's a tradition that goes back a few centuries. Lately musicians have been dressing a bit more casually, but they still aim to look uniform so the audience can concentrate on the music rather than the clothes. Soloists are the exception. They're in the spotlight, and often wear something colorful or flashy.
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They don't need a new watch — that's the concertmaster! The concertmaster sits in the first chair of the first violins and leads that section, and the orchestra as a whole. They walk on last to cue the oboe to tune the orchestra and signal that the concert is about to begin.
Still have a question?
Email us at info@symphonytacoma.org or call 253-272-7264. You can also visit the Symphony Tacoma staff at our information table in the lobby before or after a concert and at intermission. Stop by, say hi, and let us help make your visit spectacular!