KNOW BEFORE YOU GO - SCHOOL PERFORMANCES

A successful field trip begins well before the day!

WHAT TO BRING

To ensure a smooth field trip experience, please bring the following:

1. A visible school ID or visitor badge for each adult in your group.
   (We will ask to see at the door prior to entry to ensure all adults entering the building are connected to an attending group.)
   
   
2. A copy of your invoice. This will serve as your group’s “ticket”.

PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS

Review any provided curriculum materials with your students to help set context. Show-related materials are shared with reservation contacts via email, typically 4-6 weeks in advance of the performance.

COMMUNICATE SPECIAL NEEDS

Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know of any wheelchairs, sight or hearing impairment needs, inability to do stairs, the need for ASL interpretation, etc.

Parking protocols are developed in conjunction with City of Des Moines Traffic and the Des Moines Police Department.

Please schedule busses or vehicles to arrive downtown 30 minutes prior to the performance start time to ensure a smooth parking and check-in process.

For those arriving by bus:

If coming from I-235, take the 5^th Street exit to Locust Street – not the 3^rd Street exit. This will expedite circling on one-way streets to reach the identified parking.

Most buses will double and triple park on Locust Street between 2^nd and 4^th Streets. Once the Locust Street lanes are full, buses will be directed to additional streets adjacent to the Civic Center.

Please clearly identify any buses or vehicles transporting students will mobility issues to ensure you are directed to a space with curb access. This can be done by placing a sign that says “ADA” in the front window and/or alerting the first traffic officer you encounter.

All bus drivers are highly encouraged to stay with their bus during the performance in the event that emergency vehicles need better throughway access. Bus drivers who enter the building to use the restroom should plan to return to their bus after using the facilities.

If your bus is dropping you off and not staying parked for the duration of the performance, you will be directed to unload on the Walnut Street side of the building.

After dismissal, please note that all buses parked within your block must be fully loaded and ready to go before any bus is released. As such, please be efficient as you exit the building, take students to the restroom, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: ONCE SCHOOLS ARE DISMISSED, BUSSES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO STAY PARKED ON THE STREET. IF YOU MAKE PLANS TO EAT LUNCH IN THE AREA, OR TO VISIT A PARK OR OTHER DESTINATION WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE THEATER, YOUR BUS MUST LEAVE AND PICK YOU UP ELSEWHERE SO THAT TRAFFIC CAN RE-OPEN.

For those arriving by car or van:

Street parking will only be provided for school buses or for accessible vans transporting students with mobility needs. All other school vehicles, such as vans or cars that can be accommodated in a parking ramp or in a single parking spot on the street, will need to secure their own downtown parking.

We encourage you to consider parking in one of the parking ramps adjacent to the Civic Center:

• Third and Court Parking Ramp:You may enter this parking garage directly from Third Street, just south of Walnut Street. This ramp is connected to the Civic Center by skywalk.
  
  
• Fourth and Grand Parking Ramp: You may enter this parking garage from Grand Avenue, just east of Fourth Street, or you may enter the garage from Fourth Street, just north of Locust Street.
  
  
• The ramps typically charge $1/hour for daytime parking.

All downtown street parking spaces charge $0.25 - $1.75 per hour from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Free parking is available on the bridges, pending availability. See HERE for details.

See below for information to ensure a smooth check-in process for your group!

Tickets

Tickets are not issued for school performances. Instead, your group and reservation details will be listed on a check-in sheet at the door.

It is recommended to bring a copy of your invoice with you to the theater to serve as “backup” in case there is an error on the check-in sheet. Please let us know if you need another copy of your invoice.

Entering

School groups should enter through the lobby entrances on the west or east side of the building. You will see signs that say "SCHOOL ENTRANCE" to help you find an appropriate door.

Tell a staff member your school’s name at the door to check-in. 

As the group enters, the staff member will check to make sure that all adults are wearing a visible School I.D. or School Visitor identification.

(Please note: the Ticket Office entrance on the corner of Walnut and Third Streets should only be used by home educators or chaperones arriving separately from your group. School groups should not enter through the Ticket Office to avoid congestion.)

More info on Adult Identification

Downtown Des Moines sees a great deal of foot traffic on a daily basis. To help ensure student safety, all adults are required to wear visible, approved visitor identification for the duration of your time in the building.

Approved forms of visitor identification are:

• School-issued ID badge
• School-issued visitor badge/sticker (as distributed by your school office)
• DMPA-issued visitor sticker (given to you during the check-in process)

To expedite arrival, please have badges visible when entering the outside door. Things will move much faster if all adults already have badges upon arrival.

Any adults arriving without a school-issued ID or visitor badge will need to receive a DMPA-issued visitor sticker upon arrival.

If arriving with the rest of the group, another adult from the school will be asked to verify that you are part of their group. At that time, you will be issued a DMPA visitor sticker.

If arriving separately from the group (such as a chaperone who does not ride the bus), please enter through the Home School and Chaperone Entrance, located on the corner of 3rd and Walnut Streets. A DMPA visitor sticker will be issued once staff have verified with the school that the you are approved to attend. Please be patient as this can take some time.

It takes everyone's cooperation during the seating process for the performance to start on time. Here are some tips for getting your group seated efficiently.

FINDING YOUR SEATS 

An usher will escort your group to your assigned seats.

Please allow our ushers to seat your group in the theater prior to taking groups of students to the restroom. This helps us ensure that your entire group stays together and does not get mixed up with other large school groups during peak arrival time.

ARRANGING YOUR STUDENTS

An usher will show you the row(s) designated for your school group.

Please allow our ushers to seat your entire group prior to re-arranging students in specific seats. This helps us seat all groups efficiently and to better start the show on time. 

We hope everyone in the group is able to fully enjoy the performance -- including you! Here are a few things to keep in mind during the performance.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The use of cameras or any type of recording devices is prohibited at all times. 

Please turn your cell phone off or set it to silent mode. Please also refrain from text messaging and using your phone as a light source during the performance.

If you have a student or guest in your group that uses a tablet, phone or similar-looking device as an adaptive communication tool, for a medical need, etc. you may wish to disclose to Education staff or the usher closest to your seats. Many live shows prohibit audience members from taking photos or videos of the performance. Advance notice will help our front of house team know that the device is for a needed accommodation and avoid any confusion about it being used as a camera or recording device.

THEATER ETIQUETTE

Please promote or reinforce theater etiquette with the students in your group, so that all in attendance can fully enjoy the performance.

Please note that etiquette expectations may vary by performance and that the performers will often give you clues on what is appropriate.

RESTROOM BREAKS

In the event a student must leave the theater during the performance to use the restroom, please ensure that an adult or another student from the group accompanies them.

HEALTH EMERGENCIES

In the event of illness or injury, please alert your closest usher. A medic is on-hand at all Civic Center performances and can assist.

UNIFORMED OFFICER

Please be aware, there will be a uniformed police officer present inside the Civic Center during school performances as a proactive safety consideration.

Your assistance is appreciated after the performance to ensure a smooth dismissal process for all groups. 

STAGGERED DISMISSAL

To help ensure a smooth exit, we will stagger dismissal. Please stay in your seats until a staff member calls your school group by name.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Please help students check their seats for any personal belongings prior to departure. Left behind items will be turned into our lost-and-found.

RESTROOMS AND TRAFFIC FLOW

Groups may utilize restrooms or head straight to their busses and vehicles. We encourage you to use restrooms closest to your seats and to exit the building via the lobby also closest to your seats. These efforts will minimize congestion in the hallways and help all groups return to their vehicles as efficiently as possible.

BUS DEPARTURE

As a reminder for those traveling by bus, all busses parked on your same block will need to be fully loaded with doors closed prior to traffic officers allowing busses to pull away. (This is to ensure safety of any students walking between busses during the loading process.)

Please be patient, and please keep this in mind as you conclude your time in the building. After all, no one wants to be the group holding others up!

(Typically, most busses are able to depart the theater within 10-15 minutes of dismissal starting.)

A successful field trip begins well before the day!

WHAT TO BRING

To ensure a smooth field trip experience, please bring the following:

1. A copy of your invoice. This will serve as your group’s “ticket”.

PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS

Review any provided curriculum materials with your students to help set context. Show-relatd materials are shared with reservation contacts via email, typically 4-6 weeks in advance of the performance.

COMMUNICATE SPECIAL NEEDS

Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know of any wheelchairs, sight or hearing impairment needs, inability to do stairs, the need for ASL interpretation, etc.

For a smooth arrival process, we recommend you plan to arrive downtown 20-30 minutes prior to the performance's scheduled start time.

Home educators arriving by car, van or other vehicle that can be accommodated in a parking ramp or in a single parking spot on the street are responsible for securing their own downtown parking.

We encourage you to consider parking in one of the parking ramps adjacent to the Civic Center:

• Third and Court Parking Ramp: You may enter this parking garage directly from Third Street, just south of Walnut Street. This ramp is connected to the Civic Center by skywalk.
  
  
• Fourth and Grand Parking Ramp: You may enter this parking garage from Grand Avenue, just east of Fourth Street, or you may enter the garage from Fourth Street, just north of Locust Street.
  
  
• The ramps typically charge $1/hour for daytime parking.

All downtown street parking spaces charge $0.25 - $1.75 per hour from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Free parking is available on the bridges, pending availability. See HERE for details.

If you are part of a home educator cooperative that is arriving by bus, please see bus parking information under the section for school groups.

See below for information to ensure a smooth check-in process for your group!

Tickets

Tickets are not issued for school performances. Instead, your group and reservation details will be listed on a check-in sheet at the door.

It is recommended you bring a copy of your invoice with you to the theater to serve as “backup” in case there is an error on the check-in sheet. Please let us know if you need another copy of your invoice.

Entering

Home educator groups should enter the building using the Ticket Office entrance located on the corner of 3rd and Walnt Streets. You will see signs that say "HOME SCHOOL AND CHAPERONE ENTRANCE" to help you find an appropriate door.

Check-in and Visitor Badges

To check-in, please tell the staff member at the table inside the doors the name of the person who placed your ticket reservation.

As the group enters, the staff member will issue all adults with the group a DMPA visitor sticker as part of our school performance safety protocols. We ask that adults keep this sticker visible on their person for their duration of time in the building.

*Home School Cooperatives and Home School Assistance Programs - to help ensure a smooth check-in process, we encourage reservation contacts to meet families in your group in the Ticket Office Lobby and help "approve" everyone who enters or to email us in advance a list of families attending as part of the group.

Seating

Home School groups will be assigned seats in one of the day's "Small Group Sections". Upon checking in, the staff member will tell you the door number where small groups are currently being seated.

Make your way to the proper door and look for the closest usher. They will point you to the row where we are currently seating.

Special Accommodations

If your group has communicated with us about any special accommodation needs, please arrive early and identify yourselves to our staff so we can match you to your appropriate seats.

*Note: if you need special seating, but do not make prior arrangements with us, we may not be able to accommodate your request last minute. Please contact us if you have any special needs.

We hope everyone in the group is able to fully enjoy the performance -- including you! Here are a few things to keep in mind during the performance.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The use of cameras or any type of recording devices is prohibited at all times. 

Please turn your cell phone off or set it to silent mode. Please also refrain from text messaging and using your phone as a light source during the performance.

If you have a student or guest in your group that uses a tablet, phone or similar-looking device as an adaptive communication tool, for a medical need, etc. you may wish to disclose to Education staff or the usher closest to your seats. Many live shows prohibit audience members from taking photos or videos of the performance. Advance notice will help our front of house team know that the device is for a needed accommodation and avoid any confusion about it being used as a camera or recording device.

THEATER ETIQUETTE

Please promote or reinforce theater etiquette with the students in your group, so that all in attendance can fully enjoy the performance.

Please note that etiquette expectations may vary by performance and that the performers will often give you clues on what is appropriate.

RESTROOM BREAKS

In the event a student must leave the theater during the performance to use the restroom, please ensure that an adult or another student from the group accompanies them.

HEALTH EMERGENCIES

In the event of illness or injury, please alert your closest usher. A medic is on-hand at all Civic Center performances and can assist.

UNIFORMED OFFICER

Please be aware, there will be a uniformed police officer present inside the Civic Center during school performances as a proactive safety consideration.

Your assistance is appreciated after the performance to ensure a smooth dismissal process for all groups. 

STAGGERED DISMISSAL

To help ensure a smooth exit, we will stagger dismissal. Please stay in your seats until a staff members calls home school groups as the next to exit.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Please help students check their seats for any personal belongings prior to departure. Left behind items will be turned into our lost-and-found.

RESTROOMS AND TRAFFIC FLOW

Groups may utilize restrooms or head straight to their vehicles. We encourage you to use restrooms closest to your seats and to exit the building via the lobby closest to your seats. These efforts will minimize congestion in the hallways and help all groups return to their vehicles as efficiently as possible.

In addition, if meeting friends or other home school groups, please find a place to meet outside or away from the exit doors. This will make it easier for large groups behind you to exit the building and return to their busses.