Front and center isn't always the best place to watch a show
By Mark de la Viña
Mercury News

How hard can it be to pick a seat for a cultural event in the South Bay?

The first few tickets sold for any concert or play are often in the front row, center section. But the experts who work at the region's major arts venues know that the best seats aren't always in the most obvious places.

The Mercury News asked the professionals who manage, book or promote the South Bay's major artistic centers to identify their venues' ``sweet spots,'' those ideal places where they would seat themselves, friends or family.