Theater etiquette

[cprted]

Even if you could jam cell phone signals, it won't actually help. Johnny is still going to whip out his phone, write up the text message, and hit send. Only now because the signal is blocked, instead of putting his phone away, he is going to mess around with it for 10 minutes trying to figure out why the stupid thing isn't working.

[Chris Chapman]

New height of scariness: A Director of an upcoming Musical was texting DURING auditions. When actors were reading for her. THAT is going to be a stellar show.

[Drmafreek]

There are a variety of things that tend to bother me about our current audiences. The best we can do at this time is hope that those that teach theatre also teach theatre etiquette. In my Theatre 101 class the first thing we talk about is what "you" as the audience member are supposed to do during a performance. Many people don't realize that they are part of the performance. You cannot have a theatrical performance without the audience, and so it tends to enlighten some of them.

I think we are going to continue to see a degradation of etiquette as the years pass by, and the only way to fix it is to continue to pester people in the audience when we see then with mobile devices out. I've taken to explaining to our student ushers that they have that ability, to please ask the person to step outside if they are texting.

There also seems to be the "rock concert" mentality in many college performances. Especially dance concerts, where students will hoot and holler during the dance when their friends are onstage. Again, education education education is what is needed.

[cprted]

Originally Posted by Drmafreek

There are a variety of things that tend to bother me about our current audiences. The best we can do at this time is hope that those that teach theatre also teach theatre etiquette. In my Theatre 101 class the first thing we talk about is what "you" as the audience member are supposed to do during a performance. Many people don't realize that they are part of the performance. You cannot have a theatrical performance without the audience, and so it tends to enlighten some of them.

I think we are going to continue to see a degradation of etiquette as the years pass by, and the only way to fix it is to continue to pester people in the audience when we see then with mobile devices out. I've taken to explaining to our student ushers that they have that ability, to please ask the person to step outside if they are texting.

I think this is largely a symptom of the popular entertainment paradigm shifting away from live performances and towards the mediums of television, cinema, and the internet. Not to suggest that such a shift is a harbinger of the end times, but that those mediums require a much lower threshold of engagement on the part of the audience.

Like Drmafreek, I think our front lines should be the institutions of higher learning. Over the past several decades, the trend in universities as being towards greater and greater specialization at the undergraduate level at the near complete sacrifice of the broad liberal arts education that a BA should provide. In most institutions I am familiar with, it is entirely possible to graduate with a degree in Business (in Canada at least, the most popular major with Psychology coming in a close second), without ever having taken a course in art appreciation, the history of western civilization, english literature or composition, or even a basic introduction to government and politics. How are you supposed to understand the world around you without some of this most basic knowledge?

[/rant]

[Eboy87]

Just remember: There's a special place in hell reserved for child molesters, and people who talk in the theatre.




I work for our theatre on campus. It's hit or miss here, since we have a whole theatre program. You get the people who really care about the art, and who are attentive, then you get the ones who don't want to be there, but have to because of a class or something. The latter ones whip out the phones and start using them, even after our pre-show "turn off your phones, and no texting" speech. I remember running FOH for the orientation where people were texting during the theatre chair's speech. We're up in the balcony, my boss waves to the chairman, then points a laser pointer at the culprit, who got a stern talking to. Very funny.

I have had to tell people around FOH to shut up before (more politely of course) because they gab through the entire show. It's very distracting for the audio guy. One pet peeve of mine is when you hear the crew chatting. Our spots are at the back of the balcony, and are manned by people from the Crew class (read: people who don't always have any interest in tech). They sit and talk on comms the entire night in a normal speaking voice, and seem unaware that they can be heard out in the house.

As for dress, this is an interesting one. I've seen everything from ripped jeans and a Harley t-shirt to women in hats and furs.

That was slightly long winded.

[seanandkate]

Originally Posted by spiwak2005

Saw an orchestra concert once where they started the first piece and then the conductor's cell phone started ringing. She cut off the orchestra and answered her phone. Then she turned around to the audience and said "you probably didn't appreciate me doing that to you. So please turn off your cell phones!!"

That's outstanding!!

As a high school teacher, I've noticed that parents tend to be at least as bad as the students. But I also cast some blame on those who sit in close proximity of the offenders and do nothing. If people actually TAKE a call during a show (insert head banging against wall here) they need to know that they stand a really good chance of being called on their rude behaviour. Maybe that will discourage it. Note that I didn't say eliminate . . .

[Harmz]

this video is awesome. when they don't want to watch the show, bring the show to them!

What happens if you talk with your phone in a concert?

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[highschooltech]

Originally Posted by Eboy87

Just remember: There's a special place in hell reserved for child molesters, and people who talk in the theatre.

Yes there is.

But in general i think there is a general lack of courtesy where cell phones are concerned. In general people just answer their phones no matter what they are doing, and not just in the theatre.

[cprted]

A friend of mine went to see Hugh Jackman in The Boy from Oz on Broadway a while back. According to her, about ten minutes into the show a latecomer was getting seated in one of the front rows. Jackman stopped the show an struck up conversation with the patron, "Hi, I'm Hugh what's your name?"
"Uhhhhhh, Jim."
"Hi Jim, welcome to the show. Where are you from?"
"Uhhhhhh, New Jersey."
"Really? Well I'm from Australia and I managed to get here on time."

[stephendean]

I have also noticed a lot of texting during show as well, often I will turn on the bluetooth of my phone and scan for phones that are on. And boy do people call their phones some interesting names, do they realise that anyony can see them. I thought it was only australian high school kids that screamed and hollered during dance performances by their peers.