self entitlement/rude behaviour- Page 3

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/19/11 at 8:18am

You'd have to be a True Moron to think nothing of singing along at a live performance of a musical. In all my years of theatre-going, the closest I ever came to being subjected to someone's hideous singing was at a performance of Carousel where an old hag sitting next to me LOUDLY hummed along in shaky voice and tapped her long Lee press-on nails on the armrest.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 5/19/11 at 9:18am

I get very angry when people talk or interrupt a performance and i have NO problem telling them to be quiet.

I have had 2 big situations happen when i told people to be quiet.

At The Little Mermaid I was in the Mezz 3rd row from the top. A woman in her 20's was sitting behind me and thought it was OK to sing-along with all the songs she knew. By the time we got to "part of your your world" I had already shhhh-ed her a few times and I finally snapped. I turned around and said "I didn't pay to hear you sing the show" She said something smart back to me with an attitude and it only got worse because she now was talking at full volume "no he didn't, tell me to shut up! etc". I got up and walked down to the orchestra and told an usher. They let me move down to the 5th row (because the Orch was 1/2 empty). The show was still terrible. lol

AND at A Little Night Music, I kept shhhhhh-ing 2 foreign people who were talking next to me the ENTIRE first act. At intermission i had enough and i said to them "Its rude to talk thorough a show". The male got in my face and started flinging gay insults at me. After my friends pulled me back (I have a mouth also)I found the house manager, told him what happened and he moved me and my friends to a box seat.

If you are paying almost $100. a ticket to a show WHY would you talk through it?

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 5/19/11 at 10:43am

I guarantee you this works.

I've always loved these: https://www.coudal.com/Shhh.pdf

But they're hard to see in the dark, and generally have too many words to read. So I just typed my own versions in large, black, thick capital letters in Microsoft Word.

I have three card styles:
"SHHH!!" for talkers,
"TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!" for texters, and
"YOU ARE BEING VERY LOUD" for those obnoxious people who have to express their every reaction vocally with a laugh, groan, moan, 'awww' or 'oh nooo!'

Just print them out on a piece of paper and cut them so they're index card-sized. Keep a few with you.

Last night at "Beauty and the Beast" a mom and her older teenaged daughter came in LATE, sat in front of me, and then had to whisper and chitter-chatter to each other DURING songs, and during dialogue. I slipped out a "SHHH!!" leaned forward, discreetly handed it to mom, she looked at it, daughter looked at it, and they didn't say one word during the rest of the show. Try it.

Updated On: 5/19/11 at 10:43 AM

[mee.who]

Posted: 5/19/11 at 1:33pm

I think my favorite instance of rude behavior happened the last time I saw Phantom a few years ago. There was a middle aged couple in front of us, and the man felt compelled to sing along through most of the first act. But only with Christine! It was kind of amazing. Eventually his wife shushed him.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/11 at 2:52am

Thanks, sbflyfan!

I'm going to use those frequently!

[spike3]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:43am

at theatres owned by the Shuberts, the company that runs the bar is Theatre Refreshment Co of NY. If you need to make complaints you can write or call that company.Or more effective, contact the Shubert Organization. Juat know that all profits made at the bars are shared between Theatre Refreshment and the Shubert Organization.

[spike3]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:53am

Baby its You is at the Broadhurst, a Shubert house. The company responsible for selling the food and drink in the aisles is Theatre Refreshmant Co of NY. They have the lease in all the Shubert houses. If you need to make a complaint about this practice you can contact Theatre Refreshment Co of NY, or for a more effective way, you can contact the Shubert Organization. Please note, all bar profits are shared by Theatre Refreshment Co of NY and the Shubert Organization

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 12:32pm

I too am amazed at how incredibly rude people are at theaters. I have been at many shows at my local venue where people literally crowd at the doors of the auditorium to the point where no one can move. It's assigned seating, folks- no one is going to take your seat! I also find it annoying- though amusing- when people are absolutely drunk. My favorite would have to be at August: Osage County about a year ago. The two women behind me- both of whom reeked of alcohol- were looking at the season advertisement on the back of the Playbill; the next show that would be coming to our theater was Mary Poppins. These two proceeded to begin singing as many of the songs as they could remember, including an especially version of "Chim Chim Cher-ee." Classic!
Apparently, this sort of thing isn't that unusual. I'm friends with the house manager and when I told her this story, she had about ten more to share!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 12:23pm

I know this is a really old thread, wanted some place to vent. Haven't posted here in awhile.

I saw the Mamma Mia tour this Saturday. We had limited view seats in the side orchestra. I understand that these were limited view seats, but boy, were they horrible! They should have just called them "no view" seats. We could not see Donna and the Dynamos during "Super Trouper", we were watching the air sing "Mamma Mia" and the Tanya and Rosie were singing to the wall during "Dancing Queen."

Not to mention there was a strange odor in our area.

Fortunately, I had found two seats closer to the center of the orchestra in the same row and moved there during intermission. I was talking to my theater companion when all of a sudden the woman behind me states (rather rudely), "Why don't you move back to your old seat, because now you're blocking my view." I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic (I'm not even tall) or was serious. The guy went on to ask, "Why don't you show us your tickets?"

I didn't want to start an argument, so I found the closest usher who said it was fine and she didn't see anything wrong with it. I mentioned the rude couple behind me, and she suggested I talk to "the boss," who I assume was the house manager. I explained the situation to her, and she told me otherwise, that I couldn't switch seats due to the price difference. It was understandable, but I guess it depends on the usher you are dealing with. If you find someone who gives you permission to do so, just take his or her word and change your seat.

Unfortunately, I ended up leaving the show at intermission; I had seen the show before anyway. I really did not want to deal with the rude couple behind me had they actually complained to the house manager.

Has anyone else moved seats during intermission, only to have the people behind them complain?

[My Oh My]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 12:50pm

No, but I accidentally sat in someone's seat at Blood Brothers in London during intermission. It was accidental because I had meant to move to the mostly empty row in front of that one but somehow ended up in the wrong row and was embarrassed when a woman and her companion returned asking why I was sitting in her seat.

I initially moved to escape miss piggy.

At any rate, I recently wanted to mention the rather awkward experience I had in my 3rd row, dead center orchestra seat at the Los Angeles production of Follies, but I'm afraid the person sitting next to me could have been one of you, LOL. I know several of you attended the final performance, too. So, I'd rather not, but man, there were points I felt the person was going to fall onto my lap!

This is the 3rd time a patron gets uncomfortably close during a show. What is it about me that causes this to happen 3 times??? It's not like I'm warm and cuddly or wear alluring cologne or anything. I'm a skinny midget who sometimes gets mistaken for an usher, or some other service person, LOL. Ugh, people are weird.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 12:51pm

I don't mind seat changers, as long as they aren't rude.

But to be honest, those folks likely thought YOU were being self-entitled. It's all in the perspective.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 1:01pm

"But to be honest, those folks likely thought YOU were being self-entitled."

True, but it really isn't their place or business, either, to dictate where I can or cannot sit. What if the usher had given us permission to sit in those seats prior to the encounter?

I don't like when people can be self-entitled either (hence I just decided to leave instead of dealing with the problem), but there are times when it just becomes too petty to even bring anything up. I think I was just dealing with a grumpy couple on a bad day.

Just my two cents.

Updated On: 6/25/12 at 01:01 PM

[Kelly2]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 1:19pm

I just have to say...how do you go to a concert for a band you love and NOT want to dance? I guess the type of music is a relevant factor but in the past years I've gone to plenty of concerts, big artists like Prince, Madonna, George Michael, etc. and smaller bands and friends' shows here in the city and if you love the music and you're feeling it and hearing it live, especially close up, I find it impossible to resist the urge to get up and dance. I've never been to a great concert where everyone around me wasn't on their feet and rocking out. It's a mood. And every friend I have in a band says they prefer to look and see people singing and dancing and having a good time. With live music, the energy you receive back from the audience has a lot to do with the performance.

I just wanted to clarify, it's a very different set of rules that govern concert behavior than behavior at the theatre. I suppose if you were at a show at, say, Carnegie Hall the rules might be different than coming downtown to see a show on the LES, but still.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:35pm

I saw the matinee today of The Lyons.

I was in the orchestra and it was mainly filled with an older crowd. 4 different cell phones went off in the first 15 minutes. Tons of people asking the person next to them "What did he say?" "He said f*ck"

and also people repeating the lines that were said and then adding "oh thats so funny"

That will be my last Wednesday matinee for a long time.

[bobs3]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 1:14am

At DEATH OF A SALESMAN, the 20-something couple sitting next to me wearing expensive clothes spent the entire performance snorting cocaine every time the lights lowered. The guy would actually pull his little spoon out and prepare the bump and give it to his girlfriend as soon as lights lowered for scene transitions.

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 2:08am

When I saw Ghost recently I was up in the mezzanine next to two people who seemed theater savvy who were visiting from Spain. The husband spoke English, but the wife did not, so he translated the ENTIRE show out loud to her as it was happening. It was annoying...then again, maybe it made the show a bit better. I can't decide.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 3:50am

Well, while we're on the subject, I am 6'3". I have been 6'3" since the early 1970s. It wasn't a choice and I really can't help it. I do NOT change theater seats precisely because I know that patrons resent it if I sit down in front of them during intermission.

One woman actually asked me to sit on the floor so she could see better. I looked and realized there was plenty of room on the floor so I obliged her. But in most theaters that is not possible.

So when I sit down, please do NOT keep asking loudly how tall I am. I am 6'3" and I will remain 6'3" no matter how many times you ask.

And please do NOT comment loudly to everyone around you, "Look how tall he is! He's 6'3"!"

In fact I am not a circus freak; there are people taller than I. Although I would be happy to trade seats with you, that will only inconvenience the patron behind you. For what it's worth, my posture isn't even all that great and I certainly don't try to sit extra tall when I know someone behind me is trying to see.

***

Rant over. I actually had a woman make a huge production over my height recently (at a band concert of all things!) and though my skin is pretty thick, after awhile it became uncomfortable, regardless of how much she pretended she was just being "friendly".

[ArtMan]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 8:58am

GavestonPS, I am also 6'3 so I can identify with you. But it also has it's pros and cons. Sitting on a plane or in some theatres it's definately a minus. But if I am attending an all standing concert it's a plus. If I am sitting in a seat that I paid for, and my head blocks the person behind me, thats their bad luck. It's no different if the person in front of me has big hair or a hat. That would be my bad luck. Most people usually don't say anything to me. Who knows...along with my height, I lift weights, so maybe they are intimidated. (LOL) Or they recognize it as "it is what it is".

Updated On: 6/28/12 at 08:58 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 9:16am

At DEATH OF A SALESMAN, the 20-something couple sitting next to me wearing expensive clothes spent the entire performance snorting cocaine every time the lights lowered. The guy would actually pull his little spoon out and prepare the bump and give it to his girlfriend as soon as lights lowered for scene transitions.

Well, at least they waited for the scene changes.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 9:50am

I once had an older woman at a matinee complain that I was "too tall" and she couldn't see. Not directly to me, of course, just passive aggressively complaining to her companion. I'm only 5' 8"- tall for a woman, but not tall for an adult human being. Perhaps if this woman is so short that she can't handle someone who is shorter than the average American man, she should always buy the ticket to the seat in front of her, like a fat person on a plane.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 11:02am

^ I really don't get what this woman's crime was, in whispering to her friend that she couldn't see. She didn't threaten your life, she just made a comment to her friend.

I usually can't see either, since I'm short. And yes, I will mention to my friend that I can't see.

Perhaps you shouldn't take it so personally. No one said anything to you.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 11:10am

Really, skittles, the woman IS allowed to be disappointed at not being able to see -- you TOOK it as passive aggressive.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 11:46am

Exactly^. And why is it "passive aggressive"? Because she quietly said something to her friend, probably so that YOU wouldn't hear it and perhaps be offended, which you were anyway. I can only imagine what you would have done to her if she weren't "passive aggressive" and spoke to you directly.

She should buy the seat in front of her? Really? Like a fat person on a plane? Really?

Wow, what a post.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 12:21pm

If you are shorter and know that you often will have someone in front of you making it hard to see, take a pillow to use as a booster. No one will be upset with you, as long as it's not like adding a foot to your height.

It's been two years (almost) since WICKED was last in Houston, TX, but I have some great stories of horrible patrons during that show. I worked i the front of the house, mostly helping with elevators, but I still got to experience some real characters.

For example, anyone who lives in Houston knows to allot for traffic, especially on Highway 59. So, please, please, please when you're late to a show in Houston do not complain about the traffic on 59! You're right, you couldn't have avoided it, but you could have left your house 30 minutes earlier. Yet, this one woman at WICKED actually wasn't that late, we could have seated her in her lower Orchestra (I think she was row 2 or 3) seats if she had not argued about how rude the box office was to her. I overheard an employee telling her, "Let's talk about this at intermission, I only have about a minute to get you into your seat before the orchestra starts. Once the orchestra starts, I cannot seat you for 18 minutes." The lady ignored this request and was fuming and railing off, while the employee was trying to tell her to go take her seats because she would not be able to be sat until 18 minutes into the first act. Well, before you know it, the overture started and then the lady got the clue and tried to go into the auditorium. Then she got mad and screamed and yelled in the lobby for the next 18 minutes about how much her seats cost and how rude we were for not letting her sit and making her watch the opening of the show on a monitor.

Then, there were these college aged people from out of town. They got dinner and drinks before the show, and came into the theatre a bit tipsy. One of the guys, who had no desire to see the show, drank four or five drinks from the bar in the lobby. Well, when the Wizard head rolled on, all the flashing lights negatively affected his alcohol-induced nystagmus, causing him to projectile vomit on the people in front of him. Lucky for them, he turned his head as he did it, so he hit 8 patrons... not just one or two.

On the flip side, I have to give major kudos to one father during the run. His young son (I think he said he was was frightened by the loud noise and the moving dragon during the overture, so he calmly walked his son from their second row Orchestra seats to the lobby and let him calm down. Once clam, the boy was afraid to go back into the show, so they watched the rest of the first act and the second act on the monitor in the lobby. We got them chairs, and they never complained or fussed. They never asked for any type of reimbursement or compensation. The child was well-behaved and so was his father. That was a great experience!

Updated On: 6/28/12 at 12:21 PM

[ZoeTheGoat]

Posted: 6/28/12 at 12:41pm

I can't read this thread anymore without getting upset about how dumb people are. It's like when people walk into the theater they forget everything they have learned in life.