Absolutely appalling behavior at Seminar tonight...

[adamgreer]

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

At this evening's performance of Seminar (which I really enjoyed, incidentally), I witnessed theater behavior that may in fact top it all. It was NOT the woman in the front row who put her bare feet on the stage. It was NOT the two girls across the aisle who were texting the entire evening. Those things would have been bad enough.

However, this one tops them all. About halfway through the show, I noticed a bright light sort of behind me. I turned around and saw a guy sitting in the middle of the last row on his macbook. No effort to cover up the bright light emanating from the front and back of it. And he proceeded to stay on his laptop, doing what (surfing the net? posting on bww?), I don't know for the remainder of the play. Absolutely no shame at all and didn't seem to care in the least. If I was seated at the aisle I would have went and gotten an usher, but my getting up would have disturbed at least 5 or 6 people.

After the show, we happened to walk past the guy on our way out. He was talking to a bunch of other people and I overheard their conversation. Turns out he's one of the sound designers for the show, which makes this even worse. I get that may have needed to be on his laptop doing work for the show, but there is a soundbooth located in one of the boxes where he could have set up shop and not distracted the paying audience. Who allowed him to set up IN THE HOUSE and be on his computer during the performance? It's bad enough when an audience member engages in distracting behavior, but to have a member of the production team do it is even worse.

I couldn't find the house manager after the show to tell him/her (and the show has no intermission, obviously, so that was out) about it. I'd like to write a letter letting them know how distracting it was, but not sure who to send it to. The theater? The producer's office? The Shuberts?
Updated On: 11/5/11 at 11:19 PM

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:37pm

O. M. GOSH that is TERRIBLE!

That reminds me i saw something at TOWN HALL (Broadway Originals) and the audience was absolutely horrid. There was this woman who took off her shoes and devoured some chinese take-out. Then there was the obnoxious couple behind me who clapped like WAY to loud for everything. Then there was this guy who wasn't even sitting, he was like taking pictures for a website or worked there or something. Anyway, after every song he would scream "YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!" It was so obnoxious. Every time i gave him a dirty look. It's not a f**king Justin Bieber concert, just applaud or give a little "woo" but don't scream or make some loud noise like that.

[addicted]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:38pm

As annoying as this is, it's standard for previews - they're taking notes, etc. and trying to fix things.

Was just at Godspell last week and Ken Davenport was on his iPad the whole show taking notes and at Wild Animals You Should Know tonight the whole team was in the back row with their computers, etc.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:43pm

I've been to plenty of early previews and this is the first time someone's been out in the middle of the house on their macbook. At Godspell last weekend, Stephen Schwartz was taking notes on pen and paper.

It's one thing to be standing in the back of the orchestra taking notes on an ipad, but another thing entirely to set up shop in the middle of the mezzanine.
Updated On: 11/5/11 at 11:43 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:44pm

I've noticed this lately, as well. The last time I saw it was at the first preview of SONS OF THE PROPHET. It's beyond distracting and I can not for the life of me fathom how anyone with the production thinks it's acceptable.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:47pm

This is common for designers and assistants taking notes. Usually they will dim the brightness and sit in an aisle, box, or secluded spot, such as the last row.

For a Sound Designer or Sound Mixer, it may have been essential they sit in the house instead of the sound booth because they wanted to hear the show from there the audience sits.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:47pm

The woman in front of me at the Godspell first preview was also on an iPad taking notes. It is horribly distracting, and am sad to hear it's a developing trend.

[metsfan]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:48pm

The house staff and the Shuberts don't have a ton of control over the production and creative team while they're in previews. If you want to write a letter, the lead producer may be your best bet, or write the director or author c/o the theatre. (You could write to the Shuberts, or the House Manager, but at best they'd take it up with the producer anyway, and my bet is they wouldn't.)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:55pm

For a Sound Designer or Sound Mixer, it may have been essential they sit in the house instead of the sound booth because they wanted to hear the show from there the audience sits.

If that's that essential than it should be done during a rehearsal. It's completely disrespectful to the paying customers.

It's also more than a little hypocritical to expect audiences to shut off all electronic devices, while they don't. Electronic devices are distracting regardless of who's using them: an audience member or someone from the production team.

[whatever2]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 11:58pm

turns out i shushed the director during previews for "the shaggs" ... to both our credit, it worked.

sorry, you want to run a working rehearsal? call it what it is and CHARGE ME LESS!!!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:00am

There may have been changes since rehearsal that required the sound person to need to sit in the house.

Regardless of the reason, anyone from the production team who needed to be in the house with a laptop should have made an attempt to shield the light.

The Production Stage Manager will know who it would have been -- you should address a letter to the PSM.

[AGermano]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:05am

My mouth literally dropped when reading the first post on this...

EDIT: Spoke too soon. Didn't read far enough into it before making that comment to read that he was a sound designer for the show. Don't want to sound rude, but I don't see a problem with this. I am studying Theater Design/Technology and Production right now and it is very common for (obviously...) production team members to sit in the house and do their work DURING PREVIEWS. Normally I wouldn't agree with the Macbook usage but he WAS sitting in the last row. If he was stationed in the box you speak of he would have been elevated with a bright Macbook that both the audience members in the Orchestra AND Mezzanine would be able to see... at least he was sitting against the wall in the last row. I understand the light may have been distracting to the paying audience around him but I'm sure he wasn't just sitting there with his Macbook if it wasn't essential. No theater company/company manager/house manager would EVER allow that unless it was completely necessary. And YES, again, I understand that it may have been a distraction for the paying audience members, but it IS still in previews and he was most likely there for a reason. Like I said before, no production manager would ever allow that to happen unless completely necessary...

And what the previous poster has already stated, the PSM should be able to answer to your complaint. I'm not arguing that this was okay or acceptable in any sense I'm just trying to clear the guys' name before fingers are pointed at someone who was just simply doing their job or what was requested of them.


Updated On: 11/6/11 at 12:05 AM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:06am

I sat next to the director of a play during a pre-Broadway tryout. He talked to his twink assistant through the entire show, who took notes that he dictated. I knew it was the director so I didnt say anything but I was irritated. He talked through the entire show.

I mean, he couldnt take his own notes. He had to have an assistant with a steno pad who he would speak the notes to. Whatever.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:14am

We survived for centuries with pen and paper, how did this change?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:15am

Theater folk are too important to not be able to use their iPads. We (the public) should just be grateful they're letting us in to see their production.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:19am

Seriously, if Stephen Schwartz can use pen and paper - then random production assistants can too. Respect the ****in audience.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:20am

I was there tonight too and noticed the girl with her feet on the stage. Ridiculous. But I agree the iPad/laptop trend needs to go. It's ridiculously distracting. For what it's worth, I enjoyed the show.

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 12:20 AM

[JayKurnitz]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:22am

adamgreer,

I really enjoy reading so many of your posts, and I really appreciate your voice on this board. But I must say - I think you're just a tad in the wrong on this one. While you have every right to your opinion, and I would never, ever try to put you down, the fact of the matter is that it's previews. Unfortunately, for us it is still rehearsal (even though the audience is in fact paying), and with so many things depending on wireless communication and computers, laptops/computers in full view of audience is nowadays unavoidable. There are many times in previews that the full light board and adjoining monitor are in the audience as well, simply because they need to be. It is made really clear to the audience (while buying tickets) that the show is still in preview period, and to expect these things. Even if the sound designer was just taking notes (which there is a GOOD, no, GREAT chance he was doing more on that laptop than just taking notes), while a show is still in previews, he/she has every right to.

I also must say I find the bare feet on the stage a little more "appalling", but that's just me. I truly and sincerely hope it didn't cloud your view of the show, and that you still enjoyed your night in the theatre. I encourage you to re-attend once the show is opened so that you can enjoy the show without any distractions.

Thanks again for all you do on the board!
Updated On: 11/6/11 at 12:22 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:29am

Um, how is the sound guy diddling around on his iPad in clear view of the audience any different than my checking Facebook during the show? Distractions are distractions and that's a big one.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:30am

I sat next to the director of a play during a pre-Broadway tryout. He talked to his twink assistant through the entire show, who took notes that he dictated. I knew it was the director so I didnt say anything but I was irritated. He talked through the entire show.

1) His "twink" assistant? How is that relevant?

2) This is a method that has often been used for decades. As someone who has been an assistant of some directors of note, from experience I'll say that this it irritating and embarrassing. You get dirty looks from ticketbuyers, plus because the director is trying to keep their voice down, you may miss words (s)he is saying and can't really ask "what did you say?" during the show.

I really wish that during the preview period, there would be more notice to ticketbuyers as to what exactly a "preview" is and what they may be suspect to.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:37am

I personally would find bare feet on the stage more appalling, people who take their shoes off in theaters gross me out.

But anyway, I seriously doubt that anyone on production staff would have their electronics in full view of the audience if it weren't necessary for what they were doing. I'm sure that everything for the light and sound teams is on the computer since that's how everything is run these days and it would have been counterproductive to be taking notes by hand.

I know we have the "but they charge full price!" argument on here all the time, but previews are previews. The tickets were purchased for a preview performance, and fixing things like sound issues are all part of it and should be expected, especially by people who go to the theater on a regular basis. And again, I doubt the sound designer or his/her assistant or whomever was taking notes or adjusting things in the back row would have had their computer out unless it was necessary for what they were trying to fix.

[ChenoKahn]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:40am

So if I was sitting in the back row and it was essential for me to do something i could just go on my laptop? Good to know...

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:42am

So if I was sitting in the back row and it was essential for me to do something i could just go on my laptop? Good to know...

Don't be so obtuse. If you work for the production and notes and charts are kept on computers then, yes, you can be on your laptop. If you just want to watch porn at the theatre then, no, you shouldn't be on your laptop.

[AGermano]

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

No, ChenoKahn, because you have no part in the making of this production and have no right to make this distraction.
People need to realize that previews are in-fact rehearsals that people pay to see. I agree that when people buy tickets to previews they should be informed to expect things like this to happen. The man was DOING HIS JOB. You'd do it too if this was your career... but of course, it's not, so feel free to keep hating on the people who create these productions for all of us to see.
Also, everyone comes here to complain about "sound problems" and other issues they notice DURING PREVIEW PERFORMANCES... news flash, people like this man are what fix those issues that we all complain about so that when a production officially opens there are no more issues. These people work and work towards perfecting a production and sometimes that means working on things during previews... and if you have problems with that then wait a few weeks until it opens to see it.
Updated On: 11/6/11 at 12:46 AM

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:47am

adamgreer:

Re: Sons of the Prophet. When I went to the 3rd preview, I too saw the director and playwright were in the last row with assistants between them on laptops taking notes. It was bright and distracting.

Re: tonight at Seminar. I was in the 2nd to last row of the orchestra and Theresa the writer and Sam Gold the director were sitting behind me. The laptop could have been theirs. Why they needed to take notes in the first place, who knows? It was excellent.