Bad Theater Behavior

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

AMEN!

I am as hooked into social media/my phone as anyone, but beyond doing it because it's appropriate behavior, I genuinely look forward to the experience of turning my phone FULLY off and escaping into a show for a couple hours.

[Sutton Ross]

Yep. Off. As in NO POWER. Can't stand the idiots who put it on vibrate because....that's not distracting in someone's purse or coat pocket?!? Give me a goddamn break.

Fools.

[VintageSnarker]

I haven't had any really terrible audience experiences. Maybe when I was younger. Perhaps I blocked them out. My recent brushes with bad theater behavior have been more like mild annoyances than the obnoxious and rude things most posters have been pointing out.

I went to see Not the Messiah at Carnegie Hall with Eric Idle, Marc Kudisch, Lauren Worsham, etc. I was up in the balcony lamenting my misfortune at being seated two or three rows behind someone who had to be at least 6 feet tall when out of the corner of my eye I noticed someone in front of me on his phone. Fine. But then the performance started and he didn't put it down. He was on and off that phone throughout the first act and finally an usher came when he was doing it again during the second act and told him to put the phone away. Grown man. Now, I have a doctor in the family so I'm sympathetic to someone who wants a night out at the theater but still has to be on call. This was not that.

Also, just in general, stop taking pictures, people. During the performance, during intermission, at curtain call. Just stop.

This is more of an issue with concessions than audience members but I was a little annoyed that after the intermission of Cabaret a number of people near me came back to their seats with coffee which they slurped throughout the second act. Plus, I'm one of the few people who hates the smell of coffee.

[bandit964]

Cabaret tonight, 02/10. Hiptix seats. Second to last row, balcony. My friend and I were surrounded by animals.

-Right away, during the opening number, the girl in front of me raised her hands up over her head to begin braiding her hair. She was pulling the strands out piece by piece above her head, blocking my view.

-Cell phone checking and texting constantly by more phones than i care to remember.

-Constant chit chatting.

-Rattling drinks the entire second act that were just ice.

-So many people were getting up throughout the show. One person went down the aisle, and instead of exiting out the nearest exit, the person ran all the way across the balcony to the opposite exit.

-The gentleman next to my friend was a muscular fellow. He was massaging his wife sitting next to him and in doing so kept bumping my friend.

-During the song, 'Cabaret' the same gentleman gets out his candies and tries (fails) to eat them quietly throughout the entire song.

-SPOILER: When Sally is telling Cliff she gave up the baby in the climax of the show, time for another bathroom break, everyone up!

-SPOILER: Now when the cast is assembling back on stage for the final moment, bathroom break is over and everyone back up so this person can enjoy the last 45 seconds.


My friend said, "I loved the show. I feel like it would have brought me to tears had there not been all the distractions."

These distractions can ruin what can be a magical moment in theatre.

[Tking0012]

I would have asked to have my seat moved. Those types of Behavior are not acceptable in a theatre. Espeically when most people are paying $100+ per ticket for a magical evening.

[EthelMae]

Oh I agree Tking0012. I would have spoken loudly to all of them or have gotten an usher to get the house manager. I know you don't want to miss any of the show but it would be worth it-you're missing it anyway. These people aren't aware of what they're doing and how distracting it is to others.

At Pippin recently, a woman was talking non-stop-this was before the show started-I knew she was going to keep this up when the show started and she did. I turned around and very pointedly told her to please stop talking. She said she was sorry! I turned around and she didn't talk again.

Yes, for prices you pay-there's not always discounts-people can't behave that way. Now that I think of it, Pippin was a rush seat-but it doesn't matter. It's a theatre not your living room.

P.S. I do blame the concession companies-having sellers going up and down the aisles selling wine and soda, etc. It just adds to the stadium atmosphere. Back to the old, "no drinks allowed back to your seats!", I say!

[dramamama611]

They aren't willing to lose that money.

[DramaTeach]

Took my students to see On the Town. On the way in, I warned them all that everyone else in the theatre was going to look at our group and say to the person they're with, "I hope they're not sitting near us." These 12-14 year olds were told that phones must be off (not even on silent, as we don't want to see a light go off if someone tried to call), and they need to show the older crowd that kids aren't animals. At the end of the show, the ladies behind us said, "Those kids were so well-behaved. They didn't squirm in their seats once." Granted, they're kids who are interested in performing, but at that age, I was still nervous. They made me very proud

[bandit964]

I told the girl doing her hair to quit it. She and her boyfriend then had a discussion with eachother about how she "wasn't doing anything."

I also told the gentleman in front of me to turn off his phone the first time I saw him go to check it. He almost started a fight with me. He puffed up and got all defensive and proceded to call me names. (He didn't turn the phone back on though!)

The rest of the people with their phones out were out of my whisper zone.

The biggest offenses were at the end of the show, so I couldn't go to an usher. But when people are digging into their candies, rattling their drinks, and checking their phones at the emotional climax of the evening, they obviously missed the whole point. They spent almost 3 hours and however much money and the theme of the show went over their heads completely.

[DrMike]

A few years ago I had one of these abysmal experiences in a Broadway house. I confronted the patrons and received belligerent, homophobic rants in response. I contacted the usher, who did nothing. I contacted the house manager who moved us to standing room as there were no seats available. It was only when I contacted the Producer that anything of consequence happened.
I agree with the folks who have already commented, but I think you should be encouraged to follow it up the chain of command, so to speak. The Producers set the tone for their productions. They pay the bills. If they want the ushers to stop bad behavior they can make it happen. If the usher (or even the house manager) thinks there is no consequence for ignoring a bad situation, then why should they bother?

[Sutton Ross]

Im so sorry that happened to you Bandit, I cant even imagine. Cabaret is not cheap, unlike some shows right now, so I can understand how you'd be pissed. Sadly, the "cheaper" the seats the less people care. Due to a discount, I was able to get a front row mezzanine seat to the show, and everyone behaved accordingly. There is no excuse for any of that horrible behavior during a show.

The last time at the theater, when I subjected to the horror that was Edwin Drood, I sat in the way back, and some girl proceeded to cough on me all night. She didnt cover her mouth, didn't say excuse me, just coughed in my direction the whole show. Cheap seats? Never, ever again!

[bandit964]

Thanks DrMike & Sutton.

I read this sentiment the other month that the cheaper seats hold patrons who don't behave as well as others. I didn't want to believe it but it's been proven to me twice now.

Front mezz is nice because there aren't any people in front of you to misbehave.

[Sutton Ross]

Exactly. To reduce the possibilities of idiots ruining your night, try to sit in the front row of the balcony, mess, or orchestra. Yes, its more expensive but for a classy night at the theater with no interruptions? It's priceless.

[VintageSnarker]

I'm on my best behavior in the cheap seats. Not that I'm horribly disrespectful when I have more expensive tickets with my family. It's like what DramaTeach described with her students. I feel like I'm representing the kind of younger theatregoers (though the teenagers make me feel ancient sometimes) who get the discount tickets.

If I want to see more than a handful of shows a season I need to get the cheap seats. I'm sympathetic to the cough-ers but I have my limits. If you're that sick, maybe you shouldn't have come out. Cough medicine and cough drops do exist. Unapologetically coughing on someone else? Inexcusable.

[KathyNYC2]

I mentioned this in another post somewhere but my jaw dropping bad theater behavior occurred recently when this woman tried to hide a newborn baby under her big winter coat - and expected baby to stay quiet (and this was in the fifth row of the orchestra) during the show. The baby did not..and the actors could not help but notice).

During a good part of act one, the ushers were walking up and down the aisles trying to figure out where the noise was coming from (along with many audience members) which was distracting enough. The couple left right before the act one intermission - and then the woman returned without the baby. I was surprised they let her back in.

I don't think bad behavior happens only in cheap seats..

[followspot]

Sixth row center Orchestra at yesterday's matinee of DISGRACED — a very quiet, intense, intermissionless play in which I was enthralled — until the cell phone of a well-dressed fortysomething woman two seats away began vibrating with a call. And then another call. And then another. Endlessly throughout the play's (nearly silent) final scene. Not in her purse, but in her hand. When I calmly confronted her after the curtain call, she said that the "off" button on her phone doesn't work, that her kids were getting out of school and that she'd told them not to call. "So you bear no responsibility for what everyone around you just experienced?" I asked, to which she informed me that I was embarrassing myself by confronting her.

They're out there.

[LuminousBeing]

"Cabaret" had the worst audience behavior I've ever experienced. I was lucky enough to get a pair of HipTix before the cast change. The people sitting in front of me talked, waved at the cast (from mid-mezz--not sure why they though they'd be seen), bopped along to the music, and even blatantly filmed the Act II opening number with their cell phones until I tapped the prime offender on the shoulder and asked her to stop. It wasn't just the mezz, either: whole numbers were drowned out because the audience in general wouldn't stop whooping and hollering every time they saw a costume change. "I Don't Care Much" was practically inaudible because the audience kept shrieking at Alan Cumming's dress.

Another time, I was very, VERY lucky to have front-center mezz tickets to "Side Show" right before they posted the closing notice. During the first act, aside from a few comments the woman next to me made to her husband ("wow, look at that makeup!"), I was left in peace to enjoy the show. After intermission, however, the woman and her husband returned, double-fisting M&Ms and wine and soda. I'm sure the woman didn't realize just how much noise those plastic candy bags or shaking ice make, but she certainly made those concessions last through most of the second act. Right after the finale and the ovation, the husband turns to her and says, "Wow, this is a handy cup they gave us here!" Handy indeed, sir, for driving me nearly to distraction.

[VintageSnarker]

"I mentioned this in another post somewhere but my jaw dropping bad theater behavior occurred recently when this woman tried to hide a newborn baby under her big winter coat - and expected baby to stay quiet (and this was in the fifth row of the orchestra) during the show. The baby did not..and the actors could not help but notice)."

What? Are you sure she wasn't trying to breast feed? That's insane. And most likely not good for the baby.

[KathyNYC2]

Possibly but not for 2 1/2 hours..LOL

She obviously hoped the baby would sleep through the show. And none of the ushers who walked right by her saw the baby when they were trying to figure out where the noises were coming from...so she hid it really well for over an hour.

[Natto]

"The ushers at Circle in the Square are passive as hell. It's like they're afraid of confronting the assholes who break the rules. While no cell phones went off when I was at Lady Day, three people in the table seating section (where I was) got up to go to the bathroom. During one of her quietest moment a guy got up, and had no idea where to go. He got up on the stage SHE was on, and did a hurdle over the banister, and then headed up to the exit. It was horrifying. I get it, they served us water and champagne but it's only 90 minutes. "

I hope fun home will not suffer because of this

[Natto]

Phantom of London are you serious what made you think you can eat during a show. I am fat and walking to loose it and I do not eat during a show. If I am fat and do not need food you do not either.

I just think its rude and insulting to bring food in the theater, You can drink and eat in intermission outside

[After Eight]

"I don't think bad behavior happens only in cheap seats.."

Very true.

Wealth doesn't automatically confer good manners. In fact it can often confer a sense of entitlement that results in very bad manners indeed: talking during the performance, use of cell phones, eating, crinkling of papers... I've witnessed all of these in the expensive seats. And I've seen perfect behavior in the cheapest seats.

Bad manners cross all demographic lines.

[bandit964]

I don't think bad behavior happens only in cheap seats, but in my experience, I have witnessed it many more times up in the back. I do think a big factor that plays into this, however, is the fact that in the back, there are many more people in front of you. If only one person in the audience is on their cell phone, you have a greater chance of being affected by it in the back. In the front, there may be a dozen people texting throughout the entire show, but you may not be bothered by it at all because it is all happening behind you.

The two worst times were at Pippin a few months ago and this past night at Cabaret. Both times were in the second to last row. Interestingly, no phones rang at either show. It was the mass of people texting and talking. What makes the two evenings stand out is the fact that it wasn't a singular offender, rather everyone around me were culprits making me think, "am I the crazy one, here? are we even at a show, or are we all just hanging out in seats that happen to be in rows? i think there is some music going on down there, but who knows."

[VintageSnarker]

Speaking of the cheap seats and concessions, I won a lottery ticket to If/Then tonight. Before the performance, an usher came up to tell the front row to not put anything up on the stage including drinks at intermission. This had me nervous about a repeat of Cabaret but I only noticed one person rattling the ice in her drink once and it was very brief. During Always Starting Over... but I'll take what I can get.

[Melissa25]

The bad theater behavior that I would like to bemoan is the "bait and switch" phenomena that seems to be happening more often than I care to experience.

I agree that bad behavior can happen across all seat types. There are certain types of performances and theaters where I will scrutinize my seat selection way before plopping down my cold hard cash. I recently went through this for The Iceman Cometh at BAM. I eagerly awaited tickets to go on sale and then quickly purchased two orchestra row A seats. I figured the closer, the better and this way I will have no one in front of me possibly distracting and annoying me. Good strategy right? Yep. That's what I figured especially for a five hour play.

Now I have learned that BAM will sell it's rush seats as cushions for floor seating in front of row A. I am all for offering rush options but not when it comes to changing the specs I used to pay top dollar. This is unfair and should be worked out before all tickets go on sale so customers know what they are paying for without any surprise caveats down the road.

Needless to say, I have imaginings of hipsters with blankets and flasks of bourbon writhing on their cushions in front me in Katz' glow and I haven't even left my house yet.

Yes I know. Get off my lawn.

The producers at The River pulled this same ploy. I paid top dollar $175 (I know now, rather foolishly) for "front row" and then 6 weeks later they created new front rows for $99. How much more of this bait and switch should WE put up with?

[Hairspray0901]

Yesterday at THE VISIT at 1:50pm (2:00 curtain), a woman (70+), her son (40+) and her husband (also 70+) were seated next to me. The woman took out a cup of yogurt, gave it to her son, who then opened it and started eating it. THEN, she took out an ENTIRE JAR OF PEANUT BUTTER with a butter knife and slices of bread and began smearing peanut butter on the bread. The man next to them said "Are you kidding me? There is a time and place for this" to which the son yelled and shoved his hand into the other mans face "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND STOP TALKING". I decided to wave down an usher, which didn't work, so they continued to eat their peanut butter and yogurt. Had I been able to get out of my seat I would have gone up to an usher myself but I was seated against the wall with no aisle. The only way out was to walk over all of these people and I knew that wasn't going to go very well. I really don't understand how people can be so rude and inconsiderate to those around them. Not to mention - the visit was 90 minutes. They could have eaten their yogurt and peanut butter OUTSIDE before entering the theater.