People who take vacant seats at intermission
People who take vacant seats at intermission
#1People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 4:43pm
And then proceed to talk during second act. Sitting in row in front of you. Would you do anything?
We had two girls move into vacant seats in front of us last night, and wife said if they start talking to each other during the second act, she would call over the usher to ask to see their tickets (they were talking a lot during intermission). I think she was upset that our view was being more obstructed, and they seemed like they were going to be distracting. Thankfully, they didn't during the second act though, so all was good. Was wondering if they could be moved if they didn't behave since they weren't in their seats anyway.
#2People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 4:45pm
How do you know that they didn't arrive late? Do they have any less right of being in those seats than you had of having no one sitting there? It's amazing how quickly people become Abigail Williams.
Mind ya bidness.
Jesus saves. I spend.
#3People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 4:47pm
I would say something about them talking, but not about arriving late.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#4People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 4:50pm
Ushers normally let people move into empty seats if no one claims them at intermission. The talking is unrelated to that.
#5People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 4:57pm
I admit I have moved to better seats if I see that they were empty for the first act. But then you have to act like a human being. No talking, phone use, going through your bag, eating, etc.
PJPan
Featured Actor Joined: 5/6/13
#6People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 5:04pm
EthelMae said: "I admit I have moved to better seats if I see that they were empty for the first act. But then you have to act like a human being. No talking, phone use, going through your bag, eating, etc.
"
Exactly. I consider it a privilege to get to move to better seats, and try to behave as such.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#7People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 5:11pm
Depending on the situation, we sometimes ask an usher if we can move. We occasionally do it right before the curtain goes up. We are always model patrons whether it is our original seats or different ones.
Poster Emeritus
#8People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 5:36pm
Moving at intermission is usually acceptable but moving when the lights go down is not because of late comers I have seen ushers crawl through to the middle of the row to look at ticket stubs during the performance and finding out that people have moved from another seat thus creating a major distraction from the show and irking other patrons.
Hairspray0901
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/29/08
#9People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 5:46pm
I was at a show in February. My friend and I had Seats in the rear mezz. Before the show began, I asked an usher if she knew if the front mezz would be occupied (because house managers have access to this information) and if not, could my friend and I move there. She looked at the basically empty front mezz and said to me "if you want to move, I won't stop you...and we didn't have this conversation BUT if people come for the seats, you'll just have to move back". I said ok. So we moved before the lights went down and sat there for the entire show.
at another show, an usher wouldn't allow anyone to move to better seats despite there being tons available. She said we could move at intermission. I moved from rear mezz to front mezz and received glares from a few people in the front mezz. Oh well...
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#10People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 6:16pm
my take
if you are going to seat upgrade for the second act, be a model patron...Im tall so i even slump if i upgrade so i dont screw over person behind me
moving at curtain is dicey and i recommend strongly people dont dont because of people coming late and it truly disrupts a lot of viewers if tickets are checked and reseating
finally if you are late, please only ask to be seated between songs and not during a song...it really is disruptive for a lot of people, and most would rather have a little interuption during dialogue than a performed song!
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#11People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 6:18pm
We only move at the curtain after asking an usher. Many times they can tell you if they are sold out or not. They generally have a feel where empty seats will be.
Poster Emeritus
Mediamaven2
Featured Actor Joined: 4/28/16
#13People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 8:30pm
I wouldn't have the nerve to say anything to people who moved in front of me/empty seats UNLESS they were being annoying (talking, chewing, using cell phone, very high head/hair/hat/head accessories). And then I think it's best to ask the usher to interfere but really, when a show is on are you really going to miss the show, cause disruption, to go and find an usher and complain? I wouldn't.
I've never moved seats in a Broadway theater but I know that the Met Opera House really polices this and I think it's a good thing. The last two rows of Orchestra could be completely empty, but if you paid for Standing Room, you are standing the entire time. They would not allow you to sit in an empty orchestra seat-again, even if the entire last row is empty!
#14People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 8:41pm
Not sure how talking at intermission would make one concerned that the talking would continue into the second act... so that seems like a pretty big leap, no? I talk, empty my bladder, and use my mobile phone at intermission, too, none of which would translate into things I would do in my seat during the show.
#15People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 8:54pm
"A lot of theaters are ok with it if it's at intermission. As someone said please don't do it before the show because normally late seating continues throughout the act (unless you're at a Scott Rudin show)."
That made me laugh. Scott Rudin himself caused a huge disturbance at my theater when he played musical chairs with his own seat, ended up in someone else's seat, saying we'd worry about it when the people came, and when they did, he had a hissy fit and stormed out.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#16People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 9:02pm
I once spotted two empty seats in the front row that we moved to at intermission as soon as the lights went down. The woman seated behind me had a fit since her view wasn't as good and charged for an usher disrupting the show. Well the Gods were with me that night because when the usher asked to see my ticket stubs the woman sitting next to me pulled two tickets out of her handbag and said, "These two men are my guests"....:)))))))))))))) I did get to turn around and stick my thumb to my nose and give a little wiggle in the witch's direction.
#17People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 9:11pm
There is a small percentage of people who purchase the cheapest seats and then make it their mission to find better ones that are much more expensive when the lights go down. The general opinion of the box office and front of the house is that you should stay in the seats that you paid for and not move into seats in an area where people paid 100 dollars or more than you. If you want to sit in better seats then pay the piper. If a TDF patron complains about a seat often times they are directed to the box office to purchase a full price seat which of course none of them want to do.
#19People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 9:52pm
Depends on the situation. I will generally try to wait until intermission unless told otherwise. However, I was once with a group of 50, and we were all moved together from the back of the mezzanine to the front before the show started.
the artist formerly known as dancingthrulife04
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#20People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 10:09pm
I never ask before a show starts. There have been many times I have been sitting in the rear mezz. and shortly before curtain an usher will tell us we can move down. At intermission, I always ask an usher.
Just give the world Love.
#21People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/2/16 at 10:22pm
Thespian said " Not a huge fan of his (although I love a lot of the work he produces)"
Yeah, his name is on all the major work in the Biz. Lots of great work. But the man - well, let's just say he is "renowned" ahem
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
mamaleh
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
#22People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/3/16 at 1:20am
On occasion I've moved to better seats during intermission. I think of it as beneficial to the actors, as well. Who wants to emote knowing there are empty seats in down-front rows? I would imagine it's demoralizing to the performers and maybe even depletes their energy a bit. Maybe I'm rationalizing, but it's sincerely my gut feeling that a filled orchestra section feeds the energy. Any actor opinions out there?
Feldzieg
Chorus Member Joined: 4/19/11
#23People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/3/16 at 4:12am
Interesting discussion. I admit that I occasionally move seats if it does not obstruct the view of other people, meaning I don't sit directly in front of others, but move to more abandoned sections of the theatre.
Question to the former and current ushers here if what I have done in the past is okay on your watch or not. When I'm alone, I sometimes move to an aisle seat in an otherwise more or less unoccupied row in a different section after the lights go down. I am aware of the late seating issue and will move directly if ushers come with the late ones. No ticket checking, I know I'm not supposed to be there. I leave. This has happened in the past and the disturbance was basically zero. I am aware that this is somewhat of a grey area, but I personally don't feel bad about it. Would you?
#25People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/3/16 at 6:02am
I have only moved up once for a Broadway show- Kinky Boots. I had gotten lottery box seats and noticed that there were three seats in the front row that were empty all of Act 1. During the first act, I kept glancing over to see if they would ever be filled and they weren't. During intermission I was working up the courage to go and try and move up when the lady in the row in front of us commented on the seats and about moving up. Well, that was enough to get my butt and gear so I high tailed it down and had my parents follow me. LOL. Didn't cause any kind of disturbance and the actors after the show kept talking about how much they enjoyed all my enthusiasm and made doing the show fun. Joey Taranto even ran up to me as he was walking off stage after curtain call and grabbed my hand and said "We love your smiling!" LOL.
Darreyl with an L!
#26People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/3/16 at 6:22am
haterobics said: "Not sure how talking at intermission would make one concerned that the talking would continue into the second act... so that seems like a pretty big leap, no? I talk, empty my bladder, and use my mobile phone at intermission, too, none of which would translate into things I would do in my seat during the show."
Yeah, I don't get what this has to do with anything.
Since when do people NOT talk during intermission, usually comparing notes about what you think about the show so far at the very least. Where does that translate into them being rude during the show, to the point that you'd have to put a plan into place in the event it happens? tbh op, reading that in your post kind of irked me, ironically, assuming they were going to be rude, kind of makes you guys seem like the rude ones.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#27People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/3/16 at 7:03am
If people worried less about what others were getting....a better seat, a better price...and less about what others MIGHT do to offend them, the world would be better off.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#28People who take vacant seats at intermission
Posted: 5/4/16 at 11:58am
KJisgroovy said: "How do you know that they didn't arrive late? Do they have any less right of being in those seats than you had of having no one sitting there? It's amazing how quickly people become Abigail Williams.
Mind ya bidness.
Because they asked the person next to them if the seats were empty, and talked about what they would do if the people showed up. Plus, they were VERY (overly) chatty during intermission, making us wonder if it would continue once the lights went down. They were OK, although they were whispering to each other a lot during the second act, partially obstructing the view when they were head-to-head...
I would never move up, only because I would feel bad for anyone's view I might be obstructing that paid more for their tickets than I did, Just my opinion....
"
