A Possible Solution to Cellphones in Theaters

[another sloe eyed vamp]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 1:58pm

Yondr phone pouches let venues lock audience members' cellphones, and are starting to be used by some singers and comedians:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/alicia-keys-is-done-playing-nice-your-phone-is-getting-locked-up-at-her-shows-now/2016/06/16/366c15aa-33af-11e6-95c0-2a6873031302_story.html

 

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 2:11pm

This, is a fantastic solution PLUS you have your phone with you, just locked in the pouch.  If you need to use your phone, you can go outside and they'll unlock the pouch for you.  It goes back and locked into the pouch once you go back in.  

 

I've attended private events where they took your phone and put it into a Zip-Loc bag and checked it like a coat check and you claimed it when you left the event.  This annoyed people as they worried about their phones getting lost, etc.  This solves people getting upset as they have their phones on them, just locked up in the pouch. 

[pupscotch]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 2:27pm

But is it soundproof? Because unless people turn off their phones before they put them in the pouch (which is half the problem), people can still receive calls, and the ringtone is one of the main issues in the theater. I think this is a fantastic idea, but for the theater, those putting them on would either have to turn all the phones off, or they would have to be soundproof.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 2:39pm

pupscotch said: "But is it soundproof? Because unless people turn off their phones before they put them in the pouch (which is half the problem), people can still receive calls, and the ringtone is one of the main issues in the theater. I think this is a fantastic idea, but for the theater, those putting them on would either have to turn all the phones off, or they would have to be soundproof."

I assume these pouches shield signals. I know there are pouches that do. 

[Tom5]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 2:52pm

Probably add an extra dollar to the cost of a ticket, but I'm for it. People should also need to put their watches inside it, too, because most today have little beeps that can't (or hard to) turn off and maybe a few other doo dads although in those cases the pouches would need to be partially soundproofed.  P.S. I'll bet this will deter a tiny percentage of people from attending because they'd be worried about missing an emergency call. Honest. Some/many are addicted to being in touch 24/7. This might give producers second thoughts. Every nickel counts.

[jomilo21]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 3:00pm

Yeah... I really don't see this working... This would add SO much extra time to getting people in the theater. Lines get long as it is. Could you imagine having to distribute 1,000 plus phone pouches and wait for people to put their phone in and then lock it before going to the next person in the line? Imagine those same 1,000 plus people at intermission trying to get it unlocked because they have to text someone about where to meet for dinner or something and then having to get it re-locked- intermission would have to be extended to like 30+ minutes. Then there is the fact that, let's be honest, a couple hundred people are just going to say they don't have a phone on them to avoid all this extra headache and the problem will not be solved because it will still be going off. It's a good thought, just doesn't seem feasible to me at all. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 3:41pm

OK so they can do it for large concert and comedy gigs but you don't think it's feasible for Broadway. Ye of little faith, get in line behind all the naysayers in history.  

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:14pm

If these can be cut into in case of a genuine emergency, and there is a quick and efficient way to unlock them at the end of the night,  I could see this working. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 6:04pm

jimmycurry01 said: "If these can be cut into in case of a genuine emergency"

I cannot imagine a genuine emergency that would require using a mobile phone while in a theatre. To me the most acute possible emergency would be a heart attack or being shot, both of which would be more effectively handled by calling out for assistance.

 

[mpkie]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:02pm

HogansHero said: "OK so they can do it for large concert and comedy gigs but you don't think it's feasible for Broadway. Ye of little faith, get in line behind all the naysayers in history.  "

Doors open at least 1 hour before show time. And the first act is almost always an opening act, which not everyone attends. Typically, there is about 2 full hours from when doors open until the main act comes on. And you are permitted to arrive/enter (as in after the show has started/main act is onstage). Both these things help with the execution. In addition, concertgoers are free to leave at any time during the show.

So if you can accommodate those nuisances, then maybe. But they won't be.

I think it's awesome someone is trying to think up solutions but we'll need variants here to deal with those handful of obnoxious people who feel the rules don't apply to them / they're somehow special.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:08pm

Anything can happen if you let it. Sometimes things are difficult but you can bet it, doesn't have to be sooooo...

[mpkie]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:10pm

blaxx said: "Anything can happen if you let it. Sometimes things are difficult but you can bet it, doesn't have to be sooooo..."

LOL

 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:36pm

HogansHero said: "jimmycurry01 said: "If these can be cut into in case of a genuine emergency"

I cannot imagine a genuine emergency that would require using a mobile phone while in a theatre. To me the most acute possible emergency would be a heart attack or being shot, both of which would be more effectively handled by calling out for assistance.

 

 

"

Really? You can't?  The Batman movie theatre massacre instantly comes to my mind. Crazy people sometimes do crazy things. A sudden balcony collapse, such as the one in the West End also comes to mind. Emergencies do arise in which being able to cut into the bag may be necessary. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:43pm

jimmycurry01 said: "Really? You can't?  The Batman movie theatre massacre instantly comes to my mind. Crazy people sometimes do crazy things. A sudden balcony collapse, such as the one in the West End also comes to mind. Emergencies do arise in which being able to cut into the bag may be necessary. "

No I can't. These are things house management is much more suited to doing. Just as they have done since the invention of the telegraph. You think the first order of business for an audience member facing a crazed gunman or in the middle of a sudden balcony collapse is cutting into a bag to use a cell phone? Really? 

Sorry, keep the G***D*** phones out of people's hands in the theatre. Nothing good comes of them and you know it. 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 12:05am

If I'm trapped under a collapsed balcony, or in a theatre that is being shot up, I'd be doing anything I could to call for help. Bad things do happen, house management may not always be able to be there. Especially if you a shooting situation dies arise. Is it likely, no. But it is possible, in that case I would hope that they are easy to cut into. I, like many others do carry a pocket knife, so yes, I do really think I would at least try to cut into the bag if trapped.

If you recall, I was with you on this. I agree that locking them in a bag could solve the problem; however there are issues to be concerned about.

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 7:23am

I agree it will be hard to implement in reality.

I don't know if this is possible but if the theater can shut off LTE/4G service from ATT/Verizon/Spring/T-Mobile in their theater then I think that would be more effective. I know in some government buildings that's possible.

By doing so, at least we'll never hear the annoying ring tones whenever someone calls a phone of a patron who didn't shut their phone off. 

[sarahb22]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 7:29am

Of course, for this to work you have to first have a patron who will willingly admit they have a cell phone on them, and surrender it for bagging.  I can see some jerk thinking, "They don't mean ME. What if I want to check on the score for the game? I'll just sneak my phone in and peek at it during one of the boring parts..."

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 7:33am

Cellphone blocking is illegal.

 

as to personal emergencies:  you know, we had them before the cell phone was invented.  The concept that we have to be immediately reachable within seconds and at all times is an incredibly NEW idea.  (And I hate it.)

 

[blm2323]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 7:44am

People should have to put their snacks and food in the pouch :) 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 7:52am

PThespian said: "The fact that we never had cellphones before is completely irrelevant. 

What about when we didn't have electricity? Radio? TV? Running water? Cars? Microwaves? Computers?

Just like any invention cellphones have revolutionized our lives and made them easier. They do a ton of good. They just need to be used responsibly. 

 

"

 

Don't confuse DIFFERENT with better.

 

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 8:26am

This won't work at Broadway theatres for the fact alone that they don't use metal detectors. People will just say I don't have a cell phone on them or they will hide it in a pocket. This is exactly what I would do because I'm not waiting on a line after the show to unlock my phone because a few idiots don't know how to shut off their phones. 

[schubox]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 8:37am

I saw Dave Chappelle a couple weeks ago and he did this. No issues at all with cell phones during the show. Of course they also said about 10 times if anyone is seen with a phone they were getting kicked out

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 11:22am

of course there are people who will cheat, but the truth is that most people whose cell phones go off during shows do not want them to and don't want others to either. If you take out a phone you would do so at your peril-immediate ejection and perhaps confiscation. 

the dire warnings about lines and complications are obviously coming from people who did not consume the information provided at the link since the pouches are self-serve and no not require anything beyond someone to hand out the pouches (which could be done in the ubiquitous lines) and someone to see that they have been closed before entering. In other words less time consuming than scanning tickets which, while time consuming, has not ended theatre-going as we know it. And unlocking is achieved at small unlocking stations at the entrance with no physical involvement of the usher for anyone wanting to check their messages at intermission. 

so yes we have our chicken littles but the self-entitled would adjust. bring it on.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 11:53am

Since these are pouches that remain with the phone owner and aren't centralized in the way a bag check would be, they could even be feasibly distributed inside the theatre as well as at the theatre entrance. This could alleviate congestion through the theatre doors, though doesn't present the idea that it's either lock up your phone or no admittance.

OR they could just be distributed in the line that already exists to enter the theatre.

Clearly this system already works in far larger and less formal venues than Broadway houses.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 2:37pm

This will not work on Broadway. I am not talking about it from a logistical standpoint (though there were a couple of goo points regarding that that could work in theory.) I am talking about from the me working as an usher standpoint. 

First off, this will be another task that will get assigned to the ushers should these be used. If they were to be used in Broadway theatres, and that wasn't the case, I'd eat my own shoe. Secondly, the major difference between Broadway theatres and major concert venues as far as something like this is concerned is staffing.  Major concert venues have a much larger usher/security staff than any theatre on Broadway meaning that there are more people to dole out the pouches/help out if need be etc. 

Take the super hit show Hamilton for example. I've worked there a few times, when I do, I've been in the Mezz. And, there's a two person rotation. One is on break, other is stationed inside being a physical presence in case someone has an issue/ watching for phone usage. I don't think that two people would be enough to deal with any issues arising from these pouches being used. Enough to control things at intermission and walking out? Sure, but not for something like this. Specially if there are many people who aren't sure how to use them/find them confusing, which I can assure you will be the case. 

ETA: Also, I think that something like these pouches would be up to the production not the theatre owners. The article was talking about how in these examples of the pouches being used, it was the artists who wanted them to be used rather than the venue itself. Almost all of what the ushers do is at the instruction of the production. Late seating holds, what of the set can be photographed etc. 

Updated On: 6/20/16 at 02:37 PM