Texting in the theatre; Washington Post Article- Page 2

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 1:32pm

Did anyone read the part of the article where the usher found a meatloaf under the seat?

A meatloaf?

[Tchi4Lif188]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 1:36pm

I am proud to say I have never done this during a performance. Not even for shows I've worked on. I was at a performance of Camille yesterday and could see a girl who was a couple rows in front of me and a few seats over texting the ENTIRE show. Everytime she would receive a new text, you would see this glow appear in her area. It was really distrating and rude.

Updated On: 10/22/07 at 01:36 PM

[philcrosby]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:14pm

Doctors with cell phones can leave the performance and make/take calls in the lobby. Anyone else using a phone or any other device during a performance (or at a film for that matter) should have the damn thing taken away from them, and then be shot at intermission.

[p.s.]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:16pm

One of my friends I usually go to the theatre with is extremely respectful, but when his sister was 8-9 months pregnant, he would keep his cell phone ON, but completely silent during the show. That way, he could check quickly and quietly once or twice during the show just to make sure his sister hadn't gone into labor.

Also I have a relative who is a doctor and is often called in on emergencies. He does pretty much the same thing with his beeper, keeping it on complete silent as not to disturb anyone. He checks it unobtrusively just a few quick times during the performance.


I understand the doctor emergency. But what if the sister does go into labor. Would the guy stay through the rest of the show, would he run for the exit, or would he jump up and applaud to start a standing ovulation ovation?


p.s. Or is he his sister's OB/GYN?

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:25pm

I haven't been able to use this too often, but I've found that it really does work- if the texter is sitting close enough to me, I lean over and start reading what is on his/her screen, to see what's so interesting. So far the crackberry or pda or whatnot gets put away right quick if I do that- apparently texting in the theatre is fine, but it's OMG Rude!! if someone else is reading what you're saying.

[mauriposa]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:32pm

That's great, Anakela! I should have done that a few months ago at Wicked in Chicago. The male half of a husband/wife team sitting in front of us was obviously bored during the entire first act, so he kept texting. At intermission, we asked finally asked him to stop it. He did, but I was frustrated for the rest of the show.

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:34pm

My theory is that people want to seem important: "Look at me! I am getting an important message! I can't turn my phone off- my sister might have a baby ANY moment."

Of course, a really important person can say "I'll be indisposed till 11." and turn the phone off.

I'm curious what you would do if the sister went into labor? Stay? Go? What? And if you really believe that you needed to leave your phone on for that reason- really, a relative could die at any moment. Car accident, heart attack, random violence. And what difference would it make if you get that call at 8:45 or return their call at intermission?


Unplug, people.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:39pm

It's really up to the theatres do something about it, making rules and consistently enforcing thenm. Until then, people will continue to text and cell and whatever else with impunity.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:42pm

If your sister or wife is about to go into labor. Don't. Go. To. A. Show.

Is that really such a difficult concept?

Isn't the use of cell phones in New York theaters illegal?
If ushers would just start forcibly removing anyone using a cell phone or PDA this problem would clear up quickly. Sure, there would be some distractions at first while people were ejected, but soon enough that would stop and theater might actually become the one place in today's world where people are expected to pay attention to something for more than five minutes at a time.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:48pm

This just wreacks (sp?) of the "entitlement" that is so prevalent in today's society. Everyone in their own minds is the exception to the rule of common courtesy. I just don't get it. I agree with Phyliss Rogers Stone, unless theatre management enforces a no tolerance policy, this behavior will continue to happen.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:49pm

I just have to say that I love that other people take out their battery also! I use my phone as my alarm clock, and I have it set to go off even when the phone is turned off. I always take the battery out just to be safe.

[jpbran]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:57pm

The poster who said someone was asked to stop but didn't-- why didn't they get kicked out? That's an usher not doing their job...

The poster who mentioned his/her friend's sister-- come on. You can't go an hour (check messages at intermission) without knowing that your sister is in labor??? It ain't YOUR baby! (I hope) Find out after the show or at intermission... I don't know you or your sister and don't need to be distracted when she goes into labor after spending more than $100 on a ticket. (Not to mention distracting the performers.)

Doctors on call -- unless there's a way for an usher to quietly let you know AND you're on an aisle, maybe just don't go to the theater. You make WAAAAY more than I do, and since I don't see a dime of it, your career and patients should in no way interrupt my expensive evening out.

And people who say "It's wrong and impolite, but I know how to do it discretely" ?? COME ON. A bright LCD screen in a dark theater -- and clicking keys -- are distracting no matter what.

Rant over.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:01pm

"Doctors on call -- unless there's a way for an usher to quietly let you know AND you're on an aisle, maybe just don't go to the theater. You make WAAAAY more than I do, and since I don't see a dime of it, your career and patients should in no way interrupt my expensive evening out."

I disagree. Doctors have every right to go to the theatre. I'd rather have the show slightly interupted if it might mean a life being saved.

Updated On: 10/22/07 at 03:01 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:08pm

An older gentleman two seats away from me in the orchestra while seeing Gypsy for the second time, checked his phone and read his playbill with a little light during the first act.

He was with the woman next to me, so at intermission I asked him what was so very important that he HAD to know at that moment! He, of course fumbled to answer and his lady friend was mortified...I then let him know that the entire cast was cursing him right now as they were getting ready for the second act as the light he was emitting was like a laser to them. He withered away for the rest of intermission...I think he wet himself.

[jpbran]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:12pm

How often is a doctor really called from the theater to "save a life?" (OK, maybe sometimes, but I worry about who's going to be the one to make the call whether something is an emergency or not. I've known too many people who contact their doctors with the most random NON-emergency things...)

And I'd be REALLY pissed if someone interrupted a show to be called away to deal with someone's lip implant complications, etc. Or because someone's giving birth to their 5th or 8th kid.

And as I said, they need to make arrangements to sit on an aisle and leave their pager or phone with an usher.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:13pm

No, Doctors do not have the right to go to the theater when they are on call if this means they are going to have to receive phone calls during the show and cause a disruption. Doctors get paid to be on call and they aren't on call all the time.

Cell phone use is illegal in theaters in New York. No one has a right to do an illegal thing.

The experience of attending live theater is being destroyed by this sort of distraction. I hope that producers and theater owners will give some thought to the importance of not letting the theater going experience be devalued and diminished in this way. It's long past time for a zero tolerance policy.

[jpbran]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:16pm

Tech-- agreed!

Arrange your theater-going when you aren't on call. Or arrange a back up for when your phone/pager is turned off. Again, you can check at intermission or at the end of the show. Either way, it's usually no more than 90 minutes.

If you are the ONLY link to a person's survival and you're at the theater, some better planning and scheduling might be in order.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:21pm

Doctors did exist in the days before cell phones you know, and I'm sure they were still able to go to the theatre.

Besides, that argument is such a strawman. Name me one time when someone was disturbed by a doctor's cell phone going off. It's always people needing to know super important information like "what's for dinner", telling their friend "Hey I'm at a show!" or "Like, guess who slept with her! No way, really! OMG!!1!"

Updated On: 10/22/07 at 03:21 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:40pm

How often is a doctor really called from the theater to "save a life?"

Well, when the above poster's sister goes into labor, they have to be notified to come deliver it.

Doctors went to the theatre before cell phones, but they always had an out. Before cell phones was beepers and before beepers, they had to make arrangements with someone at the office should someone call for them. As Cape said, doctors have never been the cell phone offenders, it's everyone else that's the problem.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:44pm

Just say something! Dont be afraid! Ive done so so many times and they listen, you just have to say 'stop'! On a few occasions a few people have thanked me in the intemission at the bar with the culprate nowhere to be seen!

[theminutepast]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:47pm

The chance is slim that an on-call doctor or someone with a pregnant relative or spouse will be at a show right in front of you.

A more important question might be why BWWers tend to throw hissy fits at the drop of a hat.

I'm as much against people talking or checking cell phones/beepers/blackberries during a performance as anyone else. But I think exceptions for these 1% of 1% situations can be made.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:55pm

When I went to see one of the final performances of Grey Gardens, the woman next to me kept text messaging during the entire first act. She would do all these contortions to try to hide the fact that made it even worse. It was very distracting to say the least.
Finally having have had enough, as soon as the lights came up at intermission i asked her politely to cease the texting because it was really distracting to all those around her. She went ballistic and said her son was deathly ill and NOTHING was more important to her then her son. I answered her that if her son was that important to her and he was THAT sick, what was she doing at the theatre and not by his side? Her husband stepped in and said everybody has their own priorities and I agreed saying my priority was to enjoy the show with the four other people I came with without the distraction of the woman sitting next to me constantly text messaging,
Her phone miraculously stayed off and stowed during the second act.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 4:01pm

Thats the style! We're talking of me spending $120 a ticket for a show and then have some **** use a phone!! Not everyone has student discount or reduced prices -$120 isa lot of money.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 4:05pm

My father is a doctor (an obstetrician) and I require him to put his phone completely on silent and leave his pager in the car (he used to put it on vibrate, but I can't handle that). It hasn't been a problem.

Updated On: 10/22/07 at 04:05 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 4:06pm

Also, a few days ago I was in the 5th row of A Chorus Line, and the three women behind me (3 generation: grandmother, mother, and daughter) talked through the ENTIRE show!

I've seen far worse than talking at A Chorus Line. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people in the first few rows, sleeping soundly. Last time I was there I was sitting on the aisle closest to the exit, in the 4th row of the orchestra. I heard a funny noise and thought it must be a truck passing by. I looked over to my other side, and it was someone snoring. If you want to nap, nap at home. I've never actually witnessed someone texting during the show, although I've seen a few full blown cell conversations. I've only texted in the theatre once, and it was about 20 minutes before the performance because the person I was with was sitting in a different section and I wanted to ask them something.