Turn Your Phone OFF!!!!!- Page 3

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 8:02pm

What, someone getting kicked out? These are my theater stories: I was at Spiderman (regrettably) and this horrendously trashy man sat next to me. I immediately tensed up and prayed he wasn't going to act like I thought he was going to. When the lights dimmed, he pulled a Budweiser can out of his SWEATPANTS and cracked it. He then turned on his phone (during the first scene) and scrolled through sports scores. He ignored people's request to turn that thing off. I let him do that for 15 minutes. I got the usher, who got the manager, and they escorted him out of theater.

Also, during Peter and the Starcatcher a woman brought her 3 and 5 year old children. Did she think it was Peter Pan? Whatever, it clearly says it's for people over 10 years right outside the theater. They were dressed in fairy princess outfits, and they were waving their wands around, in front on my face. She whips out her phone and lets her kids do whatever they want. Hell NO. I tell the usher, who seems shocked anyone would do that, and talked to her. The usher kindly escorted me to the mezzanine, which was literally empty. I got to sit there, the mezzanine all to myself, because they felt so bad. So, yes it does work, at least for me.



Updated On: 1/15/14 at 08:02 PM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 8:04pm

Yesterday, I saw Inside Lewlyn Davis. I was the only one in the theater. I was in movie heaven. No cellphones, no talking, no crunching, no ripping of bags. If only every movie experience was like this. I can only wish.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 8:05pm

I love it when I have a movie theater all to myself. Sadly, that never happens in Manhattan. What a wonderful experience for you.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 8:29pm

Never underestimate how jerky a headband owned by Liza can be. It keeps topping itself over and over again. God forbid that someone wants to enjoy their show without electronic interruption......a show that may have cost any particular ticket holder hundreds of dollars. We all just need to get over it. Thanks, headband. You have solved the problem as usual. Now go sop up some more sweat.

[brldisteach2]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 8:41pm

I've worked part time as an usher in a theatre for a number of years, and in the mid 90s to early 2000s we checked cell phones. We also had them with someone so that emergency calls could be answered and the patron notified. In recent years there are just too many people with cell phones to possibly check them. As an usher, I do watch for cell phones and other electronics during a show and tell people to turn them off. People often don't seem to realize that the light can be seen from across the theater. It's distracting for the people next to them and for people across the theater who can also see glow. I have had rude responses from some people, but most turn the phone off after I've told them.
As far as phones ringing, that may be the people who forget or do not know how to turn them off, but I think the problem of texting, surfing the internet, etc. is more common nowadays. The rudeness is frustrating. The violence is inexcusable.

[Metfan2]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 8:43pm

I was at a show on Sunday where the women next to me left her cell phone on in her bag which was half under my seat (in the first row).
Everyone started bugging me, telling me my phone was on. I keep pulling my turned off phone but the ushers still pounce on me, causing me to miss a large part of the show.
Finally, the women opens her bag and realizes it was her phone, which she can't figure out how to turn off. It must have been picked up by the mike.
So in the end, I miss two scenes because they think it was me, when it was the lady next to me.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 9:47pm

"We all just need to get over it. Thanks, headband. You have solved the problem as usual. Now go sop up some more sweat."

Best comment EVER. You just know Liza is the obnoxious loser at the theater who talks and texts all the way though it. Updated On: 1/15/14 at 09:47 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 10:07pm

"Empowering your fellow audience members" is a meaningless string of words, like so much else the Brainless Headband blathers on about.

I'm all for blocking the signal as long as the performers and stage managers can still communcate.

I give two SH*Ts about any emergency calls that can't wait till intermission or left with the house manager.

No, one SH*T.

Make that half a SH*T.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 10:20pm

http://www.cbs8.com/story/17116634/cell-phone-jammers-gain-popularity-but-carry-big-risks

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/06/business/la-fi-tn-fcc-on-cell-phone-jammer-20120306

[ARTc3]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 11:02pm

Wow. I was inside watching a movie and when it was over and I checked back here... I think many of the posts make a lot of sense. ArtMan, as we agree on much of what you wrote, not sure why you thought me "extreme", but I respect your opinion.

It has also been brought to my attention that I'm not following the entire thread as several posters are on my "IGNORE" list. Quite a while back, when replying, I notice that there were some post maligning me that I hadn't initially read as they were hidden from my account (my choice to IGNORE). There are still a few that I haven't read as I am trying to take my IGNORE choices seriously and not get pulled into a petty battle.

It was never my intentions to upset anyone. Obviously, this thread was partially my way of processing the horrific recent shooting in the movie theater. I do not in anyway shape or form condone such behavior.

As this progressed, I decided to research this more and I suggest anyone who believes that technology and appropriate laws can't help, is mistaken. There are several pilot and ongoing programs in countries like France, Israel and Japan, to name three, that are using such technology with what is reported as ONLY positive results.

I also wanted to find out more about the CTIA and why they are running the anti-blocking campaign. If you following the money, you'll see that its political and not about public safety - the laws that are being used were written in 1934 (I know I'm being repetitive) long before any of this technology was available. There are ways to keep wireless technologies necessary for running a show, and emergency technologies still active. Just do a google search and read.

There are also articles which express the exact opposite point-of-view. In fact, as I type this, in the "reply" mode, I see one of the aforementioned blocked posters has added links. I suggest reading those as well.

Anyway... I hold my guns (pun intended, I don't own a gun) and wish that a sensible approach to solving this problem would happen, and happen soon. I really am over such rudeness.

Updated On: 1/15/14 at 11:02 PM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 7:51am

Artc3, I meant the word extreme to getting legislation involved. Sorry if my choice of wordage came across the wrong way. I live in Florida and I have never witnessed theater management escorting anyone out of the movie for disruptive behavior. And in almost all cases, my audiences are waiting for someone else to get up and do something. In the cases I have complained, they offer me a refund instead of going in and correcting the problem.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 2:00pm

I love what CBS does when you go to The Price is Right. They take all your electronics and you are stuck during the show taping without anything. They do it like a coat check. You get a ticket and they put that number with your belongings.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 2:07pm

People are not going to pay tickets to have their expensive property taken away from them, and then wait to pick it up once they leave. The only solution I see is stricter enforcement of current NYC law.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 2:48pm

"I love what CBS does when you go to The Price is Right. They take all your electronics and you are stuck during the show taping without anything."

They do that at a lot of TV tapings cause a cell phone going off isn't just distracting, they have to stop the taping and redo it and that's money. Of course, you can get away with asking people to check their phones if 1) The tickets are free and 2) The people might win a car. Tapings also usually have between 50 and 200 people at most. A system that works for a 150 person studio audience might not work for a 1750 seat Broadway theater. Next time you are at a show and check your coat, imagine when going to get it after the show, there are 1000 people ahead of you in line at the coat check counter and you'll get the idea.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 2:56pm

"They do that at a lot of TV tapings cause a cell phone going off isn't just distracting, they have to stop the taping and redo it and that's money. Of course, you can get away with asking people to check their phones if 1) The tickets are free and 2) The people might win a car."

Not only that but there would be the cheating factor involved with being able to have a smart phone on hand during The Price is Right.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 2:58pm

"My reasons for starting this thread was to acknowledge that as a culture we haven't fully addressed mobile technology etiquette and that I think its about time. I remember several years ago, sitting at a conference table with leading technology developers discussing this very issue. We all agreed at that time, that in time, we would regulate ourselves and resolve our concerns. That just hasn't happened and I believe the situation has only gotten worse. "

Really, we have not fully addressed mobile technology etiquette as a culture. Every movie and Broadway show makes announcements about silencing your cell phone. What is so difficult to understand? Some Broadway performers have even stopped the show and gone out of charachter due to this situation. People are not stupid and they know the difference, they just don't care. Until more people are thrown out of the theatre due to their actions, then it will continue. BTW - My daughters both graduated college a few years ago and even at graduations they make announcements to silence cell phones.




Updated On: 1/16/14 at 02:58 PM

[Monty12112]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 6:05pm

I saw Phantom today and there was a group of 8 people all on their phones texting the entire show.  It was very distracting.  I asked them to please stop but I do not think they spoke English since during intermission and leaving the show they all spoke a different language to each other.

Updated On: 5/2/15 at 06:05 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 6:36pm

Just curious ... if it were a group of white people texting on their phones the whole time, would you have phrased it that way in your post?

"I saw a bunch of white people texting ..."

Or is it because they were Asian that you chose to say it that way? Because white people may not be able to jump, but they sure as hell know how to text while watching a Broadway show. And there's no language barrier when you ask them to stop and they ignore you either.

Updated On: 5/2/15 at 06:36 PM

[Monty12112]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 6:48pm

Didn't mean to offend anyone.  The point I was making was that I tried to tell them to please stop (Along with other people telling them) and they all completely ignored us.   They probably did speak English since they are seeing a show that is in English but then that would be rude of them to completely ignore us

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/3/15 at 1:14am

I think the Phantom ushers gave up even before cell phones became common.

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 5/3/15 at 1:44pm

"I think the Phantom ushers gave up even before cell phones became common."

 As someone who once watched a late arrival to Phantom (I think he came in about 15 minutes late) take out their iPad on full brightness and proceed to film the show for about ten minutes before stopping, with no usher interruption, I would agree.

Luckily, last time I went, I only recognized one or two ushers so hopefully the new group of ushers will actually stop things like that.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 5/3/15 at 2:42pm

Recently, I had the chance to see The Hans Show in Wuhan China. I had spectacular seats, sitting first row mezzanine, which during the show becomes first row center of the orchestra. (Yup, the huge theater reconfigures itself about 10 minutes into the show. (What the video.)

Of course they announced the request to silence mobile phones before the show, but about 5 minutes into the show a group of later arrivals showed up. They hadn't heart the announcement and clearly didn't care about the other audience members around them. One gentleman, didn't sit down, turned on his iPad and mobile phone, dialed (no, he wasn't already on the phone) and proceeded to carry on a conversation.

I was livid. As I don't speak Chinese and was a guest in the country, I actually didn't say anything. Extremely rare for me. But, it totally pissed me off. Please lets educate people that going to theater is not the same as watching TV in your own living room!