Bad Theater Behavior

[BrodyFosse123]

For iPhones, they can just play over the PA: "Siri, turn off phone" and the phone will shut itself off.  This does work as whenever I'm watching TV and someone says "Siri" my iPhone lights up and goes into its Siri mode without me even touching the phone.  

 

[EllieRose2]

The ushers are always going to be a mixed bag.  Some are extremely on top of it (Hedwig with NPH they were insane, it was awesome) and some are so lax, you never see them again after you get a Playbill.  Angels in America had amazing ushers, they were speaking into their microphones the entire time, organized and on top of everything.  

[quizking101]

I actually think the best option would be what I have seen at television tapings and some live comedy shows and that is a sleeve that seals with a magnetic pin, and just open the theatre earlier to have people sleeve their phones before the show.

It worked very well when I went to a taping of "The $100,000 Pyramid" (though part of the reason they had them was because of federal regulations to prevent cheating and whatnot), and I had a friend who saw Chris Rock in AC last year where they sleeved their phones because he was trying out new material that he didn't want leaked.

[#1Elphie]

quizking101 said: "I actually think the best option would be what I have seen at television tapings and some live comedy shows and that is a sleeve that seals with a magnetic pin, and just open the theatre earlier to have people sleeve their phones before the show.

It worked very well when I went to a taping of "The $100,000 Pyramid" (though part of the reason they had them was because of federal regulations to prevent cheating and whatnot), and I had a friend who saw Chris Rock in AC last year where they sleeved their phones because he was trying out new material that he didn't want leaked."

They used these at the live taping of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and I agree they're a good idea. Some people in that audience snuck their phones inside without getting one of the sleeves (I saw people taking pictures during the taping), so it doesn't completely eliminate the problem, but it could make a difference. It does require people to be willing to give up use of their phone for the duration of the show, and if some people really don't want to do that, they'll find a way around it (it's easy to hide a phone from security). 

[kelsey1389]

Nothing irks me more than people who don't open their snacks BEFORE CURTAIN. When I saw Wicked in May, during the second act, a woman two rows ahead of me (so in the 5th row, an expensive seat, mind you) OPENED A BAG OF CHIPS. AND ATE THEM. THROUGH THE FIRST CHUNK OF THE SECOND ACT. During No Good Deed, it was like....

Elphie: emotional, crying a little. "Nessa?"

Lady: Bag crinkle. loud crunching

Elphie: "Dr. Dillamond!"

Lady: more crunching, more crinkling

Elphie: Fiyero?

and then right at the FIYERRROOOOOOOO part this lady finishes the chips and crushes the bag into a ball. I almost leapt out of my seat to smack that bag out of her hand.

[VintageSnarker]

Lot666 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "I would not object however to them turning on cellphone blocking technology during the actual performance."

I really would like to see theatres implement technology that blocks all cellular and wifi connections in the auditorium as soon as the lights go down.

"

Same. But it would kind of contradict the whole free publicity/please tweet, instagram, etc. about the show for us message that the theaters also put out. I haven't had bad luck lately though admittedly I haven't been seeing a ton of theater the last few months. At the end of the day, it's not a theater or usher problem, it's an audience problem.

[EllieRose2]

It's audience problem yes, but the management at the theater CAN enforce things, take no crap, and actually kick people out without a refund if they are always on their phones or other disruptive behavior that keeps occurring.

[yesraccoons]

Was stagedooring spongebob today. Wesley Taylor left out a different door and people saw him, some girl says “Wesley Taylor is cancelled” he’s not forced to come out.

[schubox]

I was in NYC over Memorial day and saw 7 (I thnk?) shows and had good audiences throughout, except one incident. Saw the all day AiA on Saturday. I can't even remember what part it was, I think it was Act 2 in Millennium Approaches, I was in the second row of the center Mez. The guy right behind me had a plastic cup with ice in it. The way the seats were laid up, when he had it down between drinks it was right by my head. And he would take a drink, lower it, shake the drink,. lower it, shake it. This went on for like 5 straight minutes. I finally turned to him and said "you have to stop doing that." Many people around me were starting to get annoyed by it. To his credit he stopped and there were nay other instances over the whole day, but goddamn it drove me nuts.

[Mediamaven2]

(I feel like I've said this already and if I have already posted it forgive me!)

Reading some of the last pages reminds me of the GREAT MOMENT in Isaiah Johnson's final TCP as Mister, where he STOPPED in the middle of his solo in Act 2, alone in the spotlight on the stage, and looking directly at someone center orchestra at the Sunday matinee of his last performance, said (slowly and dripping with hostility) "Put away your damn phone!" It was so great! The audience roared with applause, and then he continued singing right where he left off....Such a beautiful moment ;o)

A pet peeve I have, reminded of at My Fair Lady last week: I HATE WHEN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO TALK WHEN THE ORCHESTRA HAS BEGUN TO PLAY! Don't people realize that an overture is to be listened to? That when the MUSIC OF A MUSICAL begins, the SHOW HAS STARTED !  So disrespectful.  

When the overture for My Fair Lady began, people around me were yakking away as if nothing had changed from 5 minutes ago.

[EllieRose2]

PThespian said: "EllieRose2 said: "It's audience problem yes, but the management at the theater CAN enforce things, take no crap, and actually kick people out without a refund if they are always on their phones or other disruptive behavior that keeps occurring."

You’ve never been a House Manager or usher, have you?"

Nope. I do know that they are in a union and those people who get those jobs have an in (family, friends).  So, they should feel very lucky to be there AND do their job effectively.  I have seen people get thrown out on Broadway theaters, all ushers need to be trained to confront horrible theatergoers and call security when they cannot control the situation.  It's their job. 

 

[EllieRose2]

Sure.  Last week at Mean Girls, the tweens behind me were filming the show live for Instagram stories.  All four of them were removed by two ushers at intermission because of the complaints.  They cried. It was awesome. 

During Bridges of Madison County, an older woman came in late and was clearly high on something.  She started wailing at inappropriate times, and changing seats every 10 minutes.  The usher escorted her from the mezzanine, and from the theater I am assuming since I did not see her in any part of the theater afterwards.

At Spiderman Turn Off The Dark (was that the title??) this asshat was watching a football game on his phone with the sound on.  After about a half a dozen warnings and complaints, he and his idiot wife were removed.

There ya go.  Enjoy your job, a lot of people would love to work, in any capacity, on Broadway.

[EllieRose2]

I saw the tweens actually leave the theater, and the couple at Spiderman.  I cannot say for sure that the crazy high woman was kicked out at Bridges.  Good luck with both your jobs.  

[VintageSnarker]

Mediamaven2 said: "

A pet peeve I have, reminded of at My Fair Lady last week: I HATE WHEN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO TALK WHEN THE ORCHESTRAHAS BEGUN TO PLAY! Don't people realize that an overture is to be listened to? That when the MUSIC OF A MUSICAL begins, the SHOW HAS STARTED ! So disrespectful.

When the overture for My Fair Lady began, people around me were yakking away as if nothing had changed from 5 minutes ago."

So sad. That's the one I've learned to let go and not confront anyone about. Even frequent theatergoers don't seem to care if talking through the overture is rude to the people around them. So I mainly enjoy overtures on cast albums these days as in the theater during the overture everyone is still finishing their conversations, turning off their phones, etc. Best case scenario, they're not talking about something irrelevant but they are singing along with any snippet of music they recognize. I've given up.

[Lot666]

VintageSnarker said: "Lot666 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "I would not object however to them turning on cellphone blocking technology during the actual performance."

I really would like to see theatres implement technology that blocks all cellular and wifi connections in the auditorium as soon as the lights go down."

Same. But it would kind of contradict the whole free publicity/please tweet, instagram, etc. about the show for us message that the theaters also put out."

It wouldn't infringe on the "publicity tweeting" if the lock-down was implemented when the lights go down. The people who are still playing on social media when the show starts should be warned and then removed if they continue.

[Lot666]

Mediamaven2 said: "I HATE WHEN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO TALK WHEN THE ORCHESTRA HAS BEGUN TO PLAY! Don't people realize that an overture is to be listened to? That when the MUSIC OF A MUSICAL begins, the SHOW HAS STARTED ! So disrespectful."

People did this during the overture of the recent Sunset Boulevard revival and I wanted to kill them because the overture is one of my favorite pieces of that score. They even rang a buzzer-type bell (the kind one might hear on a studio soundstage to call for quiet on the set) immediately before the lights went down, but it didn't stop them.

[Phantom4ever]

It's safe to say that everyone on this board agrees to no texting, picture-taking, etc during a show. But what about taking out your phone or apple watch for just a few seconds?  THAT seems to be what is happening now. Is anyone on this board willing to defend taking your phone out for JUST a few seconds during a show?  I felt like the only person in the world who thought taking your phone/apple watch out for a few second is annoying. I met such nice, down to earth, cool people that talked to me before the curtain and at intermission, but then these same nice, normal people took their phones out and watches out all the time BUT for JUST a few seconds. 

Can someone give me perspective on the phone-out-for-just-a-second thing? 

[bwayrose7]

I also work on house staff (at a touring venue that hosts most of the major national tours) and I think my favorite patron-on-a-phone story has to be the lady who took out her phone and was getting ready to take a picture or video at the beginning of Mamma Mia's farewell tour. I calmly told her she could not and needed to put it away. She put it down instead, made some snide comment, and was clearly waiting for me to walk away to try again (she even reached for her phone when I turned to assist with some late seating).

Unluckily for her, my location partner had zero desire to see even five minutes of the show, so she took care of the outer door, leaving me stationed inside for the entire duration. And wouldn't you know it, there was an empty seat right behind her. Where I sat. The whole night. When I returned after intermission I got the nastiest look from her. 

My manager was as amused as I was.

[nikkitax]

1)Don't sing along pleaseeee

I saw OOTI last Monday and the girl (12- 14ish) next to me was singing all the freaking songs and saying the lines BEFORE the actors. Also she was explaining the show to his mother all the time. It was extremely annoying. I asked politely to shut up but she did it again. 

 

 

 

[VintageSnarker]

Phantom4ever said: "It's safe to say that everyone on this board agrees to no texting, picture-taking, etc during a show. But what about taking out your phone or apple watch for just a few seconds? THAT seems to be what is happening now. Is anyone on this board willing to defend taking your phone out for JUST a few seconds during a show? I felt like the only person in the world who thought taking your phone/apple watch out for a few second is annoying. I met such nice, down to earth, cool people that talked to me before the curtain and at intermission, but then these same nice, normal people took their phones out and watches out all the time BUT for JUST a few seconds.

Can someone give me perspective on the phone-out-for-just-a-second thing?"

Monsters. Of course I'm of the belief that you have to turn your phone off during the show. Not on silent or vibrate or do not disturb or airplane mode or whatever. OFF. The world can live without you for 1-2 hours (depending on if there's an intermission).

[EllieRose2]

"Can someone give me perspective on the phone-out-for-just-a-second thing?"

NEVER. I mean, your phone is (supposed to be) off so what do you have to look at?  People are not that important, if they are in professions where they are on call, they should not be a Broadway show that day.  Never ever, because even a second flash of light distracts another theater goer and actor.  So, never ever ever ever!

[JudyDenmark]

Phantom4ever said: "Can someone give me perspective on the phone-out-for-just-a-second thing?"

It's never ok!! The only time I maaaaaybe don't mind a phone out for a second is in a curtain call, depending on the show. But certainly never during the actual performance. 

I got an Apple Watch several months ago and was so paranoid about it glowing, but there's literally a theatre mode - with comedy/tragedy masks as the icon - to make sure that it won't light up and bother people around you if you move your wrist. Though it took me a couple of shows to realize that I also needed to turn on Do Not Disturb to prevent it from bothering ME, haha. 

(Apologies if the watch theatre mode was already mentioned in this thread... I've been in and out and haven't read all 850 posts.)

[irishgator1]

In a separate non-theater-related forum, I see many people insist that regular watches are a relic of the past and that no one under X age wears one. People apparently think that their phone will suffice for a clock, but fail to realize that whipping out one’s phone to check the time in a meeting or in the theater is distracting and potentially seen as quite rude.

[Marianne2]

I went to a Cirque Du Soleil show tonight and hate that they encourage people to take photos and film it. Fortunately it was not a huge issue because I know I would not have been able to complain to an usher.

But, I ended up near the people who were late, got up a million times, and talked in full volume. The 1 child said he wanted to go home before it was over. Oh, and they did leave before curtain call. I wished they left sooner with all of their trips to get food.

[promisespromises2]

Forgot about this thread.

I recently saw Skintight and there was this older woman who's cellphone kept going off almost the ENTIRE time.  It was not a ring, more like a message tone, maybe?  She literally just sat there and ignored it even though everyone around her was staring at her and even though a woman in front of her turned around and told her to turn it off.

And then the inevitable Siri moment happened from a different person where I guess they accidentally pressed the Siri button and she started talking.

Idina definitely knew what was going on, she was staring at the older woman the entire time her phone kept going off.  Just completely obnoxious. 

 

Also, we saw Carousel that same night and there was a younger woman in one of the box seats who just whipped her phone out in "June Is Bustin' Out All Over" and just blatantly took a flash photo.  And then proceeded to keep checking her phone throughout the show.  It wouldn't have bothered me THAT much except the ushers were making a MAJOR deal of it and were basically running back and forth and all I kept seeing were them spying on the box seats from the curtain.  I think they were more distracting than the cellphone itself.