Emergency Alert System Test Tomw During Matinees

[wolfwriter]

Just a heads-up for matinee-goers, tomorrow.

Tomorrow at 2:18pm, there is a test of the National Wireless Emergency System. All phones will go off at that time unless you are on a call. 

By law, you can't opt out of this. It's unclear if it can be avoided without your phone powered off, completely.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/phones-country-buzz-national-emergency-alert-test-wednesday/story?id=58233273

[BroadwayBear2]

Oh, Dear Jesus....

[everythingtaboo]

If I was the The Broadway League I'd tell all the shows to hold their matinee curtains until 2:19 PM. You know half the audiences' phones are going to go off.

[EthelMae]

I hear Patti LuPone is flying back tomorrow to snatch phones left and right.

[SomethingPeculiar]

If your phone is on Airplane Mode and not connected to WIFI, I don't think you'd get it because your signal is tuned off?


everythingtaboo said: "If I was the The Broadway League I'd tell all the shows to hold their matinee curtains until 2:19 PM. You know half the audiences' phones are going to go off."

Or just ask all the shows to make a dedicated announcement before curtain time, warning of this. Though of course there are going to be people who then say "well I WANT to be alerted if there's an emergency going on, that's more important than some play!" so I guess there's no winning here?

[ghostlight2]

Thanks, wolfwriter!

[LuPita2]

All phones should be turned off anyways in a theater.  That being said, they should hold curtain until 2:19pm.  

[AntV]

If your phone is on silent the alert will still be silent.

But we know there's a lot of people who don't put them on silent. And depending on your phone the alert sound is a lot longer than a typical notification.

[ghostlight2]

" That being said, they should hold curtain until 2:19pm. "

That is not ever going to happen. Doing that would drive several shows into a broken hour (overtime), and even if it didn't, it would shorten the already fairly short break that cast and crew get between shows. 

[Huss417]

AntV said: "If your phone is on silent the alert will still be silent.

But we know there's a lot of people who don't put them on silent. And depending on your phone the alert sound is a lot longer than a typical notification."

I wonder if it depends on the phone? Last big storm here had my phone on silent mode but the alert still beeped several times. Should be interesting today.

[BroadwayConcierge]

I want stories this afternoon from matinee goers, please and thank you.

[everythingtaboo]

AntV said: "If your phone is on silent the alert will still be silent.

But we know there's a lot of people who don't put them on silent. And depending on your phone the alert sound is a lot longer than a typical notification."

If this is meant to be a test of a national emergency system, which from what I understand will be an audio and vibration message, I wonder if it's meant to override any phone settings. Either way, this is definitely going to be interesting! 

[adamgreer]

I wish there was a way to opt out.  I have no desire to receive any messages of any kind from that man.

[MauraLovesMusicals]

thanks for reminding me, i’m gonna have to put my headphones in to block it out during class (i can’t do loud noises)

[LizzieCurry]

If your phone is on airplane mode, you'll be fine too. I was at a show during a weather alert and had my phone on airplane mode and nothing came through. Other people's, though...

[morosco]

From what I understand the alerts will sound as long as the device is turned on — even if it’s on mute or do not disturb.

[JSquared2]

LizzieCurry said: "If your phone is on airplane mode, you'll be fine too. I was at a show during a weather alert and had my phone on airplane mode and nothing came through. Other people's, though..."

 

This is not a weather alert.  It's an emergency alert.  This system has never been used way before. so most likely it will even come through on airplane mode.  

[quizking101]

EthelMae said: "I hear Patti LuPone is flying back tomorrow to snatch phones left and right."

CACKLING!!!

 

[Danielle0314]

BroadwayConcierge said: "I want stories this afternoon from matinee goers, please and thank you."

DITTO THIS!!

[ellbellthomps]

I saw the DEH matinee a year ago (they had an emergency alert throughout NYC) and all they did was inform us that about 13 minutes into the show our phones would go off, so completely shut them off. They put a slip into our playbills as well. 

It happened in the middle of waving, and they hiked up the volume a lot. Like, piercingly loud. I actually didn't hear any phones from the back mezz (not sure if this was because of the sound, or everyone listened) but a stage hand walked in from the emergency exit in the mezz around when they were supposed to go off. 

It was pretty anticlimatic, it's probably gonna be the same today. 

[BalconyClub]

Dozens of phones just went off at the Queens Library in Flushing.

[Elegance101]

Just happened!

I would also like some stories, please!

[Huss417]

On this end cell went off at 2:18 and home phone went off at 2:20

[Bwayfan292]

[OKBroadwayFan]

Went off in our office.  The last Amber Alert we had was louder.   My phone was on silent and it vibrated.