Solution to Cell Phones on Bway

[zainmax]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 4:14pm

I read this article in FORBES, and I think that this thing could work, but there are still a ton of loopholes. Has anyone used this during a show?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2019/06/12/disruptive-technology-promises-to-decrease-disruptions-on-broadway/#56a37cda9c0d

[morosco]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 4:23pm

I've been to concerts that deployed this technology. A staff member assists you with placing your phone in the pouch, the pouch is then locked, you have possession of the pouch throughout the performance, they unlock the pouch as you leave the venue and you drop the empty pouch into a bin. Smooth and painless procedure. Usually the venue will alert you in advance if they will be doing this.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 4:30pm

There have been several threads on this.

[NievesG]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 4:31pm

Something similar was used when I attended the dress rehearsal for Jesus Christ Superstar last year.

 

Honestly, maybe I have the worst cell carrier ever, but I almost never have cell service in any of the theaters, even the ones with free wifi. It was pretty decent at the Richard Rodgers for me but that was the anomaly. That being said, it's just bad when people don't put their phones on silent/airplane mode. I get secondhand embarrassment when the ringer goes off in the middle of a serious scene. 

[morosco]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 4:31pm

Here's is part of an email I received from a venue prior to a show that deployed Yondr:

CELL PHONE RESTRICTION
No cell phones, cameras or recording devices will be allowed at the show. Upon arrival, all phones and smart watches will be secured in Yondr pouches that will be unlocked at the end of the show. Guests maintain possession of their phones throughout the night, and if needed, may access their phones at designated Yondr unlocking stations in the lobby. Anyone caught with a cell phone in the venue will be immediately ejected. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience.

 

[zainmax]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 4:43pm

morosco said: "I've been to concerts that deployed this technology. A staff member assists you with placing your phone in the pouch, the pouch is then locked, you have possession of the pouch throughout the performance, they unlock the pouch as you leave the venue and you drop the empty pouch into a bin. Smooth and painless procedure. Usually the venue will alert you in advance if they will be doing this."

Did phones still go off/were people still using phones during the concerts? I imagine that they can be ripped open.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 5:08pm

I don't think this would help for two reasons. First, so many people have Apple watches these days and don't have any problems having them glowing bright throughout the show. 

Second, from my experience, most people who use their phones during shows just have their phone out for a few seconds. Yes, enough to disrupt the audience, the performers, and generally everyone around them. But the point is that these kind of people would say that they are just checking messages because they have a sick child, important work email, are a doctor, need to check the score of the ballgame, etc. So they don't feel that they are part of the problem. Sending a quick text message, checking your social media feed for 30 seconds.....these are getting more and more common as opposed to people sitting on their phone playing games or taking phone calls.

So when people see this announcement about the pouch, many will see oh yeah that doesn't apply to me because I don't use my phone, I just might take it out for a quick second to check if anyone liked my post or if my sick child needs me. And that will completely defeat the purpose of the pouch in the first place. 

As for me, after dealing with these tech interruptions so frequently and at every single show, I have officially given up and when I the phones (which are never out for more than a minute at most) I force myself to ignore and concentrate on the stage, as hard as that is. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 5:26pm

They use these at the filming of TV sitcoms that use a live studio audience. If you need to use your phone, an usher outside will unlock the pouch for you and relock it when you enter seating area again. They put Apple watches and cell phones in these lock pouches. Not just cell phones.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 5:56pm

This wouldn’t fly on Broadway. First off, it would be extra work for the ushers. Furthermore, God knows how many people attending the snow would cause a SH*T fit over it, adding more strain for the ushers and house manager.

Then, there’s the issue of liability. When I’m seating people
And they have their tickets on their phones, I have to tell them to show me each ticket one by one. We are not allowed to touch a patrons cell phone at all or even let them charge their phones of they see an open outlet. Reason being is that if I’m holding someone’s phone to check their tickets and drop it, the theatre is
Held liable since one of their house staff members damaged it. Same thing for plugging in phones, if there’s some freak electrician issue and there’s damage to their phone once again same thing.

As an a usher, I can foresee so many potential issues that could occur with using this pouch system. If any issue arises with it, the theatre is liable since we’re the ones making them use it in the first place .

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 6:10pm

"A staff member assists you with placing your phone in the pouch, the pouch is then locked, you have possession of the pouch throughout the performance, they unlock the pouch as you leave the venue and you drop the empty pouch into a bin. "

Just curious how long the wait was for staff member to get to you and unlock your phone after the performance.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 6:17pm

The phone slides into pouch and it snaps shut. Super quick. On exit, an usher uses a gun that unsnaps it and you just drop the pouch into a large bin as you exit. Both parts takes 3-4 seconds and you’re moving as you are doing them. Showing your ticket to usher and them deciphering where your seat location is takes longer.

[jpbran]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 6:18pm

The Apple Watch issue (lighting up repeatedly) has a simple fix... they rolled out "Theatre Mode" a year or two ago; but it only works if people use it. Prevents alerts from coming through, silences it, and best of all-- prevents the screen lighting up inadvertently when you raise your arm. You have to turn the crown slowly to check the time and it's a slow, dimly lit fade not seen from even a couple feet away. 
Just wish more people knew to activate it before the show starts!

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 6:20pm

"The phone slides into pouch and it snaps shut. Super quick. On exit, an usher uses a gun that unsnaps it and you just drop the pouch into a large bin as you exit. Both parts takes 3-4 seconds and you’re moving as you are doing them. Showing your ticket to usher and them deciphering where your seat location is takes longer."

Thanks for the information, sounds pretty good.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 6:24pm

Islander_fan said: "This wouldn’t fly on Broadway. First off, it would be extra work for the ushers. Furthermore, God knows how many people attending the snow would cause a SH*T fit over it, adding more strain for the ushers and house manager.

Then, there’s the issue of liability. When I’m seating people
And they have their tickets on their phones, I have to tell them to show me each ticket one by one. We are not allowed to touch a patrons cell phone at all or even let them charge their phones of they see an open outlet. Reason being is that if I’m holding someone’s phone to check their tickets and drop it, the theatre is
Held liable since one of their house staff members damaged it. Same thing for plugging in phones, if there’s some freak electrician issue and there’s damage to their phone once again same thing.

As an a usher, I can foresee so many potential issues that could occur with using this pouch system. If any issue arises with it, the theatre is liable since we’re the ones making them use it in the first place ."

 

Well, they're doing it at the Lunt Fontanne -- so obviously someone has come up with a solution.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 6:27pm

Updated On: 6/13/19 at 06:27 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 6:27pm

1. This is about recording, not making noise or light.

2. I agree it is a challenge for theatres, both logistically and cost-wise.

3. There is not enough stake or risk for theatre landlords to do it. 

4. There is no legal problem with someone touching your phone. If a theatre (obviously not on Broadway) tells employees not to touch them, it's a liability issue not a legal issue. 

5. Apple watches do not record video, and barely record audio. That's not a concern for those who are concerned enough to do this. 

[jpbran]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 6:47pm

HogansHero said: "1. This is about recording, not making noise or light.

Sorta. Pretty soon into the article it's talking about texting being distracting. And the first few quotes (including LuPone's) are about distractions from lit-up screens etc. It only becomes about "recording" just shy of halfway through, and then mentions patrons forgetting to silence the phones before "pouching" them... 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 7:23pm

jpbran said: "HogansHero said: "1. This is about recording, not making noise or light.

Sorta. Pretty soon into the article it's talking about texting being distracting.And the first few quotes (including LuPone's)are about distractions from lit-up screens etc. Itonly becomes about "recording" just shy of halfwaythrough,and then mentions patrons forgetting to silence the phones before "pouching" them..."

Well the article is basically just a rehash, and I was not really paying attention to it. What I was referring to is the motivation of a theatre landlord or producer who would need to spend major bucks and create a major disruption inbound and outbound. Patti LuPone is not going to pay for this system, nor is an audience member.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 7:51pm

@ JSquared2

Yes, they are doing this at then Lunt, but, only for the series of concerts that are going on. This will be a thing of the past once the Tina Turner musical comes in and the theatre is housing musicals once more.

Keep in mind that a show’s production staff could want something that is above and beyond the norm. For example, when the Jimmy Buffet musical was playing the Marquis, they wanted the ushers there to wear Hawaiian shirts rather than have us wear the regular Nederlander uniform. So, Nederlander said that that’s fine but the show has to pay for them. So they did.

The concerts at the Lunt are being produced by Clear Channel so, while the news of this happening at the Lunt isn’t news to me. I am, however, convinced that since they are the ones who want it, they came up with a way for it to work and financed it.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 8:27pm

I have no idea how these events play out, because I have never been to one, but in the concert world, there are no "curtain times" in the theatre sense, and I would be surprised if Chappelle walks out on stage at 8:06, or the audience thinks they are supposed to be in their seats at that point. Stated differently, there are things that work at concerts that don't work at Broadway shows. We shall see. I am not holding my breath.

Oh, and I don't think ushers will be handling aany of this: I think it's a package deal, with labor included.

[zainmax]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 8:51pm

Let's say someone puts their phone on vibrate before putting it in the pouch and gets a call. Thinking its an emergency, they go to the back of the theater to unlock it, and see who called. Getting up during the show might be a bigger distraction than checking it discreetly in your seat... Right?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 9:04pm

my understanding is that the pouch has to be unlocked in the lobby, and once you head out there to get to a vibrating phone unlocked, you're on the curb. I don't think this would be an epidemic. Plenty of other reasons this will not work for Broadway shows, but we shall see. For a Chappelle show, getting up is not the same. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 11:09pm

All of these articles forget a simple thing. If you wanted to audio record something, you just hit record before you enter the theater, and let them seal your recording phone in the bag... err, not that I would ever have tried such a thing!

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 11:17pm

I also went to the Jesus Christ Superstar rehearsal last year, and for me, the bags were a bit much for a theatre setting. At intermission, I often need to message people to check up on them, or I'd like a simple photo of my playbill at the seat. This wouldn't work for the everyday theatergoer. Plus, you can just hide the phone anyway.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/13/19 at 11:23pm

Didn't I read (don't care enough to look for a source link) that a cell phone's surface is home to more bacteria than the handle on one's toilet?

Yeah, right, I'm going to throw my phone into a bag where dozens, er, hundreds of other cell phones have been...