Theater Etiquette-GRRR

[Blue-Eyed Wonder]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 9:56pm

Ok- am I just old fashioned or does lack of theater etiquette piss anyone else off. I mean, first of all, I won't wear jeans to a high school show, let alone a show on Broadway. I work right in the theater district selling Broadway merchandise and the number of people that I see who look like they rolled out of bed and threw on their jeans kind of disgusts me. And then you also see the occasional person in sweats and uggs- really? Then there's also the person who shows up fifteen minutes late and puts up a loud argument when the house manager makes them wait. I swear- if it were up to me, I would make them leave. Am I overreacting or does this disrespect for the theater bother anyone else?

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 9:58pm

i agree

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 9:59pm

I can't sleep at night thinking about it. It's caused me to develop an addiction to bennies.

[jerseyboyschick2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:00pm

It certainly irritates me. You brought up some excellent points that I definatley agree with.

[jerseyboyschick2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:00pm

It certainly irritates me. You brought up some excellent points that I definatley agree with.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:04pm

God, do you people live in the 1950s? Theater is not a special event anymore.

My blue jeans don't make me less of a paying customer than you in your mink coat.
Updated On: 3/13/08 at 10:04 PM

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:05pm

I think that nice Jeans- worn with a button down and nice shoes possibly- are acceptable.
Overall, I don't think attire matters as much as does attitude and appreciation.

If someone was to wear blue jeans (albeit nice ones in good taste) but show up on time and behave appropriately, I would not consider him or her in bad taste.
HOWEVER, if someone showed up in a suit and tie, but showed up fifteen minutes late and continued to flip through his or her program during the show with a cell phone on and a bad attitude, whispering to his neighbor, I would consider him or her to be rude and in violation of theater etiquette.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:16pm

I wear jeans t shirt and a plaid overshirt. I also sometimes wear a backwards baseball cap. I sometimes take the hat off during the show or not it's not something that I am conscience of or really think about. But, I am quite, I don't look at my playbill at all during the show and my cell phone is always eiather off or on viberate. If someone next to me is talking I am not afraid to shush them up eiather.

And I agree with Yankee's comment. Just because someone is wearing jeans doesn't make them less of a paying customer then the person who is dressed up.

You also have to realize that what is considered an event is different dependent on who you ask. I am only bringing this up because I can see this getting to the whole "theatre is an event therefore you should dress up" argument. That being said, there are tons of tourists who consider going to NYC alone an event in and of itself. Not me. I live in the suburbs of NYC. I go there for school everyday. Not an event for me. A Broadway show isn't by definition an event. It depends on how often you go. For me, I go pretty much every weekend. It has turned from being an event to being something to do on the weekend a long time ago. Therefor I view it differently.

And, the other thing is that there is a difference between etiquette and attire. Attire is thinking that someone should dress up in kakhi's and a golf shirt to go to the theatre. Etiquette is the shmuck who is talking loudly during the show.

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:23pm

For me personally, I don't equate attire with etiquette. The theatre is dark and I really don't care what the person next to me is wearing. If they're comfortable in jeans, it doesn't affect me. And if someone's visiting NYC and running around the city all day, of course they're going to dress for comfort. The only thing I do find rude is when people don't take their hats off inside the building, but that's standard etiquette everywhere.

What I do care about is that the person next to me is polite and well-behaved, to the actors, crew, theatre staff and the other audience members. I consider it a breach of etiquette if, say, they've forgotten to bathe for a week, if they've slathered themselves in aftershave, if they're talking, texting, taking photos or otherwise disturbing others during the performance, putting their feet up on the seat or otherwise behaving like a jerk.

[Blue-Eyed Wonder]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:24pm

I don't consider going to the theater a special experience- I'm in the theater district nearly every day. A Broadway show is not a big deal, but I feel that it's a respect thing. It's not like going to see a movie, you're going to see people working and expressing their art. In my opinion, the least you can do is show the performers a bit of respect and (a) show up on time and (b) give your appearance a bit of thought. I understand nice jeans and a nice shirt, but it's the "I just rolled out of bed to see a show" look that frustrates me- especially when their tourists.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:25pm

Why is it worse when they're tourists? They're on vacation, they've probably been walking around all day.

Shouldn't you New Yorkers set the example?

[Blue-Eyed Wonder]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:28pm

Fair enough, Phyllis, but it's still a respect issue in my opinion. Also, as an actor, I think of it as a karmic issue too, but that's my personal, twisted thinking.

[glimpseofstocking]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:29pm

I think that nice Jeans- worn with a button down and nice shoes possibly- are acceptable.
I agree with you there. I've worn dark jeans with a nice top on a few occasions and I don't see anything wrong with that. But sweatpants with Uggs? I wouldn't leave the house in that, let alone see a show.

What people are wearing doesn't bother me as much as people who EAT in the theater. I don't want to hear people unwrapping candy bars or eating their weight in potato chips. If you're that hungry, eat beforehand.

People who pull out their cellphones are also extremely irritating. When I saw Grey Gardens there was a group of teenagers who were texting through the entire show. Why spend the money if you can't even have the courtesy to pay attention to a show?

[greybaby231]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:34pm

I think you should look respectable. If you look decent in jeans, then wear jeans to the theatre. Just don't look like some homeless person that found tickets in the gutter, and decided to go to the play.
As for arriving late, or getting up in the middle, or anything of that nature, that makes me mad. Unless you are dying or are about to crap your pants, then you should not leave your seat while actors are performing. end of story.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:35pm

Wear what you like just keep your food and phone in your pockets!

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:48pm

You wouldn't wear jeans to a high school performance? Seriously? What kind of high schools are you attending performances at?

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:51pm

I really have to wonder about someone who would get so upset over what other people wear to the theater. Maybe I have a different perspective on it because when I'm in NYC, I'm a tourist and I've been walking around all day usually and I stay with my friend in NJ so it's not easy to change in the middle of the day. But seriously, why does it matter what someone wears? If he/she smells bad or looks like they haven't changed in days, that's one thing, but how a person behaves matters a lot more to me than how they dress. As long of those people don't leave their ringers on and try to talk/sing during the show, then I really don't pay attention to what they wear.

Last time I was in Vegas, I was sitting next to a very nicely dressed moron, who obviously was very important because 3-4 times during the show, he pulled out his phone and checked his text messages.

And you ever seen those black and white photos of men in suits at baseball games and amusement parks? Should we go back to dressing that way just to show we weren't raised by wolves?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:52pm

I find nothing wrong with wearing my jeans to a Broadway performance, I think they look fine. Plus, I'd rather see someone who looks like they just rolled out of bed than someone who bathed in perfume, eats during the show, or talks on a cellphone.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:53pm

I only recall wearing Jeans ONCE to a broadway show. I was coming straight from school. I got a dirty look at Petterino's (spelling?) in chicago before the show for wearing jeans.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:53pm

I only recall wearing Jeans ONCE to a broadway show. I was coming straight from school. I got a dirty look at Petterino's (spelling?) in chicago before the show for wearing jeans.

[george95]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:58pm

Its funny that the first poster gets annoyed at people who wear jeans to Broadway shows, because I have to kinda chuckle when I see a group of people dressed up like its prom night when they go to Broadway.

Growing up in Chicago, whenever a Broadway show came to town, we would have to get dressed up to "go downtown" to see it. I dont think anybody would be caught dead not dressing up for a show. But there, its a special event.

In New York, theater seems like such an everyday, regular thing. When family and friends visit from Chicago, they always worry about bringing nice clothes for the Broadway show, and I gotta talk them into just wearing jeans, tshirt, whatever they're wearing that day. Now of course, that doesn't mean that they need to find their ugliest smelliest outfit and roll around in mud before the show---its just common sense---if youre walkin around Manhattan all day, youre not gonna do it in a suit or high heels.

Nowadays, I take groups of my students to Broadway shows all the time, and I let them dress casually. I thought about that for a while, because at our school the students wear ties, sweaters, and slacks, and I thought they'd look better with their uniforms on. But then I decided I think they make a more powerful statement when they are dressed in their regular clothes, because they behave very well. I always hope that people will see a group of inner city teenagers, think some stereotypical thoughts, and then have those thoughts be totally refuted by my student's behavior.

So come as you are to Broadway! : )

Updated On: 3/13/08 at 10:58 PM

[jerseyboyschick2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:59pm

I've dressed up a pair of jeans on a several occasions. When I came to the city with my school a couple years in a row, I wore jeans. We were walking around the city all day and most of us just didn't feel like going back to our hotel and changing. I definatley dressed for comfort on that trip, but still tried to look nice. Dressing up a pair of jeans can look just as classy as dress clothes.

What I DO agree with are the people who show up late and throw a fit. I find that very rude.

That's what I meant in my first post as to what I agree with. Sorry about that, I should've been clearer.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 11:06pm

Ok- am I just old fashioned or does lack of theater etiquette piss anyone else off.

Are you so old-fashioned you don't know how to use the search feature?

[winston89]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 11:34pm

Blue Eyed Wonder,

I am an actor too. I have been in shows. I find the point about dressing nice to impress the actors to be one that is moot. This is because in all Broadway houses with the lights and everything most actors cant see passed the first couple of rows. It would be pointless to wear something nice to impress the actors. Specially if they cant see you.

And, I can see what your saying about the rolled out of bed look. Thankfully it is a look I have not cultivated. As it has been said before. When the lights go down your not seeing the people around you. And if your focusing too much on them and what they are wearing when the show has started then that is just sad.

I would not mind seeing a show sitting between a guy dressed as Hitler and a guy in a KKK costume so long as they were quite during the entier show.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 11:43pm

For those old enough to remember, going to the theater was indeed considered an event worthy of dressing up just a little. No one wore their prom gowns, we're talking about maybe a skirt, casual dress, or a tailored pants outfit. Same for the opera, only for that we are talking about more upscale than theater. Same for going to church. Or a wedding. Or a cocktail party. Those occasions called for a bit of class.

Slowly but surely the dress code for all these "events" relaxed to the point at which it is today. Everyone's entitled to their opinion of course. I for one, liked it when there was a bit of class in the dress for certain events.