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Taking pictures of the set before the show starts

Taking pictures of the set before the show starts

brdway411
#1Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 7:57pm

Am at Les Mis and people are taking photos of the set. When I asked someone to stop the usher informed me that it was perfectly fine to take pictures.. is this something new? Is the set not copyrighted?

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Jane2
#2Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:06pm

Different theaters, different rules. Where I worked, we practically attacked any picture being taken whatsoever. I noticed in certain Bway houses, no one seems to care.


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

Matt Rogers Profile Photo
Matt Rogers
#2Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:15pm

Better proceed with caution. I've seen ushers swoop down on people like hawks and stand there and watch while the offending patron deletes the photo from his or her phone, with threats of ejection from the theatre if they don't comply. For some reason, they are particularly strict about this at the Delacorte in Central Park. Go figure.

Jane2 Profile Photo
Jane2
#3Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:21pm

nah, if the usher told you it was perfectly ok, then it is.


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

AntV
#4Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:24pm

Why would you as an audience member tell someone to not take a picture before the show has begun? It can't possibly be ruining your enjoyment of the show as it hasn't started yet and I would be pretty annoyed if some other audience member told me what I can or cannot do before the show thinking they work for the production. I'm glad the usher made you look like a fool by saying the people taking pictures are totally fine.

brldisteach2
#5Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:25pm

General rule of thumb though is that it is not allowed. Usually each show decides how strict they want to be.

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blaxx
#6Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:26pm

Doesn't the Playbill specify that taking pictures at any time is forbidden? Or maybe it says it is all to the discretion of the oldest usher.


Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

Matt Rogers Profile Photo
Matt Rogers
#7Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:29pm

^
This. The curtain is part of the set. It is intellectual property, not allowed to be photographed but that doesn't stop most people and if ushers aren't enforcing things then what the hell.

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Jane2
#8Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:33pm

It is my understanding that such rules are passed from the production to the house manager, who then instructs the ushers. That's that.


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

GavestonPS Profile Photo
GavestonPS
#9Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:38pm

If you want photos of the set, buy the damn souvenir program. Your cell-phone pics aren't going to be that great anyway.

uncageg Profile Photo
uncageg
#10Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:39pm

It can also be up to the production. Some will alllow it so the ushers won't bother you. I was in one theater that will let you take pictures pre-show as long as the set is not in the pic.


Just give the world Love.

Jane2 Profile Photo
Jane2
#11Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:44pm

Why am I saying it's my understanding, lol. I experienced it as house manager for years.


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

Wildcard
#12Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:45pm

I've complained to theaters before and I got the same response… it was perfectly fine. I think that in today's world where everyone has a camera in their pockets, the theaters have to evolve in what they would allow. So while taking pictures before the show are allowed, they still have to be strict regarding photos during the performance. They know that these pre-show photos will end up in social media and serve as free advertising.

Matt Rogers Profile Photo
Matt Rogers
#13Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 8:52pm

Unless the photo looks like crap. Then, bad free advertising.

brdway411
#14Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:40pm

It is not fine and the usher was repremanded. The usher basically got reemed by the house manager. They bought my a drink during intermission for the misunderstanding which was nice of them.

brdway411
#15Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:40pm

double post


Updated On: 3/13/14 at 09:40 PM

morosco Profile Photo
morosco
#16Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:43pm

The usher basically got reemed by the house manager.

sounds hot

theatergoer3
#17Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:46pm

It depends on the show.

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blaxx
#18Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:49pm

I wasn't aware that the House Manager was a spokesperson for the designer. My bad.


Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

Jane2 Profile Photo
Jane2
#19Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:52pm

"It is not fine and the usher was repremanded. The usher basically got reemed by the house manager."

So it's exactly what we are saying- ushers get their orders from the HM. That particular usher effed up.


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

Fosse76
#20Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:59pm

Some theaters are allowing photographs as long as the set isn't photographed. Also, some shows allow the set to be photographed. I find it difficult to believe that an usher was "reemed" by the house manager and that it would be done in front of audience members. And I find it hard to believe that a free drink would be offered for this "misunderstanding". The most that would have happened is the usher be told "no, they can't take photos.". It is nowhere near an offense that would require a "reeming",

veronicamae Profile Photo
veronicamae
#21Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 10:03pm

How unprofessional for a patron to know the extent that an usher was reprimanded. The HM should have simply apologized for the misunderstanding and dealt with the usher privately. And it certainly wasn't worth a drink being purchased to make up for - even more unprofessional.

NewPhilosophy Profile Photo
NewPhilosophy
#22Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 10:14pm

I have to ask the OP: what the heck?! so, after asking the usher about it, did you not only run to post this on BWW but also run to the house manager to tell on the usher? sheesh.

I, too, find it unlikely that a "reeming" took place in front of the OP or that he was rewarded with a drink. I feel like it would have been more like a "shut up and we'll take care of our business and you mind your own" drink.

Amalia3 Profile Photo
Amalia3
#23Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 10:27pm

Whether the rules are enforced properly or not by some random house manager or usher, the fact remains: Sets (and costumes, and music, and dialogue, etc.) are intellectual property. You cannot reproduce them in any way shape or form without permission of the set designer (or costume designer, composer, librettist, etc.)

WJR2 Profile Photo
WJR2
#24Taking pictures of the set before the show starts
Posted: 3/12/14 at 10:41pm

That's so bizarre... I was at the first preview of Les Mis and the ushers were LITERALLY yelling at people to stop taking pictures. She threatened that if anyone in my section took another photo that she would get security and have us escorted out of the building... no joke. Everyone in my section pretty much thought she was nuts. The rudest usher I've every seen (from handing out playbills by jamming them in peoples hands, to the yelling... c-r-a-z-y)


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