As If MAMMA MIA Wasn't Already Horrible Enough- Page 2

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:01pm

Let's be honest, when 1,000 people try to log into their wifi it's just going to overload the system and crash anyway.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:42pm

There's no way this can be neutral-positive information. Everyone who connects to wifi at a theater is going to use it during every moment of the show while eating crunchy snacks and taco-farting. There's no other possible alternative. Everything is terrible. Panic, outrage, etc.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:45pm

Exactly.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:28am

Let's be honest, when 1,000 people try to log into their wifi it's just going to overload the system and crash anyway.

Ah, I see, it's actually a secret plot to stop them!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 1:25am

Clutch your pearls, girls.
As has been pointed out, shows actively encourage you to participate in social media around the show and the performance. This, really, is no difference. Besides, access to free wifi or not does not encourage or discourage most people. You actually have to create an account to log into Shubert wifi anyhow, so many people probably would not even bother with it. Did anyone here also consider that perhaps the wifi signal is disrupted during the performance and only accessible pre-show, intermission and walk out?

Nevertheless, in regard to the specifics of this marquee,a I am not surprised that most here seem to have forgotten their pearl clutching when THOSE went up. It is not a marquee for free wifi, it is the large marquee that constantly changes... Show graphics, commercials, announcements of dimming of the lights, now the add for free wifi, etc. it not not dedicated to this. Frankly I do not see the point when a sticker on the door will suffice like anywhere else. I chalk this up to the Shuberts just being trigger happy with their new LED toys.

Move along, put the pearls back in the drawer and get back to discussing how tourism is killing quality theatre and you were unable to focus and enjoy the play you three days ago because a woman 10 rows behind you in the mezzanine wore flip flops to a Broadway house and you saw her all by and are so offended that you can't focus on Sherri Shepard's dramatic monologue in Schoolhoise Rock Live on Broadway! Presented by Wal-Mart.

[mike_ant]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 1:38am

Actually, the cell phone reception (mine is AT&T) inside the Broadway theaters is pretty bad. During my recent weekend trip to see shows there, I had to keep going out of the buildings to the street to be able to "check-in" on Facebook. So yes, free wi-fi will probably help to promote the show more before or during intermission.

HOWEVER, I share the same sentiment that promoting it this way seems to encourage the use of cell phone during performances, as it can be interpreted as "oh, the theater is now allowing the use of cellphone inside!".

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 2:01am

Disagree.
Most theatres are fine if you text, Facebook, tweet, etc during walk-in / intermission. MOST theatres will forbid you from talking on your phone inside though.
It is a minority of theatres where the house staff will scold you for sending a text inside the building, or even having it visible.. That is particularly the case at the Helen Hayes, where I was nearly accosted by one disgracefully rude usher for having the gall to turn my phone off ten minutes before the show.

Wifi does not change the fact that your programs will expressly forbid use during the show, as does a standard pre-show announcement, ushers in the aisle, and as I do understand that you must create an account to use the wifi, I would assume there is notice about texts/tweets/calls/etc on that page, in addition to the likelihood that the wifi is disabled while the curtain is up.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 3:53am

Look at all the positives:

You can stream The Walking Dead from iTunes when the show gets dull.

You can log on to grindr and hook up with the hot concession guy instead of having to start a thread about him on here.

You can instantly post criticisms about the show/performer rather than having to actually wait and see the whole performance.

Candy Crush!

So yeah, all good.

[candydog2]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 7:03am

I don't really understand the argument that "whether or not there's wi-fi people are still going to be rude so you might as well offer it". At the end of the day, we know that having no wi-fi is going to PREVENT people from using their phones, but offering free wi-fi and advertising it right outside the theatre certainly does seem to ENCOURAGE it, and sends the message that the theatre is ok with you checking your phone in your seat at any point you please.

When I go to the theatre, I completely switch off my phone, and most of the time I don't even check it at intermission. I understand the business side of this, and that social media is a great way to advertise a show for practically nothing, but must it be done on the spot IN the theatre?

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 7:25am

I really needed something to entertain me when I saw Mamma Mia so this seems like progress

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 7:26am

Because, god forbid, mike_ant, you were "off-line" for a few hours of your life?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 8:11am

Add me to the list of people who F*CKing hate this.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 9:38am

"I don't really understand the argument that "whether or not there's wi-fi people are still going to be rude so you might as well offer it"."

That's probably because that's not really the argument. The point is that people using their phones during the show are a small minority of people, who already do this when being told not to. But there is already connectivity in most theaters using cellular data. So, whether the theater provides wi-fi or not, anyone can access the Internet if they want to.

So, if people can already use their phones and get online without the theater offering wi-fi, then the theater is not enabling any new behavior. The issue is still people knowing it is rude to do so and not using their phones during the performance.

As for social media check-ins, uploading photos of the marquee, etc., those are typically going to be uploaded in the moment. You're not going to check in after the show, and you can't do it later. You're also more likely to include the photo of you in front of the marquee as part of your check-in (especially if uploading the photo isn't counting against your cellular data plan), which will then prompt people to ask how the show is, think about attending themselves, etc.

Also, many shows have incentivized check-ins, so you might get a web page you could show at the merchandise counter after a check-in for 20% off of a T-shirt, or something else. Having your own wi-fi network enables more of that, since you need people to log into your network to use it, and can give them another promotion at that time.

I have zero interest in doing any of these things. Although I don't rule out checking things online before the show starts, at intermission, or as I'm leaving the theater. There is no correlation between wi-fi being offered and wanting to use your phone during a show, since you can do the latter with or without the former.

[followspot]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:03am

Steve Kazee ?@SteveKazee Oct 19
@BessGlorioso @OnceMusical this is a trend that must end! And people ask why I don't come back to NYC theatre. No respect for actors!

Well that was interesting.


@Showface — "urks" — lol

[inception]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:05am

When I was in NY last weekend, I used the free wifi at the Public to go online after the show to post about it here.
I didn't get a roaming package before I left so was reliant on free wifi throughout the weekend, mainly at my hotel though I did get a coffee at Starbucks mainly for the wifi. I also used the free wifi at the Whitney when I went to the Koons show.
When I got stuck at LaGuardia due to a delayed flight wifi was $4.95 for 1 hour and gave me another reason to hate United.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:20am

Hedwig has free wifi. Rocky did too. They just don't/didn't advertise it on the marquee.

SHN in San Francisco has offered free wifi for over a year in all three of its theatres, and advertise it on signs in the lobby. From what I've seen, cell phone behavior there has never been any worse than what I've seen on Broadway. (And in fact, probably better.) But maybe SF is more tech-savvy...

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:33am

@SteveKazeehttps://twitter.com/SteveKazee">@SteveKazee @AudraEqualityMchttps://twitter.com/AudraEqualityMc">@AudraEqualityMc it be great if they could block phone signals in the auditorium.

— Ramin Karimloo (@raminkarimloo) October>https://twitter.com/raminkarimloo/status/523932161704210432">October 19, 2014

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:34am

I've seen about 30 Broadway shows with free wifi and I haven't experienced any difference in phone usage during a performance. This is hardly a new trend. If I can't check in or post about a show from the theatre, I rarely remember to do so by the time I get home, so this seems like a great way to leverage word of mouth.

I used the free wifi during the intermission of Les Miz, so I guess the cast hasn't noticed any difference.

And at Holler If Ya Hear me, everyone around me was on their phones and there wasn't any wifi.


Updated On: 10/21/14 at 10:34 AM

[ChrisTyler12882]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:40am

A friend of mine works in the box office at The Broadhurst and he said they have not had a single complaint or issue to date, so there. I guess time will tell.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:40am

No, actually, Ramin, it wouldn't be great.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:46am

I don't love the advertising, but I can't imagine this will encourage people who weren't already rude and oblivious about using their phones during a performance to actually start using their phone during a performance. I think it'll be very helpful with getting people to engage on social media, as is the trend these days, but I don't think it'll result in anarchy.

But if it does, I hope there's a hashtag for the riots.

[mike_ant]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 11:53am

[QUOTE] Because, god forbid, mike_ant, you were "off-line" for a few hours of your life? [/QUOTE]

I'm not really sure where this condescending comment came from. I was merely stating that cell receptions were bad inside theaters just to check-in. I use FB as my diary, where I note where I go and what I do at a certain time, so I usually check-in way before the show, then I'm off-line to enjoy it. So, please, keep your comment to yourself!

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:19pm

If you are a American or New York residents, then I guess you will have a subscription to a 3G service, so you can use your IPAD regardless.

However for a visitor it isn't worth using 3G as it is very expensive. so Wi-Fi is great.

But free Wi-Fi isn't worth using if 15 minutes before the curtain, you have to spend all this time registering to get the service. Then only to recieve a ton of SPAM in the future.

I guess the reason they are offering this service is that they can push on you SPAM on all future Shubert shows?

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:21pm

^^ Somewhat ironic for someone who adds 6 inches of spam to every post they make on here, heh...

[South Florida]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:31pm

Really Phantom.