Bad usher/ theatre employee stories?- Page 2

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 10:23am

Nah, she hadn't asked me yet. I was turning my phone off, too, when it happened because I didn't even have any voicemails.

Updated On: 5/27/05 at 10:23 AM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 10:54am

I have been treated rudely for so long in the theater by the employees: Ushers, Ticket booth employees (ALWAYS nasty!), etc...I think that there should be a revolt against the bad attitude and nasty treatment. I want to see theater, but dont need it to be ruined by someone who should be in "customer service!" We pay their salaries!

I am even more upset, tho, at the total LACK of keeping rules. Where are the ushers when there is a drunk talking as if they are watching tv? Why are people being seated during opening numbers?

[mikewood]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:02am

Doodle brought up a good point. Why are people seated late in live theater? Personally, people should not be seated late and should stand in the back until intermission. Theater employees need to enforce the rights of the people who bothered to arrive on time.

[Standing_O]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:07am

Usually ushers seat latecomers according to the late policy of the theatre. It is not the ushers that have no consideration for people who are on time. It is the LATE patrons.

[mikewood]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:10am

Certainly. Obviously, I am showing no love for the latecomers by barring them from the theater until intermission.

Ushers should incorporate enough common sense to at least seat people when it will disrupt the show minimally.

[Standing_O]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:12am

Again, if ushers are told to seat people when they come in (despite what is going on in the performance), this is not a flaw in the common sense of the ushers. It is the policy of the theater. The ushers are paid to do what the management of the venue tells them to do.

[romanov]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:13am

Mikewood, the court of condescending sensitivity is now adjourned.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:14am

I expect to be seated at intermission if I am late (not that I ever was.) I would be embarrassed!

It is the slow deterioration the civility in theaters (movie theaters included) and people only care about themselves. I always feel most for the performers. Who else tolerates that much rudeness in their job? I believe that high prices and waiting for tickets give people more feelings of entitlement...the old "I paid for my seat, so I'll do what I want" attitude.

I am sure working in a theater is not fun, but it is customer service. They are representing the theater and the producers of the show housed there. There is no excuse and we as theatergoers should be more demanding...writing the producers of the show, owners of the theater, taking names, etc.

[mikewood]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:22am

romanov,

You are so wrong in so many ways it would be sad if it wasn't so offensive.

Updated On: 5/27/05 at 11:22 AM

[romanov]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:36am

Careful, Mikewood, your testosterone patch is showing.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 12:05pm

"It takes a LOT to remove someone from property."

That's not true. I have seen police officers literally come to a persons seat and escort them out for being a disturbance.

As far as cellphones in the theatre goes, I say if you can't afford to be out of contact for a couple hours then perhaps you shouldn't be there.

There used to be a bit of sanctity regarding the theatre that in recent years has just been shot to hell. People don't know how to behave in the theatre anymore. Now people come and put their dirty feet up on the seats and talk on their cellphones and they want to eat food in the seats. A friend of mine who is an usher at the Walter Kerr told me at one of the performances of Gem of the Ocean a woman literally got to her seat and pulled out a bucket of fried chicken. I was in a performances of Cabaret when a woman's cellphone rang and she actually answered it and started having a conversation.

People think that the price of their admission gives them license to act however they want no matter how classless they may appear.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 12:10pm

My point exactly, Tom!

[Tom1071]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 12:17pm

we must have been typing our posts at the same time.

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 1:05pm

Last year (I was 13) and went to see a Monday night show of Phantom Of The Opera by myself while my parents went out for dinner. I was in the front row mezzannine but I was not sure exactly where I was sitting from my ticket (I was unclear about the row too). There was a really mean usher at the Majestic Theatre. Here's what happened:
Me - Can you please help me find my seat?
Usher - Mmmhhmmm... (grabs my ticket) Front row of the mezzanine. Isn't that obvious from the ticket?
Me - (apologizes profusely and attempts to fine seat but forgot to ask where the specific seat is. So I go back to the usher).
Me - Sorry. I guess I'm still not sure which particular seat I'm supposed to be sitting in.
Usher - Oh, well did I not explain it good enough or sumthing? (spitting sarcasm in my face).
So i found my seat but ya she was a real bitch.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 1:18pm

I should have phrased that better. What I meant was that it takes a lot for NON-POLICE to remove someone from property. Although talking on a phone is illegal in theatres (though, I doubt if challenged it would hold up), it is only a misdemeanor, and talking on a cell phone in and of itself is legal. Therefore, to remove someone from the premises the person would really need to be uncooperative (bordering on assaulting someone, verbally or physically).

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 1:28pm

My curiosity got the better of me. I looked it up. Of course, it has exceptions for emergencies, but what is states is that you simply cannot use your cell phone in a place of public performances. However, it narrowly defines "use" : "The term “use” shall mean to talk or listen on a mobile telephone."
Your phone can be on, you can play games, take pictures (it doesn't prohibit it), etc. As long as you aren't on a call, they can't do anything to you. Surprisingly, it says nothing about ringers, which is and always has been the issue in theatres. I have never seen anyone answer there phone while a performance has been going on. I have seen people at the movies talk on their phone, but never at a stage show. IMO it's the ringing that is irritating on Broadway.
Updated On: 5/27/05 at 01:28 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 1:33pm

The most abusive patron I remember was at Paper Mill's Follies a few years ago. It was a matinee and the show had started, LOTS of candy wrappers that were so loud we couldnt help but laugh to ourselves. Then there was shushing going on behind us that turned into, "no YOU shut up", " NO YOU SHUT UP!" This went on during a whole number, it turned out the two loudest arguers were in wheelchairs and very old...it was too strange to be angry about...course the ushers did nothing, to get back to the thread

[brdwyalicia04]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 1:47pm

wow, i didn't know cell phones were banned from theaters in nyc. well the ushers at the shows/theaters that i went to didn't really seem to care. there were tons of people who whipped out their cells and started talking before the show and at intermission. at the beginning of the show, they just ask you to turn the cells off. they don't mention that it is banned.

[mikewood]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 2:08pm

whoa. I apologize. multiple message.

Updated On: 5/27/05 at 02:08 PM

[mikewood]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 2:08pm

ditto.

Updated On: 5/27/05 at 02:08 PM

[mikewood]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 2:08pm

I have never seen anyone answer there phone while a performance has been going on. I have seen people at the movies talk on their phone, but never at a stage show."

I have.

June 2001. Les Miserables. Right at the beginning of "On my Own."

Edit: That is....I have seen and heard someone. I haven't done it.

Updated On: 5/27/05 at 02:08 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 2:11pm

cell phones aren't banned...patrons are prohibited from using them, which is defined as talking or listening. The exception is for emergencies (i.e., calling 911).

[Marty45]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 2:36pm

FYI, usually, the ushers are told by the producers, house managers, when to do the late sitting.  They pick the appropriate time.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 2:45pm

Are you here to bump 10+-year-old threads? Because this could make for a fun Friday!

[nealb1]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 2:53pm

3 years ago when I saw "Misery," I was in the rear Mezz and about 2 minutes before curtain, the few of us who were there realized that it's not going to be full.  At that moment the usher on our side, said we could move down front and fill up the seats.  He then walked away, as we were moving, the usher on the other side came running over telling us we cannot move seats.

We said, "Your co-worker just told us we could."  He kept repeating - very loudly, "You can't move.  You have to go back."  

I walked over to him and said, "As we have all told you now numerous times, your co-worker said we could.  If there's an issue, you need to speak to him - not us."

He stood there - so defeated, and the lights went down and the show started.