Brawl at Gypsy. - Page 3

[DAME]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 5:16pm

Oh dear g-d.  

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 5:21pm

We don’t need data. I go to the theatre every week. I see it firsthand.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 6:23pm

This thread reminded me of the 1972 MIT study, "The Limits of Growth." I first heard about this study four or five years ago. It concluded that society will collapse by 2040. All of the particulars, etc. can be found online, etc. The reported steps to this downfall, from 1972 to the present appear to be fairly accurate, so the trajectory to 2040 seems to be relatively on track.

If you're interested, a Google search will lead you to PDFs of the study, a 1992 update, and more than you'll ever be able to digest...so pick and chose.

 

Updated On: 4/27/25 at 06:23 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 7:21pm

This has been a known issue for years now. Playbill briefly published an article a couple of years ago about a number of physical assaults against employees that happened in the months following the COVID shutdown, and the theatre owners threw a fit and demanded it be removed. I'm lucky to have a great security team at my theatre that backs us up, but I've had audience members get aggressive towards me for just asking them to put their phone away. 

Also, if you see someone near you repeatedly on their phone or filming, tell an usher or a house manager. There are a lot of blind spots where we can't see someone doing something like using their phone in their lap, but if it's reported we will absolutely speak to them and tell them to knock it off or at the very least stand nearby so we can see that specific location better. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 7:24pm

The biggest issue with alerting a house manager during a show is that you can’t rewind the play and see what you missed. It’s really frustrating. Do I check out of the play for who knows how long or do I grin and bear it and try to ignore the incredibly rude and distracting behavior around me?

Updated On: 4/27/25 at 07:24 PM

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 7:25pm

Bottom line, it won't be handled properly until theater owners and producers are sued, very publically, for letting this kind of behavior happen.

Losing or spending money tends to make careless people suddenly care.  A lot.

If anyone ever put their hands on me in this situation, my reaction would stop the show cold.

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 7:40pm

Anecdotal and first-hand experiences are valuable and useful, but augmenting them with compiled data makes a stronger case when an investment of resources will be required. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 11:09pm

Obviously data is useful, though theater owners have done their best to prevent information about this issue from reaching the public, but to act like the direct observations of theater workers and extremely regular audience members on this issue post-Covid is equal to the way suburbanites draw conclusions from the decades-long TV sensationalist smear against urban life is not a serious argument. There's a reason why Playbills had to start including requests not to disrupt the show or assault the staff. There's a reason why that Playbill article was removed. I used to usher not so long ago and never, ever would today. 

[binau]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 2:53am

"Didn't the UK have a rash of escalted poor behavior about 1 year or 2 ago?"

I think this is where having some data might help - my personal experience is that they have become poorer behaved in terms of talking etc. especially when it comes to the more touristy shows such as MJ but I haven't seen any of the couple of high profile incidents that made the headlines (i.e. anything violent). 

[ColdClimateDude]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 10:57am

I've been an usher and a house manager for large theaters (2300+ seats) that host Broadway shows. Honestly, you always have to weigh whether getting involved during the show will be more disruptive than waiting until intermission or catching the guest on their way out. Guests always need to be reminded that "the artist" or "the show" is asking for this policy to be enforced, not the theater or its staff. If a guest is agitated or unruly, that's when our security gets involved. Any good house manager knows not to put their usher in the path of an irate customer because chances are they haven't been trained to handle that.

More than anything, what I find frustrating about most of these "no X (cellphone/talking/texting/etc.)" policies is that there is no context given to help people understand why the request is being made. Most guests don't understand why filming is not allowed (intellectual property of the artist), and simply saying "no filming" isn't enough to stop them. The message should be: "As a reminder, please do not disturb your fellow audience members or the cast by texting or talking during the show. If you can see your screen in the dark, so can your neighbor and the cast onstage. Due to copyright laws, taking photographs or filming any part of this show is not allowed. If you are observed recording or disturbing the show in any way, you may be asked to leave without a refund." Personally, I'd also like to see a message added that says: "A reminder to take any personal belongings or trash out with you as you exit the theater," but that always seems to be met with resistance.

I like how some Chicago theaters have ushers walk up and down aisles with signs indicating no texting/photographs, and the extra reminder at the end of intermission is also good. The worst are shows (like & Juliet) that just hold up a small sign at the beginning without any formal announcement. When I went the other day, about a quarter of the audience was filming all or part of the show.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 11:51am

The Pantages had ushers standing at the side .  Also some of the big venues give you a number to text with seat location if you’re experiencing an issue .  The broadway theaters are the worst.  Something must be done.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 12:19pm

There's bound to be tort claims if the ushers got involved physically. That's just how the law is.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 12:24pm

DAME said: "Sutton Ross said: "My friend was ushering at MJ and a drunk patron pushed her, hard, against a wall. Her manager told her to not escalate the situation and she was pretty traumatized by the entire experience. The "hands off" approach clearly is not working for audiences Post Covid.

I get how cheap the people involved can be about this but until they hire actual security guards who make their presence known (like any concert), these violent assaults will keep happening. And for the poster who said "it's such a rare thing, and we should be focused more on cell phones and protecting the actors"? You're delusional and misinformed. This sh*t happens all the time. And it's not like Times Square doesn't have cops that could have been there in 30 seconds but I guess they didn't want to "bother" them. I hope the man assaulted for doing nothing wrong sues."

We are in complete agreement. If the man that was hit sues the theater owners then something will start being done. Money talks. Unfortunately.. if you read all the fine print when you purchase your tickets.. you basically give up on all rights. I belive the legal term for that is Abatement?"

You cannot sign away your constitutional rights. There's also public policy exceptions that would annul enforcement of a contract. Make yoru arguments in court and let the court decide.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 1:01pm

I doubt that the theater could be held responsible for a patrons actions.    MAYBE if they over served.  

 

 

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 2:16pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "Kad said: "What's the point of even having onsite security at theaters if they can't handle something like this?"

Honestly? Optics.

I’ve walked through the metal detectors with my phone in my pocket (mistakenly)more than once in the past, and I’ve never had the metal detector go off.

I worry that half of these security implementations at theaters are just to make people “feel” safe and to purport a false sense of security."

Fortunately this is not the case re: metal detectors. They can be calibrated to different detection levels.

A lot of venues are now using "weapon detectors," which are different from the "metal detectors" we've been used to for decades. The Shubert houses were using CEIA OpenGate detectors since at least 2021.  They're two poles you walk through, and they're designed so you can keep your phone, keys, wallet, etc on you.  These detectors scan for heavy metals such as knives and guns.  It speeds up the entrance procedure, since you don't have to slow down and put all of your belongings into a tray to be manually inspected.  PlayhouseSquare theaters in Cleveland, and lot of Livenation concert venues are now using OpenGate detectors.

Other venues use similar but more advanced systems, which also use AI and facial recognition software as a person walks through. They can actually detect if a person who is banned from a venue is attempting to enter.  A major manufacturer is a company called "Evolv," which NFL stadiums and a lot of arenas are using.  Pittsburgh Cultural Trust theaters have been using Evolv scanners since 2019.  It's been very interesting to see how this technology has improved.

 

[DAME]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 5:59pm

dramamama611 said: "I doubt that the theater could be held responsible for a patrons actions. MAYBE if they over served.



"

In this instance it is mentioned by various witnesses that security was slow or not caring.  The guy hit should go to the police and press charges.  The theater, with the known seat location,  should help find him or if not.. then be held responsible.  Untill we are loud about not putting up with this disruptive behavior it will keep happening.   It is a fortune to see a broadway show.  No one should have to put up with this kind of crap.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 6:44pm

Dame, this didn't make the news or go viral, nothing. That is what the theater wants. They sweep violent assaults under the rug because they don't need/want bad press. Ushers (I assume) are underpaid and would never put themselves in harms way, it simply isn't worth it for them.

But, security (armed or not) guards are actually paid to drag people out of the theater or place them under citizen's arrest until the actual cops can get there. Just like any concert venue. The fact that staff dragged the man who was hit to another location to basically suggest "We moved you, so you should be happy with that!", and allowed the man and his entire family to run out of the theater? That is on them. Charges won't be filed because the theater just thinks this behavior will never happen again. NYS can't state they "interfered with an investigation" but that's exactly what happened here. Unfortunately, until someone gets shot and killed, they will never do a goddamn thing about this increasing threat. 

[DAME]

Posted: 4/28/25 at 6:48pm

I guess our only option is to continue to be loud about it on our platforms.