"C U 2nite @ Wckd!" - Texting In Broadway Theatres

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 12:57am

When the house lights go down, a dozen little blue lights seem to come up. Text-messaging is the latest audience annoyance.

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/119177.html

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 1:06am

I posted in another thread that I just recently encountered this. At Legally Blonde last month a man two rows in front of me was texting while his kids played with their NintendoDSes. When confronted he become quite belligerent and stated that it was a long show and his kids couldn't sit still that long.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 1:21am

How about not bringing the kids. Damn is it that hard? How about they hook up electricity currents through the seats. When someone use a device the signal sends the currents through the seat giving them a shock. OR how about a signal scrambler?

[heathurrr]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 10:59am

That article was interesting. I like that it highlighted the fact that it's not just kids doing this, that the texing culprits are of all ages.

[Okayfine]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:03am

At the risk of starting a trulyugly & self-righteous exchange: people who just sit there & tolerate it are almost as much to blame as the idiots who actually DO it.

The ushers cannot see or reach everyone who is texting. If someone is doing so, you are certainly within your rights to ask them, "Can you pleae turn that off during the performance?" in a polite but firm voice. If that doesn't work, get up, get the usher, security guard, or even house manager, and THEy will deal with it.

BTW, teh same goes for hearing aids feeding back & volume too high on the headsets. Although, to be honest, a lot of folks who use them wouldn't hear you, anyway, & I don;t say that to be mean or snarky.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:05am

It really all falls back on theatre management, who have let all this get way out of hand. Sure, an audience member can play police, but it's the duty of the management to insure its customers get what they paid for.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:09am

Sadly, it's not just restricted to theatre. People text all sorts of inappropriate places. I'm starting to believe that texting is a blight on society.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:10am

I realize this will sound less than kind, if not downright mean and unmagnanimous, but to paraphrase James L. Brooks in Broadcast News, "I certainly hope they die soon."

Does this sound harsh?

[Patash]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:16am

Any parent who allows his children to text during a show because it's "a long show and the kids can't sit still" is simply teaching them that they never need to learn rules or concern themselves with others. As adults, I have little doubt these people will be rustling candy wrappers and talking back and forth because they were never taught that there are certain rules of behavior when in a theatre.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:23am

It depends on how old the children are. If, developmentally, they do not have the attention span to sit still for that long, then there's a simple solution: don't bring them.

It's not like the dad really wanted to see the show but couldn't get a babysitter, if he was texting the whole time.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:24am

I just liked the part about Passing Strange "drumming up business" by texting to a live-blog. Too bad that their 37% capacity numbers show that it's probably not working as well as it should.

Texting is annoying but it's now part of the culture, you just have to find a way to get people to leave the texting at the door. I think Legally Blonde had the right idea of after you send a text you get one back that asks you to turn your phone off until the end of the show.

[mrkita08]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 12:37pm

I honestly do don't understand how some people feel they are that important and need to be connected to a cell phone at all times. When I go to a show I immediately shut my cell phone off once I reach my seat. It gives me time to read the playbill and just get ready for the show.

When I saw Gypsy I was in the front row and I recalled a story about someones cell phone going off during Sweeny Todd and Patti Lupone freaking out on them. I was so scared that my cell was gonna go off that I even removed the battery just to be safe.

Its honestly a shame that people have no respect for other people and would decide to text someone during the middle of a show. You paid good money for seats, enjoy the show then text later.

Theaters should probably invest in signal blockers for cell phones, if they even exist.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 12:50pm

"Any parent who allows his children to text during a show because it's "a long show and the kids can't sit still" is simply teaching them that they never need to learn rules or concern themselves with others. As adults, I have little doubt these people will be rustling candy wrappers and talking back and forth because they were never taught that there are certain rules of behavior when in a theatre."

By snapping back at the person who asked him to stop during intermission was also a lesson these kids learned that night.

"It depends on how old the children are. If, developmentally, they do not have the attention span to sit still for that long, then there's a simple solution: don't bring them.

It's not like the dad really wanted to see the show but couldn't get a babysitter, if he was texting the whole time."

To me they looked old enough to sit through the show without needing a game. But based on the actions of the father I would imagine they're not being given the correct examples.

And what gets me is that these are $100 seats not counting whatever they spent to get there. I counted four kids and two parents. Wouldn't it have been cheaper to stay home and text?

[philcrosby]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 12:55pm

No excuse for texting during a show. None. Zero. End of argument.

Same for cell phones ringing. No excuse. None.

Except of course, for extreme self-absorption.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 1:00pm

I can't even imagine yelling at an usher. The one time an usher chastised (sp?) me, I felt soooo horrible. And it wasn't even for anything as bad as texting or what have you.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 1:08pm

At both "August: Osage County" and "The Homecoming" in December, I confronted a person sitting next to me (Osage) who pulled his blackberry out and a guy across the aisle (Homecoming) who was texting during the 1st act and told them both to put them away or I would get an usher or a house manager. I have no problem confronting people during a show regarding texting, talking, etc. As Phils said there is no excuse for cell phones going off or texting during a show. I really wish they could find a way to disable them when people walk into the theater. They do in Russia (I think it's Russia) in both live theaters and movie theaters if I remember reading correctly.

Updated On: 7/9/08 at 01:08 PM

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 1:48pm

Its not just texting.

People have their phones on and ready to record parts of the show.

Wicked is the worst place for that. Regardless of how illegal that is, people don't seem to realize that if you film using a mobile...1) the red light is pointing towards the stage so actors probably would notice, 2) there's a big lit up screen facing the rest of the audience.

When I went to see the Chess concert in London in May, there were SO many visible phones/cameras all over the place...some people were even taking photographs with that red light that flashes the area, the people in front kept turning around to tell them to stop...but they continued.

The ushers either didn't notice, or want to come and say anything.

I can see why staff would be reluctant to get involved, if the people are stupid enough to think filming is ok they are probably completely fine with having a full blown argument during a performance.

[Patash]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 1:58pm

My line to anyone using a phone or texting near me -- "you have a choice. Put that away now or give me $110 so I can come back and see the show without having to put up with this crap." It's actually worked twice without a bit of argument.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 2:07pm

Nowadays when you go to a Broadway show it is inevitable that someone's cellphone will ring during the performance.

Announcements before the show don't see to do much good.

I have gone to the theatre about 6 times in the last month and everytime someone's cellphone has gone off. Three different cellphones went off at the matinee of Les Liasons Dangereuses this past Sunday.

If you can't be disconnected for at least 2.5 hours then keep your ass at home.


Updated On: 7/9/08 at 02:07 PM

[Miss Elphaba]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 2:22pm

I just don't understand them to be honest. Why on earth shell out the money to sit and use your phone all the way through? Turn it OFF! I mean, the world won't end if you give your fingers a little rest. It's (at tops) 2hours. Theatre is (usually) supposed to be a place to forget the outside world and get engrossed by the hard work of a cast and crew. It just seems stupid and disrespectful.

And, I agree with ToAnythingTaboo, at Chess it was insane, there were also endless camera flashes which were so distracting. I couldnt believe how little the ushers did. Though in the seconbd act the were a little more attentive.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 2:23pm

The only theatre I have seen a no tolerance policy for cell phones, blackberries, etc. is the Vivian Beaumont. Kudos to the ushers there.

[StarUsher]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 2:31pm

Appropriate that they should mention Wicked. I recently caught a rerun of the episode of Ugly Betty when they go to see it and I was appalled with the behavior the main characters demonstrated. The talked and texted through the first several songs of the show. Exited and reentered the theater multiple times and not to mention the running around in restricted parts of the theater. I know it's just a TV show but watching things like that help encourage the idea that these actions are acceptable. I agree with the idea that house management should be alerted to these things with as much detail as possible. It is the only way they can address the problem. Many were complaining about the house staff's response. As a former house manager I ask you to please keep in mind, sometimes a judgement call has to be made, what is more distracting? The texting (or bad behavior of any kind) itself or solving the problem? Which can involve climbing over people to address the offender sitting in the middle of the row or fighting with a hostile patron in the middle of the performance to try to get them to stop? Often the only way it can be handled without causing more trouble is to wait till an appropriate scene change or loud moment in the show or wait till intermission.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 2:34pm

The ushers at the Imperial when I saw "Osage" were very apologetic. They told me they were running around trying to locate the ringing phones. (About 3 went off) They did catch the woman about 6 rows in front of me who's ringtone was "Redneck Woman" and it was very loud. She actually got up from her seat talking on the phone and went behind the curtain at the front of the right aisle. It happened right before the moment where one of the character's cell phone rings onstage. It almost ruined the moment as the audience all moaned when it rang and then they realized it was a character's phone and they got the laugh it was supposed to.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 2:39pm

I certainly agree with Okayfine that the ushers can't see or get to everyone who is texting or doing whatever. If they trolled the aisles looking for offenders then someone would complain that the ushers were being distracting.

As patrons we have every right to take the initiative to ask someone to put there phone away or stop talking while the performance is going on.

A few weeks ago, I was at Boeing-Boeing and the show was beginning and a man behind me was texting with his keytones turned on so every time he pushed a key you heard a beep. I gave him a good 30 seconds to discontinue that before I turned around and said something. I have no problem being confrontational either. Prices are too high to put up with that crap.

Updated On: 7/9/08 at 02:39 PM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 2:54pm

What gets me about people filming using their cellphones are getting a crappy image. Is it worth the trouble?