"C U 2nite @ Wckd!" - Texting In Broadway Theatres- Page 3

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 5:52pm

"You do have a point Fosse but I'm sure in an emergency the theater would have a landline to use."

Plus what happens when you get the criminal element who decide to purchase a cell phone jammer and then jam people's phones so they can committ their crimes without interference from the police? Cell phone jammers can potentially block other signals as well, and I would rather be annoyed for a few minutes then die of heart attack because no one could find the land line phone in time.

[StarUsher]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 5:58pm

I sort of was assuming that the purchase/providing of the jammers would be regulated but I suppose that is wishful thinking. I can't speak for other theaters (especially ones that may be significantly larger) but I can say having responded to a few medical emergencies at the Public, we never needed to use a cell phone in any of the experiences I dealt with.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 6:00pm

Crazy, it could be included in the pre-show announcement that all phones are blocked and that no calls or text messages will go through while inside the theater.

Fosse, I do see what you are saying, but I still say that we got along without them before, I don't see why we can't block them in the theatre. If a technician has to make a call he can step outside or have one of the people with him step outside to make the call if he is busy. I know these things can and do happen, but in all the years I have been going to the theater, I have never encountered a medical problem during a show. I don't think it is rampant, so to speak.

As far as the criminal aspect, I am just talking about jamming the signal inside the theater. Not sure where you are going with the criminal committing crimes without police interference. (In the theater?) There would still be a land line to use.

Updated On: 7/9/08 at 06:00 PM

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 6:03pm

My best friend texted during Avenue Q. I told him "DUDE! I paid for these tickets and I find it rude to do it during a show." Then out of nowhere he said "So are fireworks in Illinois." Ha! wow.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 6:28pm

If they ever become legal in the U.S. I'm going to get one of these little cell phone jammers. It fits in your pocket and discreetly jams cell phones within a 30 foot radius. Not worth going to jail though.
Palm Phone Jammer

[Khashoggi]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 6:33pm

I work FOH in a theatre.
If someone is using a cell phone in the darkened auditorium you can see it, period. If the ushers are paying attention. its not hard to spot a cell phone, or a camera in a darkened auditorium if you're standing in the right place.
If someone around you is using their phone, tell an usher. If they are any good at their job the will make sure it doesn't happen again.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 6:34pm

Or tell Patti.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 6:52pm

I use my cellphone all the time at the theatre. Only at intermission though . I turn it off for the performance. I was at Wicked on Sunday and some guy was talking very loudly on his cell at the back of the orch. and the usher behind the curtain where I was sitting was too. I very descretly went behind the curtain and told him to shut it off or go outside or to the lobby if he needs to talk that bad on his phone.

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 12:04am

Marianne- I wish it were true that the cast did not know she was in the audience but they were fully aware, even talking about parts of the show and such. It surprised me too but I guess they figured no one could see her so who cares? I am not sure

[BestOfBothWorlds]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 12:37am

With the number of cell phones I see in theatres and the number of heart attacks I see in theatres, I'm all for the jamming technology. I'll risk the 30 seconds it would take to walk outside to use the phone.

And if somebody's heart attack was induced merely by sitting still?

They probably weren't going to last very long anyway.

[rewritemystory]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 2:06am

Jamming phones is just not going to fly, whether it's a good idea or not.


"And if somebody's heart attack was induced merely by sitting still?
They probably weren't going to last very long anyway."
Many elderly people do not go out much. The excitement of a Broadway show, getting to the theater, the noise, who are you to say that?

[BestOfBothWorlds]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 2:09am

A young, able-bodied person with low cholesterol.

[rewritemystory]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 2:16am

A young, able-bodied person with low cholesterol is definitely the most likely to use a cell phone inappropriately, but emergencies can happen to anyone, in which case their phones come into use.


I don't like cell phone usage during shows any more than anybody else. But I don't see anything like signal jamming happening. Ever.
On the other hand, announcing that the theater has made it impossible to use cell phones might have some effect, for a little while at least. It would create just as much of a firestorm though.

[BestOfBothWorlds]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 2:24am

Of course signal jamming was never going to happen. Even if they could limit it to the auditorium itself so that the second people left the seating area they'd have access again. I was merely attempting to be a bit light-hearted about the whole issue but I see, as usual, someone on the BWW board lacks a sense of humor.

I'm just frustrated, however, that 99.9% of the cell phone use is non-emergency. I've been to bazillions of movies and shows in my admittedly short (and able-bodied) 22 years, and not once has something happened that would have necessitated an outgoing call.

And if the situation is such that you are expecting an incoming emergency call, I'm not sure you should be at the theatre.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 2:28am

I loathe this cell phone thing.

But in NYC, here is what happens.

Often, when I am in a taxi, the driver is on the phone.

This is ILLEGAL.

However, as a passenger, how does one enforce this rule?

I suppose I could make it an issue. However, I'd rather get to my destination than make a stink.

So what does one do?

[BestOfBothWorlds]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 2:32am

File a complaint:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab_rights.shtml

The one you're looking for is "A driver who does not use a cell phone while driving (hand-held or hands free)."

You might also try quoting that to him/her while they are on the phone.

Or, if you want a more direct solution, get to your destination, and don't pay.
Updated On: 7/10/08 at 02:32 AM

[Okayfine]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 10:43am

"I work FOH in a theatre. If someone is using a cell phone in the darkened auditorium you can see it, period. If the ushers are paying attention. its not hard to spot a cell phone, or a camera in a darkened auditorium if you're standing in the right place.
If someone around you is using their phone, tell an usher. If they are any good at their job the will make sure it doesn't happen again."

Khasoggi - That is utter nonsense. I'm very glad you have x-ray vision that allows you to see through people's arms, shoulders, etc. so that you can see where a cell is being used despite what is around you & the offender. I'm glad you work in a theatre where your station allows you to see into every lap. But to make that generalization about every theatre & every FOH employee is just truly silly.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 10:57am

So, pretty much, what we've come to is that there's nothing that can be done and we just have to suck it up?

[Okayfine]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 2:15pm

I disagree, but I've said so 2 or 3 times!

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 2:38pm

Phyllis, you are probably right.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 3:41pm

Well, certainly not if it's left up to Fosse76!

[puppet]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 4:13pm

Texting is something that should be forbidden, How about a critic who sits with his lap top and writes his review during a show. This actually happened at a show last year. He was sitting on the aisle in the row in front of me. He ended up giving the show a poor review - it was a really good show.

[winston89]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 4:31pm

You have to realize that the things that block cell phone signals would also block the infared hearing devices and that would make it impossable for those people who need them to use them.

I do think that it is rude to text during a show. And, I agree that the quality of the audio or video that your going to get isn't that good to risk getting caught by an usher.

I don't think that you can flat out ban them. you just can't. As annoying as that may be to hear that is just the fact of the matter.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 5:09pm

I wish I could find the thread and article about the new system being talked about. If I am not mistaken, it would not affect the hearing devices.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 5:19pm

I don't think that you can flat out ban them. you just can't.

Why not? There's no law that says you have a god-given right to take a cell phone into a theatre. Cameras are banned at concerts all the time, so I don't see this as being much different.