Cell Phones Banned in NYC Performances

Bye bye Ken's Tweet Seats

"The new law bans the use of mobile phones in "any indoor theater, library, museum, gallery, motion picture theater, concert hall or building in which theatrical, musical, dance, motion picture, lecture or other similar performances are exhibited."

Passed by the City Council, which overrode a veto by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said the ban was unenforceable, the law carries a fine of $50 for offenders who are caught and cited.

The legislation was first proposed by theater owners whose patrons complained of cell phones ringing during performances."

Looks like the Reuters article is from 2003, but the law went into effect February 19th.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Cell-Phones-Banned-in-NYC-Performances-20120221

https://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/04/13/broadway.cellphone.ban.reut/

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Updated On: 2/21/12 at 07:58 PM

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Cell-Phones-Banned-in-NYC-Performances-20120221

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The Reuters article doesn't mention anything about the law going into effect in 2012, though.

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Updated On: 2/21/12 at 08:07 PM

The BWW article is also quoting the Reuters article from 2003. A Google search didn't turn up any other more current news sources.

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The law has been in effect since April of 2003 but it is unenforceable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/13/nyregion/13phones.html

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/77873-Cell-Phones-Banned-in-New-York-City-Theatres

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Also, how do you really enforce this at a show? For example, if someones cell phone goes off and the usher has to remove that person from the middle of a row just to give them a ticket would cause more of a distraction then someone just shutting their phone off.

Also, how do ushers have any right to write up tickets?

This whole thing just seems more trouble then it's actually worth.

Thanks LizzieCurry for that link. Guess BWW got it wrong?

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I did go to a screening at BAM where we had to check our phones because the director didn't want anyone filming anything.
People were bugging out.. They did it efficiently but this was for a 200 seat theater.
The strangest thing was that when the credits rolled, the theater was dark and not lit up with people checking their phones as the movie ended.
Got my phone back without a problem but they aren't have 2000 people check their phones and wait on line when the play ends.

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blaxx, no one has attention spans, nobody can watch what they went to see. I went to see a concert Saturday night at Webster Hall and people aren't listening to who is singing, they are screaming at each other. Can't you talk after a 60 minute set.?

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Sorry, I'm confused. If I check my iPhone, does that mean I need to go back to using a minidisc recorder?

Updated On: 2/21/12 at 09:23 PM

Will there be a body search to find the phone, lol?

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Will there be a body search to find the phone, lol?

No, but I guarantee that an article of a show stopped and an arrest resulting in a fine would have an impact. If LuPone, Jackman, etc. can stop their own shows to spot those who are getting away with it, there has to be a consequence.

I guarantee that a couple of arrests would make audience members think twice, but that is not the problem - a house manager can kick someone out if he/she wanted to. The problem is that producers would never go there because they fear it would keep these zombies away from the theaters.

The sad thing is that there are still some of us who will sadly have to stand a lady, with her bare feet on the front seat, talking and texting through a show while eating nachos and getting drunk. And it will only get worse from there.

The big issue is that shows have become so expensive to produce that no one can risk enforcing a law that could result in losing funds. It is about the profit, who cares who can see and hear and enjoy what is onstage as long as everyone has already paid?

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But hey can now put up big warnings telling everyone that they are criminals. That should get the point across.