Cellphones in theater

Last weekend I was at show and they made announcements about cell phone use which I did not hear. Although I did check my phone to be sure it was on vibrate so that the ringer will not go off. As show time started I texted my hubby that show was starting and he text back, I saw the message but did not check it. I put my phone back in my bag. Then my phone vibrated again, which I thought was strange so I checked it again (I realized that my phone is set to vibrate again when I do not read the text). As I was clearing it the old woman next me, nudge me and said “That is distracting”. I said no problem and put the phone away with no intentions of looking at again.

During intermission I was miffed; she did not even give me a second to act on my own. So I went to confront this moth ball smelling person. I said “ I understand it was distracting but you did not give me a second to shut off my phone. You do not know my situation at home” When the man she was with said “we don’t care” I responded that “I was not talking to you” , which this compassionless woman said “ we don’t care and if you cannot shut off maybe you should not be here”

Anyone who has Iphone knows how long it takes to put a password, clear a text and close a phone, it is not that long and she really should minded her own business.

Then there was babbled about the law (which I saw an article from Reuters and CNN from 2003 but I have not been able to find the actual law on the NYC Rules and Regulations website or New York State Statue and regulation). I am pretty sure the spirit of the law is for people talking and not reviewing a text.

I was searched website and used search engines where theater goers heard feedback or if an actor stopped a performance because of feedback on wireless microphone due to a cell phone being on and there is none.

If anyone has a story I would love to read it and if anyone can give me the statute or regulation that speaks to mobile phones being used in an indoor theater I would love to see.

To the opinion that the glow of an iphone screen is distracting well then maybe you should tested from attention deficit disorder.

I will not shut off my phone in a theater; I will not be disconnected in time when my car was search for bomb before parking in garage but I will not frivolously use my phone either during a performance.

I will never go to Sunday matinee again

#TeamCompassionlessWoman

I will never go to Sunday matinee again

If we're lucky, you'll never go to the theater again. You can stay home and clear your text messages all you want.

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I can't decide if this is real or not. How can one person feel so entitled? I think I prefer to believe that this person is just making up her story to get a reaction.

I deal with people like this daily. If this one particular person is a troll there are countless others just like it in real life.

I will not be disconnected in time when my car was search for bomb before parking in garage

This is my favorite part.

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Where's Patti LuPone when you need her?

It really does not matter what your home life is or what emergencies you may be expecting to come up. When a performance starts,you shut your phone off. Period (or if you don't, put it on silent and DONT look at it). Even for a second, it's very rude and distracting.

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I'm totally #teamgee810 if for no other reason than I've found my new tragi-comic monologue for the 2014-15 audition season!

I thought thew topic said "Cellophane in theater" and I thought it was about people unwrapping noisy cellophane wrapped hard candies.

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Updated On: 9/9/14 at 02:17 PM

You didn't HEAR the announcement? Really? The fact that you didn't already know that PHONES are not supposed to be on in a theater is pretty ridiculous.

"Although I did check my phone to be sure it was on vibrate so that the ringer will not go off. As show time started I texted my hubby that show was starting and he text back, I saw the message but did not check it. I put my phone back in my bag. Then my phone vibrated again, which I thought was strange so I checked it again"

When they tell you to turn your phone off, they really mean it. Do you know how distracting, loud, and annoying a vibrating cell phone is near you? It's obnoxious. You should have been kicked out just for that. You text-ed your husband that the show as about to start.....so the fact that you went to the theater didn't give him a clue already that a show was starting? Like most people care about receiving a text like that? Yeah, no. You checked your phone again after the show started? Is that.....what I'm reading from you? Do you think that's OK? Do you think that's respectful to the cast, crew, patrons, and other people who have worked SO hard to bring this show to you?

We HATE people like you and luckily ushers are getting more aggressive with clueless, disrespectful, horrible patrons such as yourself.

Don't ever attend the theater again.

Updated On: 9/9/14 at 02:32 PM

hahahaha this is great ...but yeah the announcement is made pretty loudly right before the show... and I've been to quite a few shows. I thought this was a general rule??? I'm a Sunday Mat. frequenter and I find this stuff to happen all the time. Matilda, The Lion King, If/Then... and many others. All people that have no clue how to act in a theater. For me, the beginning is the most important part. I could easily argue that I should be entitled to have that magical moment and everyone around me should shut off their phones.

During the Lion King a women was texting someone about a hair dryer...A HAIR DRYER DURING THE FINALE. The usher was leaning over me scolding the women while the last BOOM filled the theater and ended the show. Magic lost.

Did the lady smell the moth-balls during the show?

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