Eating/Drinking Percentage in Theater

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:02pm

Many years ago, you could not bring food or drink into the theater during a performance. That has changed and is a big money maker but IMO it has brought down the sophistication of spending a night at the theater. I am just curious the percentage of BWW people who eat/drink in theater during the show and those who don't.

Updated On: 12/29/15 at 01:02 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:08pm

Eh, it's really just bringing the theatre back to its traditional roots. Brecht wanted a theatre where people could smoke cigars and yell at the stage like a boxing match.

[mk1091]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:10pm

I personally don't eat/drink when I see a show. In terms of it bringing down the level of sophistication, I think it depends on what they are selling. Theaters should definitely consider how items are packaged and the noise they make when they're eaten as to not distract other patrons. A glass of wine is certainly sophisticated. A giant king size bag of Twizzlers that makes noise every time you reach in the bag, not so much.

[Hellob]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:14pm

I will bring a water or Coke in, I've only eaten once but I was starving and on aisle. Probably wouldn't have if I was in middle or next to strangers. I snuck in rum in empty aspirin bottles for my dad to mix in his Coke cuz we've given Hamilton enough money. I think it's just how you behave with any food/drink. If you're courteous, it's NBD. But if you're chomping on ice or rustling bags then you're a jerk. I don't think it's unreasonable to let people take a drink inside bc shows are long, intermissions are short. I'd rather have someone be able to sip on water in their seat than down the bottle in 5 minutes and have to climb over me, run to the bathroom and climb back during the performance. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:24pm

I used to when I was a child but then I'm loosely defining theatre to also mean those giant shows at Madison Square Garden and the like. I don't now and I haven't for years. I don't begrudge the people who do who aren't disruptive but it just feels unnecessary for me. A show is generally two hours give or take. I can hold out. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:35pm

If you want a Disney experience, go to the Magic Kingdom. Sippy cups for adults? What next, bibs with the show logo?

 

Is it any wonder people bring box lunches into the theater and treat their seats as a picnic area. We enable & basically green light this type of activity so we should not be surprised when it goes off the rails.

Updated On: 12/29/15 at 01:35 PM

[Hellob]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:45pm

If the restroom situation during intermission was quicker then I would be all for no food/drink inside but it's not easy or even possible for some to use the restroom, get and finish a drink in the time given. Besides, whether we like it or not, it's a huge money maker and if anything, it's going to expand. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:54pm

"Theaters should definitely consider how items are packaged and the noise they make when they're eaten as to not distract other patrons. A glass of wine is certainly sophisticated. A giant king size bag of Twizzlers that makes noise every time you reach in the bag, not so much."

 

Very good point !!

 

Updated On: 12/29/15 at 01:54 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 1:56pm

"A show is generally two hours give or take. I can hold out."

 

I am the same way, never had food or drink inside the theater. Part of the theater experience for me was always going out to dinner before or after the show so I really did not have the need to eat/drink during the show.

Updated On: 12/29/15 at 01:56 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 2:01pm

"If you want a Disney experience, go to the Magic Kingdom. Sippy cups for adults? What next, bibs with the show logo?

Is it any wonder people bring box lunches into the theater and treat their seats as a picnic area. We enable & basically green light this type of activity so we should not be surprised when it goes off the rails. "

 

I agree, it has gone totally overboard. Selling a glass of wine and allowing that in the theater is one thing but all the other stuff is kind of crazy. I understand the revenue this brings in but it also probably makes a mess of the theater because I have seen people leave their trash. 

Updated On: 12/29/15 at 02:01 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 2:10pm

"If the restroom situation during intermission was quicker then I would be all for no food/drink inside but it's not easy or even possible for some to use the restroom, get and finish a drink in the time given."

That is very true, tough to do all that in 15 minutes and get back to your seat. Guess there needs to be a "happy" medium".

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 2:21pm

I have a drink every time I see a Broadway show. Sometimes I eat too.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 2:22pm

Drinks don't bother me, as long as they're not packed down with ice that patrons can jingle throughout the performance. I know some theaters pre-chill their mixers in order to prevent this, which seems a good idea to me. It's the food -- almost always sold in loud, crinkly wrapping -- that annoys me. If I am trying to lose myself in the world of the show, especially when the show in question is an intimate play, the last thing I want is some dolt who can't go 90 minutes without shoving his face crinkling a Twizzlers wrapper in my ear. Yes, I realize that in Shakespeare's day, people drank beer, feasted on chicken legs and even pissed where they stood during Much Ado About Nothing, but I'd like to think our manners have evolved some in 500 years since.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 2:24pm

Never assume

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 2:48pm

I would say that I'm fine as long as the drinks don't have ice but then I remember the man munching peanut M&M's all through Doctor Zhivago and all the cups of coffee after the intermission of Cabaret. I never thought I was that sensitive to smell but apparently I am if I'm trying to pay attention to a show and the person is sitting next to me.

[Platypus]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 2:48pm

Yes, it's annoying and messy, but I find that I am able to ignore the crinkling noises. I find the constant chatter/cell phone use to be much more of a distraction when I'm watching a show. I'm not sure if the crazy mark-up on these snacks and drinks are pure profit or if they go towards the running costs of the show... (If someone here does know, please clarify). I tend to not buy the snacks because they are so overpriced, but if people choose to pay the premium and that money is going towards keeping the show open and slightly moderating the ever-increasing ticket prices, then that counts for something. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 3:04pm

I will occasionally have a water or soda, but not often - those prices!  While I'm sure I HAVE purchased food, I couldn't begin to think when the last time that happened.

 

Like this conversation, it's not going away.

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 3:21pm

"Like this conversation, it's not going away."

We all know it is not going away, money rules - lol. My main point was seeing whether people on BWW who go to the theater more than the average person ate/drank in theater or did it before or after show.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 3:24pm

Bottle of water during the show. Candy eaten during intermission.Both brought from home.

 

[BroadwayGirlie2]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 3:27pm

Before we saw The Lion King this month we ate something because our show started at 1:00 pm. So we ate at a deli across the street from the theater. Then we went to see the show after. During intermission we did get something to drink in the theater where they were selling snacks. Since they may not allow people to bring in food that  might be a reason why numbers are down.

 

 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 3:32pm

Lion King is doing fine. You allegedly go to theater for the show. Numbers are down at some shows for a variety of reasons. Tops on the list is ticket prices.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 5:29pm

Theater is much less sophisticated nowadays.  When I *think* how my wife Nora and I were chided when we smuggled our dog Asta into the St. James back in '41 I realize they would never BELIEVE the barbarism of today.  I blame RENT with their  "coffee".

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 6:31pm

Here in Chicago, theaters sell snack in little plastic containers. Or they pour snacks out of the bag they're sold in into coffee cups. I haven't been to New York in some time and just assumed that was what everyone was doing. Why not eliminate the crinkly wrapper and make everybody happy? 

I'd imagine they could make even more by reportioning the snacks into smaller plastic containers... like drug dealers do when they incorporate baking soda. 

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 7:55pm

I bring a bottle of water with me to every show but i only drink it before the show or during intermission. 

[RaiseYouUp]

Posted: 12/29/15 at 10:15pm

I would never eat during a show, but if I am hungry before the curtain goes up, I may purchase some small snack in the lobby.