Fight nearly breaks out in audience at LOVEMUSIK- Page 4

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 6:08pm

I'd seek treatment if I were you, Josh.

No, I am NOT joking.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 6:13pm

Okay, maybe I'm just going crazy.

I'm sorry I even said it. I'm just too nervous to see what I'd be dealing with if I went to see a show. ANY show.

[Dover]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 6:13pm

Jane2, glad to hear you do the nasty people no favors. That's the way it should be.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 6:15pm

Josh, in the year I've lived here, I've been to shows alone or with a friend (primarily alone) at least a few times a month and I've NEVER had any problems. I don't think there's a huge thing to be worried about. Seriously.

Updated On: 5/8/07 at 06:15 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 7:20pm

Josh, if this very thread turns you into such a wreck, then don't go. I wouldn't want to be the person sitting next to you when you finally have a breakdown in your seat.

Updated On: 5/8/07 at 07:20 PM

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 7:25pm

i dont know why you wouldnt see a show, though
i mean, if someone slapped me one time, i still would continue to see theatre...

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 9:55pm

Josh, seriously-if you're referring to the person who hit another-that is a RARE occurance! There's no reason to fear going to the theater.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 10:51pm

Okay, Jane2. I guess you're right. I NEED TREATMENT.

Seriously, though, encounters like that would make me go BALLISTIC, and doing so, right there in the theater would turn it into a complete cataclysm, and so I, too, would leave the theatre at intermission in embarrassment. I do not want that to happen.

So far, I was never sandwiched in the middle of an in-house brawl yet. But when I am, I will notify you the day I just was.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 10:53pm

Couldn't something like this happen ANYWHERE?

So, Josh, would that be justification to never leave your house??

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 10:57pm

Especially on the subway!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 11:32pm

Josh -- that was a rare occurance. Go see theatre. On your own or with peeps. Just show up on time.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 12:16am

Thanks, CapnHook, you got me back on my feet where I belong.
Now when's my next show again?

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 12:20am

Bad behavior in a theatre is definitely not limited to annoying teenagers. I remember at a performance of The Pillowman, this extremely annoying old, old lady complaining (loudly) from the moment she sat down about her seat and how she couldn't see, etc. Then throughout the show, she gave a running commentary to her husband about what was going on onstage. In the scene with Katurian and Michal, she shouts in an even louder voice "oh my god, is he killing him?!!!" By that point, everyone in the audience was wishing that Billy Crudup would toss them the pillow to be used on HER!

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 12:38am

Things really do happen that can make a person no matter how early the person leaves. I was late for a show once because it was raining and the subways broke down. It's crazy but when it rains hard (and sometimes even not that hard), this happens because of flooding. I was 45 minutes late. I don't know how long that train was stuck between stations.

In fact, I wasn't even the latest person. A number of people were seated after I got there. Clearly, the subway system had broken down on several lines.
Updated On: 5/9/07 at 12:38 AM

[LifeofTheParty2]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 3:17am

Oh wow. I work FOH and don't know what I would do if this happened. But it doesn't surprise me, somehow. Honestly, I tend to have the most trouble with elderly audience members. Granted, I work at a subscriber-based theatre, so that's almost all we have a lot of the time.

And, as for the whole "seating latecomers" debate, I think that it's alright when done at scene breaks or blackouts. Sometimes the patrons don't move as quickly and discreetly as I do, and that KILLS me, but 9 times out of 10, it is the better choice because n oone wants to watch a show with some guy screaming in the background the whole time about how they want to take their seat. It depends on the house, I guess. I have no space for all the latecomers to stand in the back, and if we made them wait in the lobby till Intermission, you could probably still hear them screaming (not to mention I would definitely lose my job). I do strive to do favors for people that are nice and friendly to staff, as opposed to those who feel entitled to be completely rude. It's a tricky balance, though, because I will honestly never be promoted where I am because of my non-placating ways.

But, WOW, I cannot believe someone actually got slapped. I take that back, I can believe it. People break out into ridiculous arguments with strangers quite often.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 9:47am

I used to work at Second Stage (subscriber based) and it's true, the older folks can be a little difficult, but I'm here to remind everyone that God willing you all will reach that point. As much in denial you may be that you will never have those physical problems, or that you will never be crochety-YOU WILL. The body and mind starts to fall apart. If you think yours won't-you're dreaming.

Lecture over!

[LifeofTheParty2]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 4:03pm

Ha! I totally work at Second Stage right now. I guess you figured that out from all the context clues (aka you can hear everything that happens in the lobby).

And, yes, I know that I will be old myself someday. But the point is, no matter what age you are, there's no excuse for behaving like everyone should cater to you. I get it, their bodies are falling apart, but there's no reason to be out and out rude to everyone around them. Spilling coffee on people on purpose? Hitting others? Yelling? Sorry, there's no excuse for that. Also, my feeling is, if they know they have such trouble moving/hearing/seeing, they should just be on time. Instead of arriving late and then yelling at me because I can't get them down to their assigned seat since they can't use stairs. That was realy just in response to the comments made that the younger latecomers are the most ill-behaved. Because, honestly, in my experience, they understand that they're late and are grateful that they're being taken into the theatre, and even more grateful if I can get them in any seat at all.

*Edited beceause Second Stage is not one word*
Updated On: 5/11/07 at 04:03 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 5:28pm

I had commented that in my experience, the latecomers are younger people. I did say that they don't seem at all concerned about being late.

As for your judgments about how elderly people should act-I stand behind what I said. Wait until you're elderly, if you're that lucky.

[istillbelieve24601]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 6:03pm

As for latecomers... do you think there's a point where they just shouldn't be admitted? When I went to see the Les Mis revival, there were about four empty seats a few rows in front of me. I was debating moving down to them during intermission, but decided not to on the off-chance the ticket-holder would come.

Act II begins. About halfway through, at the scene of the final battle, all of a sudden the latecomers walk in. Everyone in the row had to get up to let them in. I guess they were so late the ushers didn't care if it was in the middle of the scene.

I have respect for latecomers because I know all the traffic in the NY metro area is absolutely atrocious, but when a show starts at three and they walk in at five, I think that draws the line.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 6:07pm

I've always worked in NY theaters and I'm under the impression that we cannot refuse to admit a patron, but I could be wrong. I'd be interested in hearing whether this is true or not.