Is something going on with the ushers at Shrek?- Page 3

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 11:23am

I want to add that my phone is always on vibrate and in the few years I have had it set that way NOTHING ever happened. Never have I gotten complaints from people around me that it they can hear it going off. Nothing like that. I always keep it in a pocket that is full of other stuff so that it muffles the sound of it. And, I don't check it during the show. If it's during the first act then I wait until intermission. If it is during the second act then I wait until the end of the show.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 11:25am

Phones are different, of course, and where it's kept can make a difference.

But I have often heard phones vibrate in the theater.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 11:25am

I am in no way condoning ushers yelling, but an important thing to note is that when you are an usher, 99% of people are so involved in their own affairs that they don't listen to you. I can't tell you the amount of times I've told someone where their seating location is, and once they've passed me, heard them say, "What'd she say?" In addition, no matter how many times you may tell people to not take pictures/not be on their cell phones during the show, people don't care. There have been so many times where someone has lifted a camera to taken a picture, I've told them there is no photography allowed in the theater, and they take it anyway! People are defiant, and it's really really really REALLY frustrating when it's your job to make sure that people don't take pictures, don't talk loudly during the show, and don't check their cell phones every 1.5 minutes.

/rant

[show lover]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:03pm

You are right What a sad world we live in that we cannot go and enjoy the arts for a couple of hours without being attached to our phones.
I wish all you had lived when the only phone was in your house.
If you had someone sick at home or in the hospital you left word and phone number where you would be and told the Head usher and they would know where you were seated to come and get you for a phone call.
People who have there phones rings furing the show are just plain RUDE RUDE RUDE and should be banned from the show
Go Patti

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:05pm

Thanks to dancnqn5 and LifeOfTheParty for this side of the cell phone discussion ("...And it does mess with sound equipment, headsets and possibly some of the hearing devices...")

I'm afraid what no one is getting is that -- EVEN WHEN the phone is on "vibrate," it is ON, and sends and receives RF-type signals that interfere with the sound system and the comm systems in theaters. Vibrate changes nothing: it's still ON.

The really good point here is that if the comm headset takes a hit from a cellphone at just the wrong moment, a cue can be missed (or not heard) and a person could get squished by moving scenery or something.

So, you know, just sayin'.

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:19pm

So many tidbits to comment on!

1) Turn your phone off. Emergency, Schergency. People have been known to go DAYS without being in constant phone contact without ill effect.

2) When you go to the theater, YOU are the customer. IF an employee treats you rudely, walk out to the lobby, ask to speak to the manager and make your complaint known. Ask for your money back, demand a refund, make a loud scene, tell them you are going to write to the New York Times and never patronize that theater again. When I spend my money I do not accept being insulted by the employees whether it's the cashier at McDonald's, the Usher at Shrek or Patti LuPone at Gypsy.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:23pm

My cellphone is always off during a show. ALWAYS. Not vibrate, low volume, etc. OFF. There's no excuse for leaving it on.

[kissmeimirish]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:27pm

Everyone should try a little experiment. turn you phone off before you walk into the theatre. don't touch it for a whole 90mins (if you're seeing Speed the Plow) to 3 hours. Pretend you live in a world where cell phones don't exist. you can't call your friends, can't text your mom, can't use it to take pictures. How about just sitting back and letting the actors do the job that they love without having to deal with ringtones, flashes and noisy candy wrappers.

You might end up finding the whole experience quite enjoyable.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:29pm

Cell phone stuff aside, I think all the Broadway staff is really on edge. I know people who work as ushers, and they're all terrified of their shows closing, and them being out of a job. Add to that the fact that they're taking away benefits, cutting back staff, and basically just making everyone forever grateful that they have a job in the first place that I'm sure there's some on edge behavior going on. I don't know what the deal was with this particular staff, but I know that sometimes if an usher tries to help in someone else's sections they get chastized.

[dg22894]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:40pm

I always turn mine off. I have turned on my phone during intermission because I went to the theater alone as a tourist at 12 I was scared so I checked it and I felt guilty that I have it out. I cannot stand people on their phones during the show.


You should deal with the ushers. Make a scene. Now I am not small person. I have gone to shows and people have talked down to me because of my age. I told them and they were fired that very night. I would deal with it you are the costumers do not just let it go yell at them you are the costumer.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:42pm

You sound like a real peach.

[Calvin]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:43pm

I would deal with it you are the costumers do not just let it go yell at them you are the costumer.

Wow, so Tim Hatley started this thread?

[etoile]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:50pm

Best thing about this board is that you can relish the post from so many of the class of '12.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 12:52pm

Elphie, that's a great point that people ought to take into consideration. But, at the same time, it's not our fault and shouldn't get the brunt of their frustration.

We're customers. If we were costumers we wouldn't be in the house but, rather, backstage working with the costumes.

If you have a serious problem you can politely ask to speak to the house manager. A scene is not needed - ever. If someone is yelling at you why stoop to their level and yell back. You're an adult and can take the situation in hand.

I recently had an issue at a show. Some patrons were exhibiting behavior that was distracting those around them - including myself. At intermission I approached one of the ushers who directed me to the house manager. I explained my issue and she asked the usher why it hadn't been stopped. The usher simply shrugged in response and the house manager told me that if they could not behave in the theatre they would have to leave.

A month later I went back to the same show and saw the same people doing the same thing (turns out they went to see the show every weekend). Obviously, they weren't asked to leave or even asked to stop.

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 2:59pm

ALL CELL PHONES AND ANY OTHER NOISE MAKING DEVICES MUST BE TURNED OFF BEFORE ENTERING THE AUDITORIUM. IF A THEATRE EMPLOYEE NOTICES THAT THE DEVICE HAS BEEN TURNED ON OR IF IT SHOULD GO OFF AT ANY TIME AFTER ENTERING THE AUDITORIUM, YOU WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE THEATRE. IF THE SHOW HAS STARTED, IT WILL BE STOPPED UNTIL YOU HAVE EXITED THE PREMISES.

USE OF THIS TICKET SIGNIFIES YOUR AGREEMENT WITH THIS RULE.


Have this automatically printed, in bold, on every ticket - either a paper ticket or an e-ticket, and even new theatre goers won't have an excuse to ignore the request. They can talk and take pictures to their hearts content IN THE LOBBY, but before going in, the phones go off.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 9:13pm

I was talking about this thread over dinner with my mother who is a lawyer. She said there is no city ordinance or anything of that nature that makes it against the law to physically bring a cell phone into the theatre. She had said that before cell phones could be used as a way to break copyright that theatres kindly asked patrons to turn them off. Not due to any law, just as a way to be nice to your fellow audience members. The question of legality of cell phones in the theatre at all became a discussion when any cell phone out there could take pictures, make audio recordings etc.

Unless it is a device that can cause harm to others ( a gun or any other weapon) then they really can't pass any laws to make bringing that device into a building of any kind against the law. Can they tell you to turn them off or not use them? Yes, they can. Can they say that bringing a cell phone into the theatre itself is against the law? No, they can't because the physical act of bringing a cell phone into the theatre at all is not against the law. It is what your doing with it that cna be.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 9:13pm

I was talking about this thread over dinner with my mother who is a lawyer. She said there is no city ordinance or anything of that nature that makes it against the law to physically bring a cell phone into the theatre. She had said that before cell phones could be used as a way to break copyright that theatres kindly asked patrons to turn them off. Not due to any law, just as a way to be nice to your fellow audience members. The question of legality of cell phones in the theatre at all became a discussion when any cell phone out there could take pictures, make audio recordings etc.

Unless it is a device that can cause harm to others ( a gun or any other weapon) then they really can't pass any laws to make bringing that device into a building of any kind against the law. Can they tell you to turn them off or not use them? Yes, they can. Can they say that bringing a cell phone into the theatre itself is against the law? No, they can't because the physical act of bringing a cell phone into the theatre at all is not against the law. It is what your doing with it that can be.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 9:17pm

Can't a theatre just say "We reserve the right..."

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 9:17pm

Why does there have to be a law? If the theatre owners say they will not be used in the theatre then they won't be used. It's not public property.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 9:18pm

I don't know what all this fuss and feathers is all about. I was at the American Airlines Theater last night and couldn't catch a signal during intermission. I had to walk out into the freezing weather to get an important update about my grandson's health.

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 9:26pm

But you know from all the cellphones that do go off that not getting a signal isn't always the case. (I hope you got good news Dollypop)

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 9:26pm

I was in the centre orchestra and my usher was very nice, and asked everyone to save pictures for after the curtain call, he even let people bring food in during intermission.

[LifeofTheParty2]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 9:34pm

Winston...sorry to tell you, but your mother is wrong.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/04/13/broadway.cellphone.ban.reut/

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/77873.html

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 10:27pm

Winston's mother was also wrong on the night she conceived him.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 1/16/09 at 10:36pm

Mamie, that warning is not anywhere on my Shubert AND Nederlander tickets.