LuPone Issues Response To Showstopping Vegas 'Texting' Incident — Page 2

Yes it does happen all the time, but how many other artists stop the show and start having a go at them?
Most artists are pro enough to just get on with it, people do things all the time in any jobs that many dont like, but most dont have a diva strop about it. Its part of live theatre and concerts im afraid thanks to the advance in technology, if she cant handle it then she should not do it.

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That's a fair point, Jordan. I wonder how many people who rail against illegal recording on this board actually own bootlegs?

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That's true, Phyllis. Though I wonder if, say, Maggie Smith lifting an eyebrow at the offender would be the deterrent that fear of LuPone might be.

The fact is that this is a relatively new phenomenon, and society is having to work it out. Yes, there've always been boors and clods at the theater (anywhere in public, for that matter), but the ways that @ssholes can disturb others has grown exponentially. Now in addition to whispers and cellophane, there's texting, Tweeting, video, audio, and still recording . . .

It's all part of the way many people nowadays think they're not only entitled but obligated to a) stay connected 24/7 and b) document and broadcast every moment of their lives.

In other words, it ain't just Patti's problem.

Indeed, I think it's the venue's problem. Whether it's pushing through a way to block signals or making people check phones at the door or - AND this IS feasible - having the ushers be more conscientious, making them be on the lookout for this sort of things and IMMEDIATELY removing the offenders, leaving it up to the devices of the performers (especially those performers who seem to get off on becoming unhinged) just ruins it for everyone. And makes the performers look like idiots.

Well said, Phyllis. I agree.

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I agree, Phyll. In the meanwhile, we get vigilantes like Patti. And I'm fine with that till someone else steps up.

Honestly, I'd prefer she not stop "Gypsy" to deal with it. But in a concert setting? I'd have no problem.

What gives anyone the right to text, take pics, or talk on a cell phone during a show, concert, play, etc.

What was so important that he had to text about it in the middle of the show? Was someone dying......was there a major medical emergency.....an earthquake?

How hard would it have been for the guy to simply turn his phone off? Everyone else did. What made him so special? It was very disrespectful on his part. That was very self-centered on his part.

Well, I'm actually more concerned with my being annoyed than the performers. Maybe I'm a diva too (end of story), but I still think it reeks of bad manners, and there is simply no excuse for it. I own all those devices, too, and I've never felt compelled to make use of them in a theater.

Reginald i agree that its rude, but all im saying is that she did not need to make a drama out of it, it happens every night in every theatre...yet it always seems to be Diva Lupone who makes a big deal out of it.

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"But this guy wasn't doing any of those ridiculously disruptive things. He was texting. Yes, texting is annoying, but she's acting like the guy was doing a lot, lot worse."

So very well said. The audience member's texting caused such minimal distraction in this case. Patti's reaction was entirely inappropriate in this occasion. She should have been reprimanded on the spot!

But it is disruptive. It's disruptive to me as an audience member sitting next to the person. With my Phoebe story, the light kept going on and off, on and off and the little clack clack clacking really annoyed me. The show was absolutely amazing but it could have been just that bit more without the little light flickering next to me.

And I don't know but where was the audience member that Patti reprimanded sitting? If he was in the first few rows, she'd very easily be able to see and get annoyed by him. Heck, I remember in high school, my friend was the lead in Once on this Island and I saw the show in the front row. The next day she yelled at me because I wasn't smiling during the show and she thought I hated it. (it's a sad show show, dammit, of course I wasn't smiling) It's the same thing with the Hair camera guy. The dude had some major nerve videotaping in the first row. Of course he was going to get caught. But that makes me think the guy didn't realize he couldn't tape because who would be that foolish. Will is up in the first row's bidness during the first 10 minutes of the show.

Spring Awakening gave people that sat on the stage lockers to store their valuables,including electronics, during the performance. Unfortunately, lockers for around a thousand people is not very feasible.

Personally, I don't understand why people would text and use their phone during a show. You pay a crap load of money for those tickets and then don't pay attention because you want to know what your best friend's sister twittering from her fiance's cousin's family reunion? Wait for the severely edited, big name cast movie to come out on HBO. Chances are you'll see more of the play that way and you'll have nobody to annoy.

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Its true, it will have been a minimal distraction, try working in pro theatre and see for yourself, you hardly notice and if you do you just carry on.

Maybe they were texting their friends saying "wow im bored"

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Try being in an audience where people are texting next to you or in front of you. I cannot concentrate when that happens.