Playbill.com Cell phone in theater article

[little_fall_of_rain]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 2:08am

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/105354.html

An interesting article about cell phone use in theaters,
I didn't even know it was against city ordinance to use a phone in a NY theater

[caitlinette]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 2:49am

Great article! I would love to have ushers taking people out of the audience if they're talking. I also like the idea of jammers, like what France is doing.

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 2:51am

I knew it was illegal in theatres...

I didnt realize it also applied to movie theatres. I dont recall any of the long commercials in the movie theatres mentioning cell phones being anything more than annoying... but then I guess those commercials are used in more than just NY.

As far as theatres go, it seemed to completely disregard playbill inserts as simply a way to avoid an annoucement, but theyre designed larger than playbills to draw attention & seem important and theres little chance you wont 'catch' what it says.

I never hesitate to tell an usher when I can see who is talking on a cell phone (or taking a picture) but ushers are largely instructed to simply warn patrons. I think after an announcement & an insert, having an usher tell you should be your third strike. Maybe thats just me. At some point the person needs to be escorted out or have their phone taken away, and if youre gonna take the phone away anyway, you might as well jam them... either way you cant use your property (which they referred to as "theft").

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 8:52am

I really don't like the ideas of jammers and such, I see how it might be nessacary, but I would much rather people learned some ettiqite and just turned the damn things off.

It would be a lot easier than smuggling in jammers that would just complicate matters for those who work in theatre after showtime, and those who may need to take an emergency call and put their phone on vibrate. The best thing is to turn it off, but there are always different circumstances for everything.

When I went to NY this winter, before every show, I called my little sister and told her my phone was going to be off (so in case she needed to reach me and couldn't she'd know why) from my seat 7-5 minutes before the show started, and then turned it off. No one told me that it was taboo to do even before the show started, had I known I would have called her outside the theatre.

Its just rediculous that we have to resort to jammers to force people to be polite.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 9:00am

Wow, that's bizzare...I'm guilty of calling at intermission and telling people, just so they know I'm okay if they forget where I am and keep calling.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 10:13am

I honestly think people have become WAY too dependent on their cell phones. It wasn't too long ago that we didn't have cell phones at all, and the only way to reach someone from outside of home was by pay phone. People do not NEED to be making phone calls from inside the theatre. They just feel entitled.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 10:47am

I agree with Wanna Be. At one show in June (I forget which one), an announcement was made that it is illegal to use the phones in the theatre. And not only is the ringing annoying, but that blue glow from the phones while someone is checking msgs. or texting during a show is equally annoying and distracting. It is ashame that jamming may have to be done. But let's face it, people are going to continue to bring their phones with them and talk on them forget to turn them off, etc. So I say jam them! It is only for 2 or 3 hours. So many times I see people go into a theatre together and come out at intermission and instead of talking to each other, they jump on their cell phones. When I go to the theatre with someone, I want to talk to them about the show, not jump on a cell phone. And by the way, I do not own one! Anyone who wants to reach me can do so at home or at work. When I am out, I don't want to be bothered by a call!!

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 10:54am

Wanna Be-you read my mind. I was just about to post that why is it necessary for people to let everyone know where they are for the next two hours?

People can't seem to live their lives without having a cell phone attached to their ears.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 10:58am

The sad thing is, I rarely even see ushers warning people. I recently did at Wicked, and was very pleased, and silently applauded the usher, even though she didn't see me. But I realized it says something if I'm impressed that an usher warns audiences about being on the phone during a show :-/

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 11:14am

When I saw the first preview of "Salvage" last week, the guy in front of me actually had brought in his laptop and kept opening and closing it and typing on it during the show. The glow was incredibly distracting.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 11:27am

I don't know why I'm not surprised to hear this. The entitlement that people feel these days is mind blowing.

Calvin-wait a minute-that was the first preview? that very well could be the lighting, or sound designer taking notes during the show. We have that happen in our theater.

Updated On: 2/7/07 at 11:27 AM

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 11:38am

Yes, I figured that might have been the case, Jane.

But whatever happened to a pad and paper? (it's not that difficult to write in the dark -- journalists have done it for years)

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 11:43am

Or couldn't he have sat in the back of the house? Or stood in the back?

Speaking of laptops...had a guy using his Palm Pilot at a performance of "1001" here in Denver. He was in the row in front of me about 3 seats over. Too far for me to say anything to him. But I kept catching the glow out of the corner of my eye. Very distracting. Also had a guy bring in a mini TV to the Lion King a few years ago to watch a playoff game. I had that taken care of!

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 11:56am

A big WOOHOO!!! to UNCAGEG for posting what I was thinking:

So many times I see people go into a theatre together and come out at intermission and instead of talking to each other, they jump on their cell phones. When I go to the theatre with someone, I want to talk to them about the show, not jump on a cell phone. ... Anyone who wants to reach me can do so at home or at work. When I am out, I don't want to be bothered by a call!!

That's the way I feel about cell phones too! If you want to chat with me at the teahter - buy a ticket and come along!

How rude for people to take a cell call when others with them cared enough to BE THERE!

I believe there's still hope for mankind though...HAHA!

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 12:11pm

I think its a fine line between allowing change within a culture while still holding on to the important things. Baby/Bathwater concept. I would prefer that they didn't have to install jammers, its just unfortunate that we have to force people to be polite, and inconveinence those who may not be able to follow everything to the letter due to extreme circumstances. Now, please understand, there is NO excuse for keeping your cell phone or making notes on you PDA during a show. Unless of course your grandmother is in the hospital or something, then put in on vibrate in tight pants. But before a show, as long as its put away at 10-7 minutes before a show, I don't care. Unfortunatly, people just aren't polite, and so we have to put jammers in and make all cell phone calls impossible. I can understand what you mean about entitlement and how it may have been nicer when no one was on a cell phone at all, and in the future I intend to start making my "final" call outside the auditorium or theatre. But the fact is, we live in a different world, and we have to adapt our customs and manners. So you don't use a cell phone, ok! But a lot of people do, and therefore the intergration of this technology into our society is a step that must be taken. I make "I'm going to be unavailible calls" and I'm not ashamed of that. I would love it if everyone made such calls outside the theatre, but we can't even get them to turn them off during the show! As far as people yakking on the phone during intermission, that's between you and your theatre going friend.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 12:27pm

My question is..."What the heck is so important that you have to jump on the phone as soon as intermission hits?" I have heard some of the conversations, and they aren't checking on the kids at home with the babysitter! For me, a night out at the theatre is just that. Not calling friends at intermission just to chat or yakking on the phone 5 minutes before curtain. When I go to the theatre, my friends know that I will be unavailable from the time I leave my apartment to the time the show is over. I understand that we live in a different world, but who made it different? And why can't we at least adhere to some form of etiquette in this instance? It's not a hard thing to do. Just turn the phones off. But unfortunately, Americans have changed and a lot of us feel it is our right to do certain things and don't care who doesn't like it.

Ok...I am done...for now! :)

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 5:18pm

I am in full support of jammers because I no longer trust the American people in general. Here's my reasoning:

Before cell phones, people went to the show. If there was an emergency, they found out later. Turning off your cell phone will bring you back to those times, because, really, would you answer your call during the show, whether it be on vibrate, silent, or ringer?

People did just fine without cell phones until the past decade. We can go a few hours without them. I have a cell phone, but only for emergencies, to tell people where I may be (plans, etc). Do you know how many hours a day mine is on? Zero...it's on roughly 20 minutes, collectively, because, really, if I'm out, I'm out with my friends or family, and we are doing something. Why would I interupt my day or night out to talk on the PHONE?! I want to talk or see who or what my plans are with.

Updated On: 2/7/07 at 05:18 PM

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 5:26pm

I support this 100%!

Like ThankstoPhantom mentioned, while the show is performing right there in front of you, are you seriously going to be rude and answer your phone. Sadly enough, there probably are many people that do.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 5:39pm

While the idea of jammers may be a little extreme, if people are too lazy/inconsiderate to turn their phones off, then do it.

Personally, I don't see how these people aren't incrediblt embarassed when their phone rings. I know every time I saw Sweeney, I checked my phone about five times before curtain and during intermission to make sure it was off. I did NOT want my phone to ring.

Updated On: 2/7/07 at 05:39 PM

[Brokenlizard14]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 5:39pm

While I don't agree with everything that's been posted here, I do think people need to learn how to live without their phones. However, during the last two months of my sister's pregnancy I never shut it off. I wanted to be there when my niece was born and when I'm at work (we can't take personal calls during work hours) or school that's the only way to get in touch with me.
That may not be an emergency, but sometimes things happen and you need to get in touch with someone right away. If you HAVE to be on your phone, it's quite simple to exit the theater and talk in the lobby or outside.
Whenever I see a show, I turn my phone off, and check it once during intermission. I don't see why it's that big a deal during intermisson or after the show. What people do after a show is their own business.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 6:05pm

Before and after a show is fine. But my thought is that if you know there is some sort of "possible" emergency, then stay at home.I had a friend whose daughter was due the week we were to see "The Lion King" here in Denver. When she realized her daughter was due, she just cancelled. She really wanted to see the show, but was worried her daughter may go into labor while we were there. And she has a cell phone. I admit, I may break down and get one since I visit NYC a few times a year and it is a pain finding a pay phone that works sometimes to connect with friends after shows.

[Marlene]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 6:26pm

The only experience where I've seen the usher make someone physically get up was at the Vivian Beaumount at Lincoln Center. She was really nice about it but firm and persistent that if you wanted to use your phone you would do so in the lobby.

I guess I'm just not typical of my age demographic. I personally don't need my cell phone. Frankly, I think I end up using it to get rides and when meeting up with people, and finding out where someone was at a given moment if I intend to make plans with them. I don't understand why people don't seem able to sit in a moment of silence, or to embrace what is physically in front of them. It's as if being some place alone constitutes speaking with someone not present, or else it's socially awkward experience.

Even in emergency situations, is finding out an hour earlier that something unfortunate occurred really going to make any difference? Chances are that at your current location you aren't going to be able to do anything.

Personally I don't have a problem with cellphone use in the theater if it's not during show, go ahead before or after, and intermission if need be.