Re-seating etiquette
Re-seating etiquette
Jazzman714
Chorus Member Joined: 7/5/16
#1Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/11/17 at 3:53pm
A few years ago I saw “August: Osage County” in its final weeks. The audience was half full and immediately before the show began the ushers advised that those of us who were in the balcony could move down to empty seats in the orchestra. Is this a common practice with shows that are not well-attended? I ask because I’m seeing “The Glass Menagerie” this Sunday and the house looks half full. What is the etiquette for moving closer to the stage? While I understand that I didn’t pay for the more expensive seats, I’d think that the actors would appreciate seeing a full orchestra section instead of a whole bunch of empty seats. Thanks for your advice!
ProducersFan
Broadway Star Joined: 7/25/04
#2Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/11/17 at 3:59pm
I saw La Cage in the Marquis shortly before it closed with a last row mezz ticket I bought for $25. Before the show, the ushers encouraged us to move up. The only caveat was that we had to stay behind the people who had paid full price. So I sat a row behind people who paid $70 - one of the best seating experiences I've ever had!
I would imagine it all depends on that particular theatre's policy, but it never hurts to ask if they don't proactively offer it.
LarryD2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
#3Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/11/17 at 3:59pm
I worked in front of house for many years. Here's what I can tell you:
Obviously, if an usher is telling people it's okay to move, then it's okay to move.
Conversely, if an usher tells you that it's not okay to move (or that you cannot move before intermission), don't do it! It can cause problems during the performance if you're sitting in someone else's seat and they show up late.
If you're curious about moving to an empty seat before a performance starts, but the ushers haven't said anything, ask. If they say no, don't do it. That simple.
ahhrealmonsters
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/10
#4Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/11/17 at 4:05pm
As someone who's worked Front of House, it's very annoying when someone "dresses" themselves, as the person who purchased that seat may show up late, and then everyone has to move. If the ushers or house managers dress the house, and you're given permission or asked to move, then you're in luck. Some theatres (mostly Off-Broadway and Roundabout) will dress the house before the show begins, often to seat latecomers with as little disruption as possible. Again, it depends on the theatre, but intermission is generally more fair game to re-seat yourself than before act 1.
#5Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/11/17 at 4:17pm
It's happened to me on plenty of occasions, and it's always a really pleasant surprise when it does. I've moved myself on a fair number of occasions, but never before intermission. If you REALLY want to move to a different seat before the show starts, I'd suggest keeping your eyes open right before curtain. If you see large areas of seating with no people (when a whole row is empty, for example), that's your best bet.
Jazzman714
Chorus Member Joined: 7/5/16
#6Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/11/17 at 4:44pm
Thank you all for your input and advice. There is no intermission for this show, so I'll definitely ask one of the ushers beforehand. Thanks!
#7Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/11/17 at 4:49pm
Also, just a note, Glass Menagerie will not allow you to sit back down if you get up mid-performance.
#9Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/12/17 at 7:41am
^^^^ That's too bad, because Jazzman is right: actors do find it demoralizing to perform in front of empty seats. That said, the advice above is right on: ask and then do or don't do as you are told.
LarryD2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
#10Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/12/17 at 8:12am
Dressing occurs way more often in Off-Broadway theaters. At one theater where I worked for years, we did it practically every night. PThespian is right that it rarely happens on Broadway, but it does happen sometime. I was at The Little Foxes recently, sitting in the rear mezz, and an usher came and offered to move the entire last row of the mezz to orchestra seats.
LJD123
Understudy Joined: 1/14/16
#11Re-seating etiquette
Posted: 5/12/17 at 10:26am
Was at Bandstand last week & ushers had a printout of seats that had been sold prior to performance. As we were seated they told us we could be seated in an exact seat that was better & available in our purchased section. So we were moved to front mezz/front balcony, etc. but not down to orchestra.
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