Should I complain to Roundabout/AA theater, would you? — Page 2

OMG Pthespian! That is unreal. This is my second post on this thread because it's become my pet peeve-to put it mildly.

You don't only get your performance ruined, the person causing the disturbance threatens to kill you or at the very least blames you and wonders what your problem is.

I don't know folks. I was in a Starbucks today and two people almost killed each other over who was where in line.

Updated On: 4/11/16 at 08:13 PM

PThespian said: "I believe a lot of the ushers at the AA are volunteers. They might not have known better.

"

Roundabout uses volunteers to get people seated and hand out Playbills, but once the lights go down they just become audience members. Anyone you speak to during the performance will be a staff usher.

It is best to get out of your seat and alert a security guard or house manager. Do not confront other patrons because you do not know who you are dealing with. Some situations have provoked physical violence before and some people have been injured and then the police have been called to moderate and assist in filing charges.

I recently made my annual pilgrimage to New York and saw 9 plays while I was there and only had an issue with anyone sitting near one time; a woman behind me at Long Day's Journey shaking her drink so the ice cubes smashed into each other. But she stopped as soon as I asked her to stop, although she was on her phone when I turned around. To be honest I thought this year behaviour was better than when I came last year.

But the thing I don't understand is why someone comes to the theatre and then spends time on their phone or talking. Manners not withstanding, why would you spend all that money if you're not that interested in watching the show.

Box seats are my friend. I am short of height and tolerance for inconsiderate theater goers...

But some people have developed an ability to tune all that out. Swear to God, at SOR, had a person in front of me answer her texts (of course her alert chime was on), then take a phone call, take pictures, and finally started to take video WITH THE CAMERA LIGHT ON.

I said something immediately, after the texting to no effect. The people next to her looked at me with a "can you believe this" look throughout the rest of the show where she continued to do whatever, BUT never said anything to her.

The best part, during intermission, I turned to my friend sitting next to me to commiserate... She hadnt even noticed. For reals.

And it's only getting worse. Daniel Radcliffe's new show at The Public is specifically telling patrons to leave their phones on during the show! What a horrible precedent to set, especially for an audience that will likely skew young and who may not regularly go to the theatre.

From the press release:

"This provocative theatrical event will ask audiences to charge their phones, leave them ON during the performance and to embark on a fascinating dive online and into a new reality where we're all connected...for better or worse."



Lovely. Guess that's a show I won't be seeing.

I'm not surprised by this, Roundabout theaters have some of the worst ushers and service I have ever come across.

I know a few theatres have decided to use collapsible seats where the offending patron is dropped though the floor into a tube thus sliding down and exiting through a back door. They have tried this out in Santa Fe to much success and many think it will be the norm in New York by 2018.

I complained to the Roundabout during the recent run of Cabaret, when the Ushers were useless at Studio 54 and they never replied to my email - they won't hesitate to call you a hundred times to talk you into their Subscription tickets but Customer Service is not their strong suit

Bad theatre behavior - especially with phones - drives me up the wall.



A positive note: When I saw Bright Star last week, the aisles were stocked with ushers and staff going almost literally person to person to make sure phones were turned off. (Like, I put mine on the "do not disturb" setting while they were watching, and they asked me to turn it all the way off.) I've never seen such diligence and such heavy staffing. And I'm sure some people were annoyed. But... it totally worked! There wasn't one disruptive peep from the audience during the whole show! They really shouldn't have to go to such measures, but if that becomes the norm, I'd be thrilled.

I actually always put my phone on silent and do not disturb rather than shut it off. I have vibrate off so it will not make a sound unless the alarm is on (which I check). I used to turn it off but then I had a blackberry that would spontaneously turn itself on because it only took the slightest bump of the power button to do so, and it seemed putting it in my purse, jostling my purse, or breathing on it powered it on. I used to take the battery out but I can't do that with my iPhone. I wish I could. It's the only way I feel 100% safe because I'm super paranoid even though my phone has never rung or made noise in a theater.



I am one who gets very distracted. I wish I were one of those people who could ignore it.

Cellphones and disruptive audiences are a worldwide thing. It happens to me all to time here in Brazil. But for me, it does never happen in expensive seats, but when I'm in the mezz or the back of the house it feels like I'm a cabaret. The other day I had to actually stop watching a show, turn around and shoosh someone who was singing. It was awful. The theater did nothing when I complained after. I should have called the usher, but I'm yet to do so (and I swear I'm the most patient person. If it comes to me getting up and calling an usher middleshow, the disruptive person better be escorted out of the life).

Cape Twirl of Doom said: "And it's only getting worse. Daniel Radcliffe's new show at The Public is specifically telling patrons to leave their phones on during the show! What a horrible precedent to set, especially for an audience that will likely skew young and who may not regularly go to the theatre.

From the press release:

"This provocative theatrical event will ask audiences to charge their phones, leave them ON during the performance and to embark on a fascinating dive online and into a new reality where we're all connected...for better or worse."

Lovely. Guess that's a show I won't be seeing."

I REALLY hope it is something like "you will leave your cellphone on? ok, see how this is disruptive AND NEVER DO IT AGAIN IN YOUR LIFE". Really, but I doubt it.

As for ChiTheaterFan post: I usually silent my phone all the way, including vibration and keep in my pocket all the time. But the other day, I could SWEAR that I had an alarm set up for a time that would be in the middle of the show. And I would NOT take my phone and lit it up to see if it was true. I spend the whole first act suffering of an iminent heart attack. At intermission, I discovered that I had exactly 0 alarms. I'm considering not even taking my cell anymore.

When your phone is on Do Not Disturb, text messages and phone calls still come through, which can disrupt the sound system (allegedly). Also if you have any contacts on your VIP list, their calls can come through anyway, depending on your settings. I put my phone on Airplane mode during a show.