Posted: 3/3/20 at 11:54am
I just saw that Second Stage will be requiring all attendees to put their phones and Apple watches into Yondr pouches. Good for them!! The size of the Helen Hayes makes the process of opening the pouches on the way out a bit easier -- but it would be great to see this start happening in all theatres!
Posted: 3/3/20 at 11:59am
That's terrific. I like that they included the Apple watches too. Those tend to get overlooked a lot.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:01pm
RWPrincess said: "That's terrific. I like that they included the Apple watches too. Those tend to get overlooked a lot."
I think it has to do with taking puctures/filming (considering all the nudity) rather than phone calls and email notifications
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:04pm
It's a great start, but "It's not where you start, it's where you finish!", like the song says. Theater policies need to be more than just Ms. Patti NoPhone calling disrespectful audience members out, and when I went to see "War Paint", sitting in the front row, I made sure to remove my phone battery to avoid an "accident". I wasn't about to be "LuPone'd".
That being said, it would be nice to have a quiet theatrical experience outside applause and laughter and the occasional teary experience or gasp of shock (it shows that the audience is paying attention), but the sound of crinkling plastic, whether bottled water or twizzlers or other wrapped items and even on occasion the smell of fried foods followed by the crunch sounds would be nice to never have to experience again.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:10pm
Someone take a sketch pad!
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:14pm
Awesome. I wish for the day when every show uses them and strictly enforces the policy.
Of course, I don't like the pouches or the added inconvenience, however minor. But people simply can't control themselves with electronic devices – especially smart watches, lately – and it diminishes the experience for everyone else.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:16pm
I'm still looking at my sketch pad from the first production. One of my sketches is a fold-out page.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:17pm
It's a good start. I think this should be required at every Broadway theater. I can't tell you how many illegally recorded videos I've seen of Moulin Rouge! because apparently the person filming just does not care about the actors on stage. This ensures everyone will be paying attention without that, and without the annoying glow of those watches.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:25pm
JSquared2 said: "
"
HA this will be the reaction of every young person who goes to see the show. They can't go (insert time length of show) without using their phone, or "getting audio". Absolutely no respect. They're seeing an A-list cast! They should just be living in the moment without that.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:41pm
Imagine if Sophocles had to deal with this back during the original run of "Oedipus Rex" in the 400's BC with someone banging out pictures on a slab of rock. "No, you must check your slab of granite at the City Dionysa Theatron Box Office in a giant burlap bag!"
"Forbidden Broadway" could have a lot of fun spoofing this situation throughout theatrical history.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 12:47pm
I do have a question about these. Are you able to record sound through them? Like if someone turned on a recording app or something, would they actually get material? That'd be my question because someone could do that right before they put their phone/watch in the pouch.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:03pm
Cancelling my tickets unless I can borrow one of those bodycams from the cops.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:05pm
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:21pm
hearthemsing22 said: "JSquared2 said: ""
HA this will be the reaction of every young person who goes to see the show. They can't go (insert time length of show) without using their phone, or "getting audio". Absolutely no respect. They're seeing an A-list cast! They should just be living in the moment without that."
I fail to understand what age has to do with this issue. When in fact, the most appalling behavior I’ve seen in the theater comes from the older crowd.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:25pm
Broadway Joe said: "Absolutely stupid, we have to all be treated like children now because of a few morons."
I’m not bothered by the plan to use the pouches in this particular production, which has a compelling reason to prevent photos and videos. In general, though, I agree with you. Even if it took an average of one additional minute to undo the pouches upon leaving the theater, that would be an extra half hour or so of standing in line each year (in my case). That’s definitely more of a bother to me than the few times I’m distracted by phone use. I know others will disagree.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:28pm
LxGstv said: "hearthemsing22 said: "JSquared2 said: ""
HA this will be the reaction of every young person who goes to see the show. They can't go (insert time length of show) without using their phone, or "getting audio". Absolutely no respect. They're seeing an A-list cast! They should just be living in the moment without that."
I fail to understand what age has to do with this issue. When in fact, the most appalling behavior I’ve seen in the theater comes from the older crowd."
In my experience it is younger people who tend to ask for "content" of things on Broadway...not older.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:31pm
Question-- I know they prevent you from taking your device out without ripping it or having it unlocked. I'm fine with this and think more/all shows should start using them. I can't go to a bigger show (especially musicals) now without at least 3-4 people all around me constantly looking at their phone. I just wonder if it somehow keeps them from ringing. I'm now scared of people putting them in the bag and it will just ring and ring (or text alert) the entire time.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:50pm
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:55pm
LxGstv said: "I really don’t care about who asks for bootlegs or whatever else, but in my experience actually attending shows, it’s usually the older crowd who: check their phones during the show, forgets to silence or turn them off and try to sneak pictures during the show or curtain call.
Just last week at Moulin Rouge an older woman actually argued back to an usher while she was filming More More More segment."
^^NO WAY. Seriously??? That's awful. What happened?
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:55pm
hearthemsing22 said: "I do have a question about these. Are you able to record sound through them? Like if someone turned on a recording app or something, would they actually get material? That'd be my question because someone could do that right before they put their phone/watch in the pouch."
You have to show them that the phone is turned off before they will put it in the pouch. I'm sure there are ways to make it look like the phone is off while still recording sound, but it's a fairly thick neoprene material and it would probably be very muffled if it picked up anything.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 1:55pm
Posted: 3/3/20 at 2:01pm
"
18,000 young people were said to do quite well last week at the Garden performance of To Kill a Mockingbird. I don't think excessive smartphone usage is tied much to generations nowadays.
Posted: 3/3/20 at 2:23pm
hearthemsing22 said: "LxGstv said: "I really don’t care about who asks for bootlegs or whatever else, but in my experience actually attending shows, it’s usually the older crowd who: check their phones during the show, forgets to silence or turn them off and try to sneak pictures during the show or curtain call.
Just last week at Moulin Rouge an older woman actually argued back to an usher while she was filming More More More segment."
^^NO WAY. Seriously??? That's awful. What happened?"
She pulled out her phone and started filming it, the usher waved the flashlight at her and told her to stop, she nodded but kept on filming... so the usher kept telling her to put it away, she argued back saying the show was already over... when she saw the usher wasn’t giving up she stopped filming... the second the usher stepped away she started to film again...
And this was a premium seat btw, center orchestra, 5 rows from the stage.
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