Taking Pictures- Page 2

[Belter]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 7:37am

I've seen it happen at closing performances, and I don't find it a problem if it's during the final curtain call, the last time someone is on stage -- legalities notwithstanding. If they can okay TV crews taking video and pictures, what exactly are they terrified about with respect to the sets and costumes? It's commerce, plain and simple. After all, if you've seen something and you're trained in that area, you can copy it without a photograph to refer to. But why would you? If you're trained, you're also creative and want your own work on stage, not a copy of someone else's.

They release photos of this stuff. They perform on TV in costumes, with set pieces. They don't guard it for any reason but so THEY can make the profit from it. But most people taking pictures are not going to sell them, nor diminish the chances that other people will go to the show. (In marked contrast to filming video footage of shows or films and putting them on the web. I know someone who videos every show she goes to. But even if you were next to her, you'd never know she was doing it. -- which doesn't make it okay, but heck, I've asked for a copy of one show she taped!)

The problem is bothering other people in the audience. During that last performance of Taboo, there were people in front of me taking flash picture after flash picture. Flashes only reach 8 feet in front of the camera, so in a final irony, they're ineffective anyway. Finally an usher came over and said they must stop. He then went on to chastise the woman for about 5 minutes about how he could take her camera, but wouldn't if she would stop, but it was really his right and she had to promise ....

I MISSED FIVE MINUTES OF THE SHOW BECAUSE HE WAS LEANING IN FRONT OF ME TO TALK TO HER.

Would I miss any of the show if she'd confined her picture taking to the curtain call? No. SO I wouldn't object. Then again, the woman next to me used her picture cell phone to take pictures and while that shouldn't have bothered me, since there's no flash, the phone lit up with neon lights when she opened it so it WAS distracting.... that and the rustling in her purse to get it out and open.

To be honest, I've taken pictures at curtain calls. They're usually pretty boring. But if the press is there, filming and taking pictures, it's at least a form of protest for me to do it, too. Even if I never look at the pictures after the first time.

It is illegal, but it's not illegal for artistic reasons, it's illegal for commerce. And I'm not against commerce. But no high horses for the sake of it, please.

[BroadwayPer4mer03]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 8:50am

Yea, it is fine to take pictures............. If you want to break the law! Every show has has different policies. I am almost positive that they won`t let u.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 9:33am

No matter what anyone says, it is illegal to photograph inside the theatre. Besides signs proclaiming this, you will usually find it mentioned inside a playbill also. As house managers, we are instructed to confiscate the camera immediately when someone is found taking pictures. This is with or without flash.

There are two reasons for this law. First, the copyright laws of the stage and other sets which may be on walls, curtains, concession designs, etc. Second, it IS disconcerting for the actors to suddenly be subjected to unexpcted flashbulbs during a performance.

Actors are not authorized to give permission for pictures to be taken. They don't have the last word in this matter.

Once the camera has been taken, we are instructed to remove the film, or in the case of digital cameras, delete the photos of the theatre, and return the camera to its owner. If the person does not cooperate with this procedure, then we are authorized to call police (thank goodness I never had to!).

I know this is frustrating to fans, but we must follow the law to keep our own jobs!

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 11:22am

I have seen people taking pictures during the bow. When they walk to the center of the stage, even with their flash on. I also saw people taking pictures in AIDA's theatre of the curtain, and also at the end, after the bows when Will Chase announced that signed posters will be on sale to help support AIDS or something like that.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 12:47pm

Broadway girl, you're going to see it all the time, in every theatre. The fact that it's illegal does not stop certain people from doing what they want, just as they don't care to turn off their cell phones. Some people think the rules are for someone else and not them.

[vjRichie]

Posted: 2/17/04 at 9:31pm

I was at a Liza Minelli show last year (front row) and someone took a picture of her - the ushers finally found the person which was sitting behind me and confiscated the camera - while Liza was singing. There was such a commotion that Liza stopped and asked what was happening and she was told that the ushers took the camera and she said "...but I look so good! Take my picture!" We all had a laugh and the person got their camera back!

Updated On: 2/22/04 at 09:31 PM

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 12:29am

Taking pictures during a performance I think is crazy! I consider that disrespectful. But during curtain call I wouldn't think it wouldn't be a big deal....

....and please, copyright laws? If that's the case, then no one be permitted to take pictures of the Empire State Building, The Crystler, The Stock Exchange, Time Square, or just about everything in NYC!!!


I understand what copyright laws are, but as a tourist, a theatre goer, an arts-lover, a whatever, we want to remember what we've seen and where we've been and the last thing on our mind are the copyright laws.

But, laws are laws.....

[bwaymargie]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:02pm

You can still take pictures outside the theatre, right? Like of the marquee and the posters around it? Do they check bags in the theatre? I was going to bring a camera to the shows I see in April so I can get pics with the stars at the stagedoor.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:14pm

some theaters check bags... but they're not really strict. I was at LSOH a little while ago and they checked bags, with some candy I was bringing and my camera clearly visible. They didn't care. I wasn't taking pictures during the show, it was for the stage door.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:20pm

They checked my bags at Thoroughly Modern Millie and at Wicked. When I saw 42nd Street, I went backstage and talked with Michael Cumpsty and Kate Levering. I took pictures of the stage and the sets backstage. I don't think they're that strict when it's after a show.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:24pm

If you're short, and squeeze past the crowd pretty well, they won't check your bags.

I had something (which I'm embarassed to admit, nothing bad though and besides that, a camera) in a Bath and Body works bag, which I knew COULDN'T be discovered or else I might have gotten in trouble. When I was going to Avenue Q, I waited until a woman getting her bag checked was having some trouble, and I ran past the people outside the doors.

Every Usher on the way to my seat teased me about my bag ("I hope you bought me some lotion!") on the way there, but thankfully it was never checked. Updated On: 2/21/04 at 01:24 PM

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:25pm

Whats the point? Unless your in the front row they wouldn't come out anyway. A flash only works for for feet and after that it would be dark. Oy people don't know much about photography.

[lostwallflower]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:29pm

I've never had bags checked going into a theatre! I've never even heard of that happening before!

And about the photographs...the main point, in my mind, was mention shortly before: The flash doesn't carry anyway. If you're close enough to the stage to get a good picture, then use the stage lighting. And, if you are in the balcony and want an overall shot, or something like that, you better have a camera that can adjust its settings to accomodate. A flash won't help you. It will, however, help at a stage door. I say don't get your camera confiscated, you'll usually get better ones at the stage door anyway!

On a side note, does it drive anyone else crazy that when there are celebrities in a show that they keep everyone behind dividers? I like to get everyone in the show's autograph, but with the dividers you can't get near them or get their attention. I just saw Boy From Oz and a few months ago I saw Nine with John Stamos...it just loses something authentic about Broadway.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:37pm

following the side note,
I *hate* those dividers. Now they are starting to have them even when there isn't a big celebrity. When I saw Taboo, George was out that day, and they still used dividers. Jeffrey Carlson was one of the only ones to come out, and granted he was bombarded... but still, it seems sort of unnecessary. When I saw Aida in its first year and I met Adam Pascal and Sherie Rene Scott, they had them up. At the Studio 54 stage door and night they had them, but after a matinee when I met Adam they didn't (which was *great*. It was so much more personal). I think they were justified in using them for Idina and Kristin though. There were TONS of people there.

ok, enough rambling. In short, I'm not a fan of those at all.

[bwaymargie]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:49pm

So I'll just have to hide my camera in a box of tampons? LOL. I wonder (I'm seeing "Wicked") If I can get pics with Idina and Cheno without dragging them over the barricade. LOL.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 1:54pm

When I met Idina and Kristen we were actually toward the end of the line after the barricade had ended, but for the people that were divided by them they just sort of leaned over to take pictures. If you're really concerned, just stand right at the end of the barricade. The line will extend much longer than that, so you won't really be at the end.

Updated On: 2/21/04 at 01:54 PM

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 4:24pm

When I went to see Never Gonna Dance. I walked in with my camera in my hand, and all they said was, "You can't take pictures" and I said "I know." Two people in a row told me that. But thats it. And I had my camera out the whole time and they didn't say anything. Then again I wasn't taking pictures .

[stop!]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 4:31pm

no you are not permitted at all to take photos in theatre (picture cell phones included) sometiems an usher lets you, but other tiems just taking a picture of your friend in the seat next to you can get you yelled out....and in most cases u cant eat past the lobby but people do anyways.... so take pictures outside, and eat before and shut off your cell phone, be quiet and enjoy the show....after all how much did you pay to get in... NEVER HAD BAGS CHECKED?? go to ford center they do...most theatres adapted it after 911 yet some dont depends...but yes they do do it.....oh and copyright yes...duh actors get paid for all photos they are in advertisments, even after they leave a show...and no its not your right as a theatre lover to take a picture in order to capture the moment, buy the souvenier program!

Updated On: 2/21/04 at 04:31 PM

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 5:00pm

I've done it sans flash with my digital camera...

[kec]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 6:15pm

"On a side note, does it drive anyone else crazy that when there are celebrities in a show that they keep everyone behind dividers? I like to get everyone in the show's autograph, but with the dividers you can't get near them or get their attention. I just saw Boy From Oz and a few months ago I saw Nine with John Stamos...it just loses something authentic about Broadway."

Those barriers are there for the protection of the actors, in those cases Hugh Jackman and John Stamos. Both have huge fanbases, and, in this day and age, there are just too many crazy, over-obsessed fans out there. Someone told me recently that one crazed fan grabbed hold of Mr. Jackman and wouldn't let go until she was pulled away by his security.

It may inconvenience the fans, but the safety of the actors is paramount.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 9:01pm

at taboos closing it was crazy. so many people where taking pictures.

[TabooCuTie14]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 9:11pm

yea at Taboo someone started taking pictures in the first act and then it got crazy me and my mom were really close so we only took a few when they were far from us. taking pictures is very dangerous to the actors. but at curtain call i think it is ok to take a picture or two.

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 9:19pm

I've been to shows where people have taken pictures of the stage/set before the show starts. Nothing happened to them, but I suppose no one may have noticed.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 9:27pm

i have pictures of taboo closings curtain call.

[TabooCuTie14]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 11:13pm

yea me 2