Tired of cell phones going off at a performance?- Page 4

[vanbrig]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 3:46pm

Fair enough. It's always hard to tell someone's tone via text.

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 3:52pm

Absolutely.  That's the power of the written word.  It can be misinterpreted because we add tone and emotion to them when we read them.  When all we are doing is having a conversation.  

Who knows, maybe 1 day I'll buy a cell phone?     

[vanbrig]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 3:57pm

I got called an old lady for a long time because I only bought a smartphone within the sat couple years. Before then I had a very old but reliable phone with actual buttons. They hardly even make those anymore, haha.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 4:03pm

dramamama611 said: "Fire and Music: Yes, if you haven't turned it off/put on vibrate/silence. The point is: being more aware of actually DOING that, and taking away the option of checking your phone for time, if there is a text etc. Is it a problem if someone does nothing BUT put a full volume phone inside. Yes.



Islander: House management doesn't keep the phone, the patron does. (Unless I am misunderstanding your concern.)"

 

My issue is this. Regardless of who’s in possession of the phone during the show, if theatres make this a requirement, any issue with this system would be on the theatre staff. I say this because if we tell the audience they have to do that any issue that comes up will be on us since we were the ones to tell them that they had to use it in the first place regardless of whether They wanted to in the first place.

[LxGstv]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 4:08pm

nealb1 said: ""While I don't mind the idea, I don't think this system was made for theater. I think it was made for concertswhere people openly and blatantly take videos of the show. Go to any concert, you will see people's phones in the air, recording the whole thing. People focus more on getting a perfect shot to brag to their friends instead of actually enjoying what's in front of them."

Perfectly said.

A few years ago when the Pope was visiting the US, there was a wonderful photo of a woman along the parade route looking at the Pope, while every single person around her had their phone out to record it. They aren't going to remember anything about him passing right by, because they were too busy recording it, and not focusing on what was happening in front of them. She was present, focused and in the moment. It's something she will never forgot."

How do you know that the people filming or taking pictures of the Pope won’t remember anything about him passing by? That’s your assumption of the situation. That’s the thing about people isn’t it, we are all different. Some people like capturing certain moments and are able to do so while still being in the moment. Other people, like you, don’t, which is fine too! Just don’t try to make assumptions to prove your point. Let people enjoy things however they want, as long as it’s not harming anyone, what’s the problem?

[Kad]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 4:17pm

As if, prior to cell phones, people did not photograph papal visits.

I've had to check my phone for movie screenings and, as dramamama mentioned, there are clubs in NYC that require it, as well. Granted, these venues are much smaller than Broadway theatres, and most Broadway theatres, frankly, don't have a lot of infrastructure to set up something like this. I think that's the biggest hurdle.

And safety concern- huh? How is this a safety concern? Were people unsafe in theatres twenty years ago, before cell phones were as prolific? If theatre staff have communication devices, that is more than sufficient to handle anything that could feasibly come up.

Edit: And as someone who worked as house manager for a major NY theatre company: throwing people out is not the answer you are looking for. There is absolutely no case in which forcibly removing a person from a theatre does not create a larger issue, whether it be a larger and more pervasive distraction or jeopardizing the physical safety of staff or other audience members. People in this thread are already haughtily playing the "I PAID GOOD MONEY" card to justify not having their phones hypothetically locked up- imagine how people who have paid good money and are actually in the venue act when forcibly removed.

Updated On: 8/15/18 at 04:17 PM

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 5:41pm

Yes, your safety is at risk without your phone. PEOPLE WILL DIE IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR PHONE ON YOU.  You are hilarious.

Nothing is being "confiscated".  YOU put your phone in the bag, YOU keep the bag.  YOU can still access it, away from people.   So even if you are afraid a loved one is in danger....your phone would vibrate and you can excuse yourself, go to the lobby and check -away from others whom you would distract -  which is what DECENT people should do.  You don't get a "by" (or is it buy?) because it's an Emergency.  You wouldn't KNOW it's an emergency if you're phone had been turned off.

And if decent people did what they were supposed to, this technology wouldn't have to exist.

Everything about this is perfect.  BRAVO!

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 5:53pm

Instead of training teachers to use guns, we should train ushers to use guns so they can shoot people in the face whose phones make a noise or light up during a performance.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 5:56pm

Impossible2 said: "Instead of training teachers to use guns, we should train ushers to use guns so they can shoot people in the face whose phones make a noise or light up during a performance."

Please, be more chill. 

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 5:57pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Impossible2 said: "Instead of training teachers to use guns, we should train ushers to use guns so they can shoot people in the face whose phones make a noise or light up during a performance."

Please, be more chill."

I'm very chill, unless your phone goes off beside me in a theatre...

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 6:08pm

Impossible2 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "Impossible2 said: "Instead of training teachers to use guns, we should train ushers to use guns so they can shoot people in the face whose phones make a noise or light up during a performance."

Please, be more chill."

I'm very chill, unless your phone goes off beside me in a theatre..."

Your last name wouldn’t happen to be Barker/Todd or Burr, would it? 

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 6:13pm

I don't turn my phone off, but I always have it on silent and place it on Do Not Disturb during the show. I do, however, take it out my pocket and check during intermission. I never pull out my phone during a show or even attempt to glance at it. In fact, it's a major pet peeve of mine when I catch people on their phones constantly at a movie theatre, but luckily I have yet to experience that at a Broadway theatre. Although, a phone did go off during Summer.  

I'm not sure why it would be so difficult to put your phone on silent, if you do not wish to have it off, in case you are worried about the kids at home or a sick family member. 

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 6:13pm

I don't turn my phone off, but I always have it on silent and place it on Do Not Disturb during the show. I do, however, take it out my pocket and check during intermission. I never pull out my phone during a show or even attempt to glance at it. In fact, it's a major pet peeve of mine when I catch people on their phones constantly at a movie theatre, but luckily I have yet to experience that at a Broadway theatre. Although, a phone did go off during Summer.  

I'm not sure why it would be so difficult to put your phone on silent, if you do not wish to have it off, in case you are worried about the kids at home or a sick family member. 

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 6:25pm

It's rude to have your phone on, at all, during a show.  Turn. It. Off. Or, stop attending theater if your personal life needs to be tended to at all times.  Switches and buttons can be turned on by a simple bump or twist of your body.  Nope.

Updated On: 8/15/18 at 06:25 PM

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 6:27pm

I don't even take my phone when I go to the theatre or places I would never use them.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 6:29pm

Sadly, If you don't own a smart phone you are criticized.  I only own a flip phone.  It is for emergency purposes.  For example, if I break down somewhere.  I have no need or want for a smart phone or anything similar.  My life seems to be just fine without constantly checking a device for whatever reasons.  However, due to technology, I don't seem to have a choice in the matter anymore.  I recently purchased a concert ticket and to my surprise the venue went paperless and only uses mobile app.  I explained to the Manager that I don't own a smart phone and he asked me (I don't joke) eights times, "You don't own a smart phone?"  Now, I don't know if I am able to do what they needed on my flip phone, but I had no idea  (or really interest) to learn how.  So at least for this venue, I can't attend concerts there anymore.  Their loss.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 7:26pm

Don't know if they still do it and I don't think a lot of people knew about it but the Denver Center used to have a service that if you knew you might be called during a performance (doctors, etc)they had a number to call and an usher would come to your seat and get you if it was an emergency. You just gave them your seat number when you arrived. Of course, that started before everyone was carrying a phone.

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 7:29pm

robskynyc said: "greenifyme2 said: "No need to answer... that was rhetorical."

greenify- i laughed WAY too hard at this. people in the office looked over LOL

"

Yesss!!! I’m glad someone got it

Updated On: 8/15/18 at 07:29 PM

[mufish]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 7:43pm

I don't love this idea for shows with multiple acts because I do enjoy distracting myself during intermission by scrolling through Twitter or something (when I can, service is often horrendous in the theatres!) but I could see it being used for a production with one act (paging Scott Rudin).

I saw Dave Chappelle and Jon Stewart in Boston earlier this summer and as someone mentioned in the thread they're using it (someone else mentioned Chris Rock; a lot of comedians are doing this now, which makes sense) and I can attest to the fact that it really wasn't that bad.  The pouches are basically one size fits all, so your smart watch up to your iPhone Plus could fit.  They put it in the pouch before you go through the metal detector at the door (no visual verification that you turned it off but if I recall they do ask if you did) and like many I thought there'd just be a huge bottleneck afterwards.  Alas, they had numerous people near the exits with handheld devices that quickly unlocked the pouch.  You took your device out and then dropped the empty pouch in a box on your way out, as they are most certainly reusable.  I waited more time in the line to use the bathroom afterwards than I did to get my phone out of the pouch.  And for those saying they wouldn't attend such an event...all the shows were sold out, and they added two extra shows due to demand - you may not care to go, but someone else most certainly will.

Certainly the size of theatres today would make it a challenge as well, but you could almost have people walking down the line of people waiting to get in before the doors open to start putting devices away.  Ultimately if they did start doing this for any show, I'd get over it.  I'm not there to be able to catch up on the latest happenings at intermission, I'm there to lose myself in the world of the production.

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 7:47pm

Instead of training teachers to use guns, we should train ushers to use guns so they can shoot people in the face whose phones make a noise or light up during a performance.

Hey mods, so you delete any negative opinion about Ken Davenport but you allow this comment about people shooting other people in the face??

K. 

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 7:59pm

Isn't the primary reason for these pouches to prevent people from filming parts of these shows. A lot of these comedy events have become very profitable specials for streaming services, so they don't want anything to leak beforehand. I don't think the issue is so much the sound and distraction that it may cause some of the other attendees, especially in very large venues where the performers would hardly notice if someone's phone went off. 

I mean the technology is there to create something innovative that would satisfy theatregoers and those that worry that they might miss an important call. I do believe we have become a little reliant on cell phones, but the fact of the matter is they are a way of life now, it's our reality. While there was a time when parents, families didn't have direct communication in the theatre with others and if a real emergency were to arrise someone would have to call the theatre, neighbor or emergency services. Nonetheless, I don't think checking your phone during an intermission is a big deal as long as you keep it in your pocket during the show. 

They have these charging chambers at certain places now, where you can put your phone in a box and it charges it for you and is locked away. There's even tech that can make it so that if your phone is in these boxes, it would automatically be directed to theatre main line informing the caller that the person they are trying to reach is at a performance and to call back later or if the call is an emergency to press to speak to an usher. The boxes could be located in the lobby and each once assigned to specific seats, that way if a call is transferred, the usher would know which seat the person is in to grab them in case of a real emergency. 

 

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 7:59pm

Isn't the primary reason for these pouches to prevent people from filming parts of these shows. A lot of these comedy events have become very profitable specials for streaming services, so they don't want anything to leak beforehand. I don't think the issue is so much the sound and distraction that it may cause some of the other attendees, especially in very large venues where the performers would hardly notice if someone's phone went off. 

I mean the technology is there to create something innovative that would satisfy theatregoers and those that worry that they might miss an important call. I do believe we have become a little reliant on cell phones, but the fact of the matter is they are a way of life now, it's our reality. While there was a time when parents, families didn't have direct communication in the theatre with others and if a real emergency were to arrise someone would have to call the theatre, neighbor or emergency services. Nonetheless, I don't think checking your phone during an intermission is a big deal as long as you keep it in your pocket during the show. 

They have these charging chambers at certain places now, where you can put your phone in a box and it charges it for you and is locked away. There's even tech that can make it so that if your phone is in these boxes, it would automatically be directed to theatre main line informing the caller that the person they are trying to reach is at a performance and to call back later or if the call is an emergency to press to speak to an usher. The boxes could be located in the lobby and each once assigned to specific seats, that way if a call is transferred, the usher would know which seat the person is in to grab them in case of a real emergency. 

 

[vanbrig]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 8:11pm

EllieRose2 said: "It's rude to have your phone on, at all, during a show. Turn. It. Off. Or, stop attending theater if your personal life needs to be tended to at all times. Switches and buttons can be turned on by a simple bump or twist of your body. Nope."

Well one typically phone turns the phone on using a button or switch. So by that logic, phones can be turned back on by a simple bump or twist of your body, too. Luckily, I've never felt the need to do a move much in my seat, so my phone has never turned back on. I've seen people around me put their phones on silent and airplane mode, and luckily they've never jostled enough to switch their phone back, either. In my experience, it's usually the people who either don't do anything with their phones or who incorrectly change the settings (i.e., think they silenced it but they actually didn't) that cause scenes in the middle of a show.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 8:32pm

I remember this pic. That would have been me. Most people i know look at their pics and videos a few times after sharing them and then when they tell you they have a pic of something or someone you are talkimg about you wait for them to scroll through tons of pics to find the one they ard lookimg for. At times never finding it.  But it is there.

Like this lady, I lile to stay in the moment and not worry about getting a good pic or video.

 

https://www.eonline.com/news/703309/this-phone-free-old-lady-has-reminded-the-world-to-stay-in-the-moment-see-the-pic

[vanbrig]

Posted: 8/15/18 at 9:03pm

My behavior is more like the lady in blue on the far right, with her phone up but still paying attention to the moment. I like to take in the moment while also getting a picture to remember it by. When my grandma got older and her memory started fading, she used to say all the time that she wished she had more photos to look back on. So I always try to get a picture or two at memorable events. And I actually do look back on them regularly; I have a scrapbook for every year.