Why do theaters sell twizzlers and other noisy snacks

[BroadwayMarley]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 1:58am

Just came back from Mockingbird which continued our streak of having noisy snackers right behind us munching  -- opening twizzlers as the curtain rose and ate throughout the entire first act.  It is amazing how oblivious these snackers are.  This is equally true for those who rattle their ice while sipping their theater purchased drinks.  Some theaters do not allow ice in drinks brought back to seats.    I wish more theaters would be equally thoughtful about the snacks they sell.

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 2:03am

The theatres would rather have money do the talking than the audience.

[BroadwayMarley]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 2:10am

Good response but with increased ticket prices, the theaters could be more thoughtful.  Do they really want to compete with airlines in terms of raising ticket prices and decreasing comfort.

[bk]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 4:01am

Because theater is now for children and doing everything it can to emulate the movie experience.  When I was growing up, food and drink was NEVER allowed in the auditorium.  Ever.  And so it should be now.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 7:40am

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Almost always the money. They won't do anything to b
ack awzy from that, ever.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 7:47am

I’m 100% with you, Marley. Is it really that difficult to go two hours without having to put something in your mouth?

[Enjolras5]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 8:37am

I also hate those shows where the guys walk up and down the aisles with waters and snacks in a box hanging around their neck like what is this the circus????!!!!  It kind of ruins the ambiance and the setting of the scene.  I just saw them do this at Come From Away and I believe they also did it at Evan Hansen?  

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 9:07am

"I’m 100% with you, Marley. Is it really that difficult to go two hours without having to put something in your mouth?"

I agree with you also. Is it that hard to plan your day to make sure you have eaten something before going to the show. Even if you don't have time for dinner, buy something to snack on before entering the theater. Years ago, I was meeting my wife at a show and I grabbed a hot dog from a vendor to hold me over to after the show when we would have a late dinner.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 9:07am

In the quietest of moments, when you’re absorbed in the actors on stage in a show you’ve never seen, and the old guy sitting next to you is noisily digging out from his shirt pocket ... one ... peanut M&M ... at ... a ........time. During the entirety of Act One. I never knew there were that many peanut M&M’s in a single bag. When he finally put them away in Act Two I turned to him, looked right at his face, and sarcastically said Thank You. He was a bit taken aback. 

I really don’t think people eating these noisy snacks and rattling their ice realize just how noisy they are. And how the sound carries. Across rows of people who are actually trying to enjoy a show they paid a lot of money for. 

There should be a ban on food eating and drinking inside the seating area of the theater, and only allowed to be consumed in the lobby pre-show and at intermission. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 9:15am

I know how you feel. I personally don't eat anything while at the theater nor do I drink anything until intermission as I've noticed if I drink something during act I, the likelihood of me needing to go to the bathroom during intermission is 99%.

If I do go with friends who need to eat, I just tell them to quickly take a bite during a funny moment (while audience is laughing) or after a musical number (while audience is giving an applause) but never during any intense/quiet/serious scene.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 10:01am

I was in a show once where during intermission they sold pop rocks, and well... you can see where this goes.
I will say I’m not, not guilty of this. I get really anxious really quick and sitting down for two hours boils up my nerves and if I didn’t get some kind of snack I would be bouncing off the walls. It just gives me something to do and helps me stay focused. I try to be quiet about, though

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 10:27am

I never eat at a show. As mentioned above, why can't people go 2 hours without putting something in their mouth?  Even if theaters stopped selling snacks, people bring their own. I have seen people pull out large ziploc bags full of stuff. Recently I did see already pull our a ziploc but she had filled it with whatever she was snacking on and made no noise. 

When there is someone making noise near me, I say something. A few years back while at "Harvey" a young boy was making so much noise with a plastic bag that it was heard throughout the theater. We were sitting upstairs and he was across the aisle from me. At intermission I walked over to the mother and asked if she could tell the child to stop. She got nasty with me and I tore into her. The whole section said thank you out loud when I was done with her.

I always read complaints about this but I don't always read that people have said anything to these people to get them to stop. Maybe they have but if nit, maybe we need to shush or say something to people when this happens. JMO

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 10:41am

"At intermission I walked over to the mother and asked if she could tell the child to stop. She got nasty with me and I tore into her. The whole section said thank you out loud when I was done with her.

I always read complaints about this but I don't always read that people have said anything to these people to get them to stop. Maybe they have but if nit, maybe we need to shush or say something to people when this happens. JMO"

Excellent. If you stayed silent it would have continued to happen during the show. You were polite and the people in your section were glad you did it. Good job -lol

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 10:59am

Fun Home never had concessions and it was such a RELIEF.

The Broadway League and Jordan Roth have never replied to me on social media when I've suggested selling snacks in quieter packaging. Think of the souvenir fabrics you could sell!

That said, if you have a medical condition or are just ready to start coughing up a storm, unwrap your hard candy/cough drop during applause and/or within a pocket if you really need to.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 11:11am

I really don’t think people eating these noisy snacks and rattling their ice realize just how noisy they are. And how the sound carries. Across rows of people who are actually trying to enjoy a show they paid a lot of money for.

See, I think they do.  It seems like the ones that are eating next/near me,  always have the exaggerated motions when they partake.  Unwrapping a candy always seem to take these people 45 seconds.  When eating a snack, especially in a box, they have to constantly rattle.  Like shaking the box is going to mysteriously create more candy.   When drinking from a water bottle, I always get the ones that have to crinkle the plastic.  Drinking a cocktail, they have to shake the ice.  Of course, if they are feeding/drinking their face, then those are the moments they aren't on the phone.  Count me as one who will always say something to people if they are conducting this behavior.  The problem is most now a days, people don't seem to care.  I had a woman next to me at Wicked two weeks ago, who pulled out her phone and started texting the second the first song started.  I said something to her and she gave me a look that obviously meant how rude I was for saying something to her majesty.  She put it up, but brought it out many times for the sequel. 

 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 11:40am

There’s a theatre in my area which I frequent that sells bags of kettle chips at the concession stand, and when a patron purchases one, the concessions employee opens the bag and pours the chips into a sturdy paper bowl before giving them to the customer. Of course there is still the issue of the crunch of the chips being audible, but this relieves the audience of the sound of those crinkly bags being rustled around. I wish more theatres would do things like this.

[supersam1026]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 11:44am

I always think of the West End when the discussion of these noisy snacks come up. They serve small cups of Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, which I think is a really great solution.

1) It is eaten right away so if it is bought pre-show or at intermission, it will melt by the time the show starts.

2) It is a MUCH quieter snack than anything served here. No crunch, no crinkly bag, etc

3) Personally, I just like ice cream better :)

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 11:49am

I agree with dmwnc for the most part. So many people going to shows treat a theater like it is their living room or they are at the movies and are oblivious to those around them. JMO

[DaveyG]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 11:55am

It takes me so sad. The theatre used to be sacred. I wouldn't dare eat or drink at a show when I was a kid. It wasn't an option. I'm so disappointed that the theatre owners have allowed this to happen. Now,  the experience is always full of distraction by loud wrappers and people crunching and ice in empty cups. Often, it's all I hear and then I'm filled with rage. It's a new world, Golde.

[David10086]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 12:12pm

Forget Twizzlers, M&Ms and ice! I’m still annoyed with the gum chewers and gum snappers who always manage to surround me!

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 12:59pm

DaveyG said: "It takes me so sad. The theatre used to be sacred. I wouldn't dareeat or drink at a show when I was a kid. It wasn't an option. I'm so disappointed that the theatre owners have allowed this to happen. Now, the experience is always full of distraction by loud wrappers and people crunching and ice in empty cups. Often, it's all I hear and then I'm filled with rage. It's a new world, Golde."

 

If it's permitted by the theater, I'm not disturbed by patrons enjoying a snack or drink.  What would disturb me is knowing that as I ate a candy, I was sitting next to someone like you who is filled with RAGE.  Where might that RAGE take you?  An odd admission for you to make.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 1:12pm

Highland Guy said: "DaveyG said: "It takes me so sad. The theatre used to be sacred. I wouldn't dareeat or drink at a show when I was a kid. It wasn't an option. I'm so disappointed that the theatre owners have allowed this to happen. Now, the experience is always full of distraction by loud wrappers and people crunching and ice in empty cups. Often, it's all I hear and then I'm filled with rage. It's a new world, Golde."



If it's permitted by the theater, I'm not disturbed by patrons enjoying a snack ordrink. Whatwoulddisturb me is knowing that as I ate a candy, I was sitting next to someone like you who is filled withRAGE.Where might thatRAGEtake you? An odd admission for you to make."

Oh, stop it. 

All I'm saying is that I paid 179 dollars for a ticket and would like to hear what's happening onstage instead of the swishing saliva of the person next to me who can't not eat for 90 minutes. It upsets me. I think that's understandable. 

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 1:49pm

That's completely understandable, and I agree. I think most people don't eat candy much anymore, at least for the shows I have seen lately. I don't mind the frozen drinks or wine, which everyone seems to buy. They are quiet enough. I heard no candy wrappers at Hadestown, Tootsie (lots of drinkers though), and nothing at Oklahoma! 

[sppunk]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 4:56pm

Two weeks ago at The Sound Inside the woman behind me was smacking on her gum so loudly I had to tell her mid-play to stfu. 

It’s like the Amtrak quiet car, gotta police it yourself as much as you can. 

Unfortunately even in London they now sell loud snacks, including popcorn and crisps. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/8/19 at 6:14pm

Coco Peru shares our sentiments. This should be played before curtain at every theatre. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3B15nNtyFg