Audience Behaviour - Thread 2

[AnneMarriott]

22 hours ago, Scheherezade said:

For those who think the UK audiences are badly behaved, read this! (And moderators please remove this post if it breaks any rules).
https://slippedisc.com/2023/03/chaos-last-night-at-the-concertgebouw/

Surely this was a stunt.  Glad I've never experienced anything quite so gross but it would be fun to think up possible deterrents - pump action water pistol? giant size butterfly net? half-strength taser? I would suggest ejector seating but that might be too disruptive itself.  

[Suffolkgal]

I wish I could be more tolerant but the small boy keeping up a running commentary during this SB matinee is not adding to my enjoyment 

[art_enthusiast]

2 hours ago, Suffolkgal said:

I wish I could be more tolerant but the small boy keeping up a running commentary during this SB matinee is not adding to my enjoyment 

 

How annoying for you! My commiserations, I hope you complained. Whereabouts were you sitting?

[Jane S]

3 hours ago, Suffolkgal said:

I wish I could be more tolerant but the small boy keeping up a running commentary during this SB matinee is not adding to my enjoyment 

 

That happened to me once, decades ago - a little girl sitting behind me at a Cinderella and giving her mother a non-stop running commentary: when my patience finally ran out I just turned round and looked at her for a couple of seconds - no frowning or scowling - and the only words I heard from her for the rest of the performance were "Mummy, that lady has ruined my evening!" So I didn't know whether to feel pleased or slightly guilty...

 

Mummy, incidentally, said nothing, either to me or to her daughter.

[Suffolkgal]

I was in row M in the amphi- I think the children left after second interval

which left me free fully to appreciate the sublime partnership that is ... mind you Fumi was so breathtaking in her first scenes that by then I felt no pain! Lots of very bronchial coughing though- would you not reckon people might at least cover their mouths?

[Emeralds]

4 hours ago, Jane S said:

 

That happened to me once, decades ago - a little girl sitting behind me at a Cinderella and giving her mother a non-stop running commentary: when my patience finally ran out I just turned round and looked at her for a couple of seconds - no frowning or scowling - and the only words I heard from her for the rest of the performance were "Mummy, that lady has ruined my evening!" So I didn't know whether to feel pleased or slightly guilty...

 

Mummy, incidentally, said nothing, either to me or to her daughter.

Be pleased. You taught that little girl to behave (which her mummy should have done in the first place). Am impressed that you did it without having to say anything or even a frown! 

[Scheherezade]

On 03/03/2023 at 16:24, AnneMarriott said:

Surely this was a stunt.  Glad I've never experienced anything quite so gross but it would be fun to think up possible deterrents - pump action water pistol? giant size butterfly net? half-strength taser? I would suggest ejector seating but that might be too disruptive itself.  

 

I think I could put up with the (temporary) disruption for the delight in witnessing ejector seating.

[Scheherezade]

4 hours ago, Jane S said:

 

That happened to me once, decades ago - a little girl sitting behind me at a Cinderella and giving her mother a non-stop running commentary: when my patience finally ran out I just turned round and looked at her for a couple of seconds - no frowning or scowling - and the only words I heard from her for the rest of the performance were "Mummy, that lady has ruined my evening!" So I didn't know whether to feel pleased or slightly guilty...

 

Mummy, incidentally, said nothing, either to me or to her daughter.

 

26 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

Be pleased. You taught that little girl to behave (which her mummy should have done in the first place). Am impressed that you did it without having to say anything or even a frown! 

 

I wouldn't be too guilty, Jane S. A child articulate enough to complain that you had ruined her evening should be more than capable of discerning what constitutes appropriate or inappropriate behaviour. 

[Linnzi5]

The woman sitting next to my companion today kept getting her phone out to text, so it illuminated the area around me. I found it distracting and inconsiderate. I asked her to put it away once, very politely, and she apologised, but she periodically looked at it. It irked me but if I had leant across to ask her to put it away it would have disrupted others. I managed to sit a bit forward so the light from it didn't detract from the gorgeousness of Fumi Kaneko and William Bracewell. If she had distracted me in the Rose Adage or Wedding PDD, I would have been very cross. Fortunately, she was watching the performance too at those points. 

 

Two things struck me. Firstly, I think ROH should make all people turn off their phones and put them away. I put mine on airplane mode and stick it in my bag, because, you know, strangely enough I actually want to concentrate and watch the performance!!! So many people seem to sit with their phones on their laps! - they seem superglued to them. Secondly, why pay £160+ to periodically look at your phone and not watch the performance?!! 😡

Edited March 4, 2023 by Linnzi5
Typo

[Geoff]

Just a quick report after tonight’s (excellent) Noises Off in the West End. House pretty much sold out, diverse audience, a wide variation in ages etc. 
 

Drinks and snacks allowed in the auditorium. No obvious messages about phones. The show as usual worked the crowd into a frenzy of loud joy (notably more than usual in Act 3, which has been tweaked).

 

Yet despite my best efforts, I could find no bad behaviour of any kind. No phones on, no slurping or talking etc. Concentration, waves of laughter and cheers at the end.

 

How well an audience can behave if…(fill in the space).

 

[alison]

1 hour ago, Geoff said:

(notably more than usual in Act 3, which has been tweaked).

 

 

In what way?  I'm going back tomorrow, so will check.  Hopefully this time I'll be able to see events on the upper storey.

[Emeralds]

21 hours ago, Geoff said:

Just a quick report after tonight’s (excellent) Noises Off in the West End. House pretty much sold out, diverse audience, a wide variation in ages etc. 
 

Drinks and snacks allowed in the auditorium. No obvious messages about phones. The show as usual worked the crowd into a frenzy of loud joy (notably more than usual in Act 3, which has been tweaked).

 

Yet despite my best efforts, I could find no bad behaviour of any kind. No phones on, no slurping or talking etc. Concentration, waves of laughter and cheers at the end.

 

How well an audience can behave if…(fill in the space).

 

💐💐💐💐💐💐Bouquets for that audience! (Can they all come to ENB Swan Lake with me next time please.....) 

[alison]

Same again tonight. But I was surprised to see wine seemingly in glass glasses in the auditorium.

[jmhopton]

On 06/03/2023 at 22:40, Geoff said:

Just a quick report after tonight’s (excellent) Noises Off in the West End. House pretty much sold out, diverse audience, a wide variation in ages etc. 
 

Drinks and snacks allowed in the auditorium. No obvious messages about phones. The show as usual worked the crowd into a frenzy of loud joy (notably more than usual in Act 3, which has been tweaked).

 

Yet despite my best efforts, I could find no bad behaviour of any kind. No phones on, no slurping or talking etc. Concentration, waves of laughter and cheers at the end.

 

How well an audience can behave if…(fill in the space).

 

I was there a couple of weeks ago at the Saturday matinee and it was fine. Fabulous show and very well behaved audience. Theatre going as it should be.

[Tango Dancer]

Just back from seeing Phantom of the Opera with a friend.  More fun than I remember (although I'd forgotten what a creepy weirdo Eric was).  

 

Lovely except for the 3 people sitting behind us who kept talking throughout.  I mean it's a fairly engaging, almost melodramatic show with a loud orchestra.  Why would you come to this and talk?  

[Linnzi5]

6 hours ago, Tango Dancer said:

Just back from seeing Phantom of the Opera with a friend.  More fun than I remember (although I'd forgotten what a creepy weirdo Eric was).  

 

Lovely except for the 3 people sitting behind us who kept talking throughout.  I mean it's a fairly engaging, almost melodramatic show with a loud orchestra.  Why would you come to this and talk?  

I go to see West End musicals frequently - love Phantom! Yes, though phones are policed religiously by ushers (thank goodness), I do find other people sometimes talk a lot. If I find it really annoying I will politely ask them to desist, or give irritated glares if it becomes persistent. Doesn't always work, but I don't understand how anyone could be so inconsiderate to others. I often wonder why anyone would fork out for West End or ROH tickets and then talk (or constantly text on their phones). I do wonder if some people attend such events just to tick a box, rather than wanting to actually enjoy the shows. Also, maybe some people lack social awareness or just are unable to concentrate for a prolonged period? 

[MaddieRose]

There was a lady behind me at Sleeping Beauty last week giving a hushed running commentary, alongside some rather-harsh opinions on the dancers. This proceeded despite the people either side of her asking her to be quiet, so in the first interval someone two rows behind me asked her a bit more directly to shut up. 
 

There was also a latecomer who was let in right at the end of the first interval but wasn't able to get to her seat in time because someone was sitting in it. I'm not sure what the problem was but the usher was very obviously not pleased, and the latecomer had to wait until the second interval to actually make it to their original seat. 

[Dawnstar]

13 hours ago, Tango Dancer said:

Just back from seeing Phantom of the Opera with a friend.  More fun than I remember (although I'd forgotten what a creepy weirdo Eric was).  

 

Lovely except for the 3 people sitting behind us who kept talking throughout.  I mean it's a fairly engaging, almost melodramatic show with a loud orchestra.  Why would you come to this and talk?  

 

Having seen Phantom a number of times over the years, I have given up hope of ever being able to hear the Entr'acte. Most of audience seems to talk through it at full volume every time. Presumably they're under the impression that if the curtain is down the music playing somehow isn't part of the performance & doesn't need to be listened to!

[art_enthusiast]

Rather annoyed to detect the sound of a ringtone at Ballet Black’s performance of Pioneers at the Barbican tonight. They’re very explicit about the no phones on rule, it was mentioned verbally before the performance started as being distracting for the dancers and audience members.

 

Thankfully the dancers weren’t distracted! It was an incredible performance, particularly the second half - NINA: By Whatever Means. I am deeply moved!

[Scheherezade]

On the audience behaviour front, there was something of a kerfuffle in the interval at Friday night's Turandot. I could hear someone shouting down to people down below but couldn't make out what was being said. Apparently it was the ushers telling someone in the lower levels to stop videoing the performance. Which was also Pappano's first Turandot in the pit. And was accompanied by a big flower throw at the end, to much whooping and applause from a very appreciative audience. And for anyone who is wondering (sorry, I haven't put this in the opera section) do go and see the performance. It was quite wonderful in every respect: conducting (Pappano at is absolute best), singing (with a big shout out for Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha's Liu), staging (how rare it is to be able to say that these days). And how good to see the ushers taking decisive action for once.

[zxDaveM]

10 hours ago, art_enthusiast said:

Rather annoyed to detect the sound of a ringtone at Ballet Black’s performance of Pioneers at the Barbican tonight. They’re very explicit about the no phones on rule, it was mentioned verbally before the performance started as being distracting for the dancers and audience members.

 

 

That happened on Friday night too!!

[Dawnstar]

I guess I should report myself for inadvertant bad behaviour at Woolf Works yesterday. I was sitting in the centre seat on one of the side of the stalls circle benches. The two people between me & the stage were leaning forward so their heads were partly blocking my view. I spent Acts 1 & 2 really trying not to lean forward myself but in Act 3 I must have leaned forward without realising because suddenly the woman on my other side tapped me on the arm & complained I was blocking her view. I was mortified & spent the rest of Act 3 leaning as far back as I could, so I could see very little of the performance. Not that I could concentrate on the rest of the performance anyway as I was really worried in case the woman was going to either have a go at me or report me to the FOH staff afterwards but fortunately she didn't say anything else.

[Linnzi5]

11 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

I guess I should report myself for inadvertant bad behaviour at Woolf Works yesterday. I was sitting in the centre seat on one of the side of the stalls circle benches. The two people between me & the stage were leaning forward so their heads were partly blocking my view. I spent Acts 1 & 2 really trying not to lean forward myself but in Act 3 I must have leaned forward without realising because suddenly the woman on my other side tapped me on the arm & complained I was blocking her view. I was mortified & spent the rest of Act 3 leaning as far back as I could, so I could see very little of the performance. Not that I could concentrate on the rest of the performance anyway as I was really worried in case the woman was going to either have a go at me or report me to the FOH staff afterwards but fortunately she didn't say anything else.

Well, if you couldn't see because people were blocking your view, then it's understandable you would change your position so you could see. I wouldn't worry if someone asked me to move - within reason, I would comply, but it's hardly fair if you can't see for you not to change position. I move my head if people block my view - I think it's instinctive.

 

After Beauty, I was sent a survey about whether I'd liked the performance and I obviously was extremely effusive about Fumi and William. The customer services lady who responded, said that my comments would be passed on to them, which I thought was nice. I didn't expect a response to my comments at all. However, I did mention about the mobile phone use from the person next door but one to me, and the ROH representative responding said that this is an exasperating problem. She said that it's difficult to police because of the horse shoe design of the theatre but that my comments would be passed on.

[Richard LH]

12 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

I guess I should report myself for inadvertant bad behaviour at Woolf Works yesterday. I was sitting in the centre seat on one of the side of the stalls circle benches. The two people between me & the stage were leaning forward so their heads were partly blocking my view. I spent Acts 1 & 2 really trying not to lean forward myself but in Act 3 I must have leaned forward without realising because suddenly the woman on my other side tapped me on the arm & complained I was blocking her view. I was mortified & spent the rest of Act 3 leaning as far back as I could, so I could see very little of the performance. Not that I could concentrate on the rest of the performance anyway as I was really worried in case the woman was going to either have a go at me or report me to the FOH staff afterwards but fortunately she didn't say anything else.

Sympathy for that problem Dawnstar...Would it have been possible, in turn, to ask politely the people leaning forward in front of you to sit back properly?

[art_enthusiast]

13 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

I guess I should report myself for inadvertant bad behaviour at Woolf Works yesterday. I was sitting in the centre seat on one of the side of the stalls circle benches. The two people between me & the stage were leaning forward so their heads were partly blocking my view. I spent Acts 1 & 2 really trying not to lean forward myself but in Act 3 I must have leaned forward without realising because suddenly the woman on my other side tapped me on the arm & complained I was blocking her view. I was mortified & spent the rest of Act 3 leaning as far back as I could, so I could see very little of the performance. Not that I could concentrate on the rest of the performance anyway as I was really worried in case the woman was going to either have a go at me or report me to the FOH staff afterwards but fortunately she didn't say anything else.

 

Definitely feel your pain - at Sadler's Wells on Friday there was someone leaning in front of me a bit in row SG. It can be daunting trying to communicate this issue with people who don't seem to get it and might not comply, or react negatively. I was putting it off for a bit, but then decided to tap them on the arm and voice the problem about thirty minutes in, and glad I did as they then stopped - mostly - allowing me to enjoy the rest of the performance. 

[Sim]

Yes Dawnstar, you are perfectly within your rights to ask people leaning forward and blocking your view to sit back.  I often do it, and most people are fine about it as most don't realise that they are blocking those behind them.  

 

However, not everyone is like that.  I almost came to blows with a young woman during Bayadere's last outing.  I (and others) kept asking her to sit back and she wouldn't.  The usher tried to help and she still refused.  Luckily she had swapped places with a more considerate friend in the Kingdom of the Shades act, otherwise I am sure she would have been physically yanked backwards!  

 

On the topic of audiences, I went to see the hilarious Noises Off on Friday night, and despite people eating and drinking all the way through, there wasn't a peep (except laughter) out of anyone, nor any distractions.  A thoroughly enjoyable evening that I felt we all shared together.

[Meetmeatthebarre]

Just before Friday's Turandot, a series of events unfolded which started off like a prime candidate for this thread, but with a rather touching ending. For background, this production starts with curtains opening, and the chorus slowly one-by-one taking their positions even before the lights dim. This was in progress, when across the mid-amphitheatre comes a very loud shout. Some turned heads, some grumbles. And then it happens again - it's a woman's name. It's only on the third time that we realise what is going on - two older ladies (sitting in the row behind me) waiting for their friend have seen her, but at the wrong door! The ushers spring into action, swiftly escorting her to the right door and up to her seat, but not before her walking stick catches in the wrong place, she stumbles on the stairs to some gasps (but is OK), and almost everyone in her row and the one in front try to assist as she shuffles into the end of the row (the angle of the seating there is quite steep!). So if you heard some commotion and then a ripple of warm applause that night, it was the excellent work of ROH staff, and one very happy opera-goer delivered to join what was a spectacular performance with her friends.

[Dawnstar]

8 hours ago, Richard LH said:

Sympathy for that problem Dawnstar...Would it have been possible, in turn, to ask politely the people leaning forward in front of you to sit back properly?

 

I thought about it but didn't want to cause a disturbance mid-act. The problem was coming from the person at the end of the row leaning a long way forward so I would have had to ask the person next to me to not lean forward and then she would have had to ask the person on the end to not lean forward, and I can imagine the latter would have then protested that she was looking around the pillar that blocks the view from that seat & might have refused to stop leaning. So I couldn't face the stress of setting all that off. Better one person, me, not be able to see much than an entire audience section get disturbed.

[zxDaveM]

3 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I thought about it but didn't want to cause a disturbance mid-act. The problem was coming from the person at the end of the row leaning a long way forward so I would have had to ask the person next to me to not lean forward and then she would have had to ask the person on the end to not lean forward, and I can imagine the latter would have then protested that she was looking around the pillar that blocks the view from that seat & might have refused to stop leaning. So I couldn't face the stress of setting all that off. Better one person, me, not be able to see much than an entire audience section get disturbed.

 

nah - you need to politely stand up for yourself. There are probably people behind you that were inconvenienced too, but even further away so couldn't intervene

[LinMM]

I’m not very good at these things either Dawnstar!! Then afterwards I have conversations with myself about what I should have done/said lol! 
If it was a person pretty much directly in front of me I might just try to say something in an interval but wouldn’t like to have to ask somebody else to ask somebody else sort of thing!! 
The other week in the Balcony the person sitting next to me really tapped quite strongly on the person in front of him who was sort of sitting at a strange angle in her seat! She responded immediately but I actually thought his tap was far too sharp and would have been worried that with the wrong person you could be deemed to have committed an “assault” so you do have to be careful as you have to assume the “offending” person doesn’t realise they are blocking you so best to be polite I think. 
It’s only the odd one or two who get really uppity though and there’s no getting through to people like that unfortunately as I think they enjoy annoying people!! 

 

[Meetmeatthebarre]

9 minutes ago, LinMM said:

It’s only the odd one or two who get really uppity though and there’s no getting through to people like that unfortunately as I think they enjoy annoying people!! 

 

I tend to have a word either before in the guise of "if I'm in your way, do tap me..." - the side tickets do get booked up so quickly but they might get transferred on to people who don't know "the code" - or during the interval.

 

Only once in many years did I have a seatmate who loved to lean so far forward, elbow on the barrier, chin on hand, who refused to move. I suppose that's the gamble taken.

[Dawnstar]

3 hours ago, zxDaveM said:

nah - you need to politely stand up for yourself. There are probably people behind you that were inconvenienced too, but even further away so couldn't intervene

 

I'm useless at that when interacting with strangers. I was near tears for the rest of Act 3 at the stress of having been told off for leaning forward myself. I couldn't take the additional stress of trying to get other people to stop leaning forward. It was row C of the far side of the stalls circle so there's no other rows behind to be inconvenienced.

[Linnzi5]

8 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I'm useless at that when interacting with strangers. I was near tears for the rest of Act 3 at the stress of having been told off for leaning forward myself. I couldn't take the additional stress of trying to get other people to stop leaning forward. It was row C of the far side of the stalls circle so there's no other rows behind to be inconvenienced.

There is no 'sad' option for me to rate this post, but the fact that you were so upset does make me feel really upset for you.  It is so hard when strangers respond in certain ways but you didn't do anything wrong. Even if you did move too far forward, you responded politely and considerately immediately, so you have no reason to feel bad about this.

 

I also think it's so easy to think what we should have said, in hindsight. Happens to me all the time!, when I come up with responses ten minutes too late! So please don't be so hard on yourself.