Theatre Audience 101: Electronic Devices (Part 1)

Rule #2 Turn it Off…or Leave it at Home
Everyone owns some type of device that glows, rings, vibrates, whistles, yelps, transmits, receives, records, and makes you feel better. Right? And we feel better because we can take them everywhere we go.

I am not even going to get into cellular device etiquette, just what to do in a theatre. Now I know that it is impossible to convince you to leave you device in the car. Heavens, the theatre is meant as an escape right. A form of art meant to transport you to a different place and time, maybe even a different emotional state. Why not leave your tether to the regular world at home…after all you likely paid good money to experience live theatre, why not get the most out of it.

Since you can’t be without your device, theatre’s will continue to make announcements asking you to turn the off or put in the silent mode. How about this: next time you hear this announcement, even if you are absolutely sure you already put it on vibrate, check it again. After all, what do you have to lose? Think about the energy it takes to check compared to the incredible embarrassment you will feel if it actually disrupts an entire performance. Depending on the size of the audience multiplied by the amount of money they paid (not to mention their time and emotional investment) and the hard work of the performers (who are pouring their artistic hearts out) Isn’t it easier just to check?

This begs the question: Are you embarrassed that your device went off? Just to clarify, if you haven’t already heard this (or figured it out for yourself): You should be. You should be mortified by your incredibly selfish and lazy behavior. That your act has snatched everyone out of the place that they have been transported to, invested in, and deserved to be enjoying.

Here is a checklist to follow. Please keep in mind that each progressive step assumes that you failed to do the previous step:

Leave it in the car
Turn it off in the lobby
Turn it off when you sit down
Turn it off when you hear the announcement
Mute it when it rings (don’t just let in ring…we can all hear it)
Take out the battery (they may call you back)
If you gat this far, pat yourself on the back…you must be more important than everyone else

“Theatre Audience 101” is a continuing series of advice for audiences of live theatrical productions. It is my attempt to pass along advice based on actual behavior that I have witnessed while onstage or as a fellow audience member. The hopeful outcome is to develop a more knowledgeable audience base and a better experience for all.