|
|
Post by firefingers on May 26, 2024 15:59:34 GMT
It’s a relatively minor thing, but - I own a smart watch. I love my smart watch. When I rule the universe, wearing a smart watch to the theatre and not turning the screen off and pausing notifications before the lights go down will carry a mandatory fine of £5000. No excuses, no exceptions, no mercy. (The lady sitting to my left last night didn’t. And she had the screen on her watch set to full brightness. It was incredibly annoying.) The amount of people I see with a smart watch shining away, putting their arms behind their head so the light is flashing in people's eyes, is staggering. How someone can be so oblivious to those around them is beyond me. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 26, 2024 17:22:35 GMT
That is the output of the filming, you can just see the top of my head as they filmed going up the stairs - for about the 20th time. The Palace assistant general manager did send me an email with some spiel about how press night works, and that they put posters up to say there may be filming (I didn't see any), but he upgraded a future booking that I couldn't get lounge access for to include the gold package - so happy with the outcome, even if the apology was overall poor. There were no posters about filming- I was there that night too and surprised I didn't see myself in that video as they also seem to have filmed a lot of the audience too. I didn't think there were any, the staff in the lounge didn't know what was happening other than the social media manager advising them that if the 'media guests' need anything to call him. I don't object to the filming, it was just the repetitive running around retaking shots without consideration, but hey ho, it's done now. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 26, 2024 18:37:25 GMT
So many would have been tempted to walk across a shot.
Last night at Fulltone Orchestra concert at Symphony Hall the bloke in front of me started conducting along. His partner/mother - I honestly couldn't tell was telling him to be quiet. I did think he might have had something wrong with him but he talked pretty intelligently and there were no obvious signs so I'm assuming maybe from some part of the West Midlands and they are like that
Partner/mother/carer got her phone out to film snippets of Moon River and the Magnificent Seven too. Then light from spotlights was reflecting off an older gentleman's watch which shone in a few people's faces.
|
|
|
|
Post by sfsusan on May 26, 2024 22:51:49 GMT
Where 👏 Are 👏 The 👏 Ushers?  ? I suspect that they have to make a very fine judgment as to which is the least disruptive... let something go (and hope it settles down) or wade in and turn it into a big deal (especially if the offenders kick off). What they need to do is note the seat numbers and address it at the interval. (I've seen that done once at the Royal Albert Hall... both myself and another audience member were complaining about the same people. We saw them getting a talking-to at the interval.) |
|
|
|
Post by sfsusan on May 26, 2024 22:57:21 GMT
It’s a relatively minor thing, but - I own a smart watch. I love my smart watch. When I rule the universe, wearing a smart watch to the theatre and not turning the screen off and pausing notifications before the lights go down will carry a mandatory fine of £5000. No excuses, no exceptions, no mercy. (The lady sitting to my left last night didn’t. And she had the screen on her watch set to full brightness. It was incredibly annoying.) The amount of people I see with a smart watch shining away, putting their arms behind their head so the light is flashing in people's eyes, is staggering. How someone can be so oblivious to those around them is beyond me. It's not just the light of the smart watch, it's the off/on every time they move their arm. And then every movement is illuminated, catching the eye even more. |
|
2,340 posts
|
Post by theglenbucklaird on May 27, 2024 11:37:50 GMT
Where 👏 Are 👏 The 👏 Ushers? ? I suspect that they have to make a very fine judgment as to which is the least disruptive... let something go (and hope it settles down) or wade in and turn it into a big deal (especially if the offenders kick off). What they need to do is note the seat numbers and address it at the interval. (I've seen that done once at the Royal Albert Hall... both myself and another audience member were complaining about the same people. We saw them getting a talking-to at the interval.) Did their second half performance improve? |
|
7,189 posts
|
Post by Jon on May 27, 2024 11:57:22 GMT
Apple Watch have Theatre mode as well which prevent these sorts of issues!
|
|
|
|
Post by max on May 27, 2024 14:37:36 GMT
Fairly excruciating at Hampstead Theatre when Will Young was solo in 'Song From Far Away'. At least two phones ringing out, multiple 'on the hour' watch beeps. He'd stopped already for the phone rings and built it into the monologue in a somewhat acid way. Then he stopped the show to ask someone to stop distracting with their smartwatch which he said lit up every time they moved. I guess if the phones hadn't happened first he might have let it go - but once you're so sensitised to it being 'one of those audiences' it must be difficult to put up with.
Unfortunately, matinees with older audience members are pretty hopeless for this, and Hampstead seems particularly bad. People think they've switched their phone to silent, but haven't, and then fumble with it but still fail so it goes off again - not knowing their tech. Just 'OFF' will do. I'm not saying older audiences are worse - just equally bad as everyone else's poor excuses (sooo many 'on call doctors' love the theatre, eh?)
|
|
|
|
Post by sfsusan on May 27, 2024 14:52:40 GMT
I'm not saying older audiences are worse - just equally bad as everyone else's poor excuses At least with us oldies it's incompetence, not selfishness!  |
|
|
|
Post by max on May 27, 2024 15:32:09 GMT
I'm not saying older audiences are worse - just equally bad as everyone else's poor excuses At least with us oldies it's incompetence, not selfishness! This is true, and does make it a bit better! I don't even bother with my own withering look or tutting, as the person they've been married to for over 40 years is eye rolling and seething for England, and will probably get a good few days' worth out of it, lol. |
|
1,485 posts
|
Post by mkb on May 27, 2024 15:39:58 GMT
If I carried a device that made noises and I wasn't entirely sure how to silence them, I wouldn't be taking it into a theatre. I think there is a good argument to be made that it is, at the very least, thoughtlessness with these people.
|
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on May 28, 2024 7:11:38 GMT
Why are people so clueless?
|
|
1,743 posts
|
Post by fiyero on May 28, 2024 12:48:09 GMT
Apple Watch have Theatre mode as well which prevent these sorts of issues! I reckon many wearers would accuse you of witchcraft if you show them this feature. It is so annoying, in some ways it is worse than phones as the light often isn't even useful to the wearer! |
|
879 posts
|
Post by daisy24601 on May 28, 2024 13:38:59 GMT
I had someone just in front to the right of me at the weekend with a smart watch and it distracted me throughout. I think people just don't even consider that it might be annoying.
|
|
|
|
Post by amyja89 on May 28, 2024 17:13:56 GMT
Was expecting the worst at an extra half term matinee of Heathers today, but if anything the audience were a tad flat! Perhaps I had the fandom horror stories from here in the front of my mind.
I was front row of the first balcony, and the only annoyance I picked up on was an (I’m guessing) older teen son and his mother. They were in the middle of the stalls and unfortunately right in my line of vision. They proceeded to mime the entire show together, complete with punctuated choreography at certain parts. I can only imagine this was done in silence, as none of their neighbours seemed to mind. I wouldn’t say they were being badly behaved, but maybe a tad inconsiderate to others, they certainly kept catching my eye over what was happening on stage! Wearing matching Romeo and Juliet merch to boot, so perhaps on an extended theatre trip!
|
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on May 29, 2024 7:40:45 GMT
I had that at the weekend, it really distracts you doesn't it!
|
|
|
|
Post by lt on May 30, 2024 17:30:43 GMT
Attended the Beauty of Ballet performance last night at the Albert Hall and the entire evening was completely ruined by the constant photography throughout the performance. I was sitting in the Rausing Circle and it was completely distracting to see the lights of people’s phones constantly going on and off as they took photos throughout the performance. And in several of the boxes to the right hand side of me, camera flashes were also going off all evening. Two people beside me actually left at the interval.
When I spoke to an usher at the interval – who was very helpful – she explained to my disbelief that the Albert Hall actually allows the taking of photos. This seems to show huge disrespect to both the performers and any audience member who actually wants to watch the performance without interruption.
|
|
|
|
Post by kate8 on May 30, 2024 18:55:44 GMT
When I spoke to an usher at the interval – who was very helpful – she explained to my disbelief that the Albert Hall actually allows the taking of photos. This seems to show huge disrespect to both the performers and any audience member who actually wants to watch the performance without interruption. I’ve had the same experience there a couple of times, also sitting up high. There were so many phone screens constantly catching my eye all around the hall, including many people filming. It was very difficult to focus on the music, I just found it stressful and it spoiled my enjoyment, so I won’t go back there. |
|
|
|
Post by lt on May 30, 2024 21:17:38 GMT
When I spoke to an usher at the interval – who was very helpful – she explained to my disbelief that the Albert Hall actually allows the taking of photos. This seems to show huge disrespect to both the performers and any audience member who actually wants to watch the performance without interruption. I’ve had the same experience there a couple of times, also sitting up high. There were so many phone screens constantly catching my eye all around the hall, including many people filming. It was very difficult to focus on the music, I just found it stressful and it spoiled my enjoyment, so I won’t go back there. Complete agree, I won't be returning either. |
|
|
|
Post by nick on May 31, 2024 12:48:50 GMT
Attended the Beauty of Ballet performance last night at the Albert Hall and the entire evening was completely ruined by the constant photography throughout the performance. I was sitting in the Rausing Circle and it was completely distracting to see the lights of people’s phones constantly going on and off as they took photos throughout the performance. And in several of the boxes to the right hand side of me, camera flashes were also going off all evening. Two people beside me actually left at the interval. When I spoke to an usher at the interval – who was very helpful – she explained to my disbelief that the Albert Hall actually allows the taking of photos. This seems to show huge disrespect to both the performers and any audience member who actually wants to watch the performance without interruption. And of course having a flash over that distance is totally useless. My flash is always off (I don't mean in the theatre - just generally) and only gets switched on when needed. Saves the battery as well. Actually I have taken photos of sets before the show starts and non-flash photos are always better looking than the flash ones. |
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on May 31, 2024 14:15:25 GMT
Who on earth wants to look back at their, likely awful, photo of ballet with flash on!
|
|
1,743 posts
|
Post by fiyero on Jun 2, 2024 9:35:45 GMT
And of course having a flash over that distance is totally useless. My flash is always off (I don't mean in the theatre - just generally) and only gets switched on when needed. Saves the battery as well. Actually I have taken photos of sets before the show starts and non-flash photos are always better looking than the flash ones. This x 100. A huge bugbear is people having their flash on when videoing he fireworks and projections at Disneyland and similar. The flash is making no difference. Even if it were making a difference it would make it worse! I guess the lines are blurred at royal Albert hall as they do gigs etc too but surely the production has some sway over it! |
|
|
|
Post by interval99 on Jun 2, 2024 10:26:12 GMT
The royal Albert Hall seems to be very selective on policy. At the recent Richard marx concert filming was allowed with small notices as you went in asking people to be respectful and not use flash. At the raiders of the lost ark film in concert three days later it was a strict no filming which was enforced with ushers rushing to stop anyone taking a picture.
The Sarah Brightman concert couple of years back was strictly no filming. They can certainly limit it if they want to
|
|
|
|
Post by lt on Jun 2, 2024 14:14:02 GMT
The royal Albert Hall seems to be very selective on policy. At the recent Richard marx concert filming was allowed with small notices as you went in asking people to be respectful and not use flash. At the raiders of the lost ark film in concert three days later it was a strict no filming which was enforced with ushers rushing to stop anyone taking a picture. The Sarah Brightman concert couple of years back was strictly no filming. They can certainly limit it if they want to At the event I attended, supposedly no flash allowed, but in practice, this was widely ignored. The usher said that the Albert Hall had different levels of photography allowed for different events. And the event I attended allowed "moderate level" of photography. |
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on Jun 3, 2024 6:59:44 GMT
I did willingly chose to see Frozen during a matinee, but Christ it was like a creche.
|
|
