Late again
The New York Times published an article about latecomers to musical events. Although the Met is the initial focus, there is also discussion about the Philharmonic and recitals.
I have new insight into this phenomenon. Before performances at our company I am usually around the lobby or box office to troubleshoot problems. Unless I'm sitting at the performance, I'll usually be there after the doors close. Our recent production of The Marriage of Figaro had an early curtain (7:30) due to its length. In addition we played it with no intermission between acts I and II. There was a pause for latecomers, but audience members who tried to leave between the acts to use the restroom, were warned that they may not be readmitted until after the first intermission.
Some people didn't check their tickets and upon arriving at 7:35 or 7:45 were informed that they'd be seated around 8:15. There was a video room for them to watch the first act and many, realizing that the mistake was theirs, quietly made their way there until the appointed time.
Then there were the exceptions. One patron who arrived late asked us to exchange tickets for another performance. We explained that since we couldn't sell the seat, there would be a financial loss to us and couldn't accomodate him. Another told me I was being harsh. In the video room he saw that the curtain was still down and tried to tell me that we should still seat him and his party, despite the fact that the overture was playing. He then tried to offer me money to seat him, whereupon I left it to the house manager to sort out.
The reasons I give for not seating once a performance has started are two: consideration and safety. The first is pretty fairly laid out in the Times article. The second is simple: climbing over someone in the dark can leave the theater liable to all kinds of difficulties. Many audience members have disabilities, canes or walkers or some other physical difficulty that can make that action dangerous. In this litiginous age, there are too many potential cases for lawsuits. We don't need someone's broken toe because a late patron stepped on it to be another one.
So for goodness' sake. Don't be late.
I have new insight into this phenomenon. Before performances at our company I am usually around the lobby or box office to troubleshoot problems. Unless I'm sitting at the performance, I'll usually be there after the doors close. Our recent production of The Marriage of Figaro had an early curtain (7:30) due to its length. In addition we played it with no intermission between acts I and II. There was a pause for latecomers, but audience members who tried to leave between the acts to use the restroom, were warned that they may not be readmitted until after the first intermission.
Some people didn't check their tickets and upon arriving at 7:35 or 7:45 were informed that they'd be seated around 8:15. There was a video room for them to watch the first act and many, realizing that the mistake was theirs, quietly made their way there until the appointed time.
Then there were the exceptions. One patron who arrived late asked us to exchange tickets for another performance. We explained that since we couldn't sell the seat, there would be a financial loss to us and couldn't accomodate him. Another told me I was being harsh. In the video room he saw that the curtain was still down and tried to tell me that we should still seat him and his party, despite the fact that the overture was playing. He then tried to offer me money to seat him, whereupon I left it to the house manager to sort out.
The reasons I give for not seating once a performance has started are two: consideration and safety. The first is pretty fairly laid out in the Times article. The second is simple: climbing over someone in the dark can leave the theater liable to all kinds of difficulties. Many audience members have disabilities, canes or walkers or some other physical difficulty that can make that action dangerous. In this litiginous age, there are too many potential cases for lawsuits. We don't need someone's broken toe because a late patron stepped on it to be another one.
So for goodness' sake. Don't be late.
posted by Rich Russell at
10:19 PM
2 Comments:
Sometimes I think people are too used to the movie - going scenario, and forget that those are live, in person and in the moment performers on stage and/or in the pit.
A movie wouldn't be distracted or its plot trajectory ruined by a late patron entrance, but violinists, conductors, singers et al are human, and it's just plain rude.
Maybe we need to post something in the lobby to that effect, or on the tickets themselves? I dunno ...
My daughter's 7th grade class was well prepared and trained for last year's (live)(at the opera) Figaro, though. So why can't "adults" figure it out?
It's really just a few who don't quite get it. But most people I talked to (apart from the few I mentioned) once its explained to them, get it.
Yes we had a children's performance and they knew exactly how to behave. Their responses were also really enthusiastic, although I don't know how much of that was just being out of school.
Post a Comment
<< Home