Changes in Audiences?

[MaybeMaybeNot]

I am wondering if anyone is noticing a change in audience behavior,  or if it is just an L.A. phenomenon. In the last few years,  I find myself seated near people who think they are watching Netflix at home.  There is frequent talking and sometimes food wrapper crinkling, sometimes singing along. When it happens, it is just very hard for me to hear and focus. The Ahmanson has been fine,  but it happens frequently at the Pantages 

During the last stop of Les Miz, the idiot behind me who had been chatty periodically during the first Act, returned late for Act 2. She had to walk in front of me (in the front row), to get to her seat. Fine, it happens. But then she had to tell all her friends what a shitshow the theatre was (hint: Lady, it's not the theatre), then they passed around a loud crinkly snack between them. I missed "On My Own" because it was so distracting, and, of course that is a highlight of the show.  I had already skipped the previous stop on the tour because it felt futile, and I should have just skipped again. 

I have already reduced my attendance of tours because of it.  I am sort of wondering if I just throw in the towel. These are expensive experiences for me, and I don't like having my memory of a show being how distracted I was.

Are people noticing this in other cities? How are audiences on Broadway?

I did email the Pantages four years ago or so, asking them to include a reminder that talking is distracting when they do the pre-show announcements. I was told the pre-show announcements are from the producers, and they can't do anything about it. However, they acknowledged that is been a problem since Covid, particularly in the movie tie-in titles.

[TonyDown]

There was a viral video of a man that went off during intermission at a group of young women at Mama Mia in NYC, due to their outrageous behavior.

Here in LA I hesitate to attend events as much as I used to.

I dread how people behave at the theater and symphony, not to mention cell phones going off.  During Eddie Izzard's Hamlet, an audience member took a call and carried on his phone conversation as he strolled up the aisle to the lobby.

The Hollywood Bowl is often a bunch of drunks not terribly interested in decorum.

IMO it's a different world now, left to the young. Let them deal with it.

 

[nomad]

It's happening everywhere.  I saw Les Miz at Radio City Hall for their final stop of the tour.  Person in front of me was taking a phone call on the DL.  Could still hear her since I was right behind her. Thank goodness she didn't come back after the intermission.  

I think social media has given people some horrible habits.  Everything is a possible reel or meme moment so they restraint and social etiquette isn't there as it used to be. The younger gens are the worst but I also see some of the more seasoned folks acting this way too.  I don't understand when you go to concerts and performances why you would not WATCH the show instead of focusing on recording it or filming yourself at it.  A few pictures or short videos sure I do that.  Everything else is just ridiculous.  

[Becket]

7 minutes ago, nomad said:

It's happening everywhere.  I saw Les Miz at Radio City Hall for their final stop of the tour.  Person in front of me was taking a phone call on the DL.  Could still hear her since I was right behind her. Thank goodness she didn't come back after the intermission.  

I think social media has given people some horrible habits.  Everything is a possible reel or meme moment so they restraint and social etiquette isn't there as it used to be. The younger gens are the worst but I also see some of the more seasoned folks acting this way too.  I don't understand when you go to concerts and performances why you would not WATCH the show instead of focusing on recording it or filming yourself at it.  A few pictures or short videos sure I do that.  Everything else is just ridiculous.  

Indeed. The audience at most any concert these days is nothing but a sea of camera phones attempting to record the show. Truly few people attend simply to enjoy the show, enjoy the experience. No, they've all got to have their cameras raised high. Imagine having to perform in front of thousands of cell phones rather than an attentive audience. Keeps me from ever attending a concert again.

Edited Tuesday at 02:14 PM by Becket
what can I say, I'm anal about spelling!

[nomad]

May

20 minutes ago, Becket said:

Indeed. The audience at most any concert these days is nothing but a sea of camera phones attempting to record the show. Truly few people attend simply to enjoy the show, enjoy the experience. No, they've all got to have their cameras raised high. Imagine having to perform in front of thousands of cell phones rather than an attentive audience. Keeps me from ever attending a concert again.

Maybe we're just old farts. 😆

[jeezifonly]

At the opera, a dramatic, rapturously thrilling high note in an aria now gets met with howls and applause, as though the renowned artist was just another trained seal/pop singer on The Voice. American audiences are getting stupider and ruder. 

[TonyDown]

At a favorite amateur company, a 99 seat venue, during one play, a character was faced with a decision where she had a brief aside, asking herself a rhetorical question whether to do something or not.  Some woman in the audience seated just a few feet away answered "NO!"

Yes, people are getting stupider.  

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 11:10 PM by TonyDown

[MaybeMaybeNot]

I am not so concerned about decorum but behavior which distracts and inhibits my ability to focus on the show.  I don't care if people wear shorts, hold hands, sip on a wine, or cheer at the right moments. When I attended The Band's Visit tour, the woman next to me brought her little dog. Like the rest of us, it napped quietly during the show.  It's the talking and food wrapper crinkling that is so distracting.