Author Topic: RUNNING: Electronic interuptions during a performance  (Read 9656 times)

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SMrose

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I've been an audience member when a phone went off in an elderly lady's purse and she couldn't hear it.  The actors kept going and an usher finally got to the lady and asked if he could remove her purse from the house. She thankfully allowed the purse and usher to leave the auditorium.

Has anyone read or seen this video of a Broadway play interupted and what the actors did?

Here's a link to the video of Jackman and Craig in A Steady Rain

 Link removed

« Last Edit: Dec 15, 2009, 01:31 am by Rebbe »

nmno

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #1 on: Sep 30, 2009, 06:20 pm »

Has anyone read or seen this video of a Broadway play interupted and what the actors did?


Patti Lupone stops a performance of Gypsy because a person is taking pictures.  

Edit: removed link

« Last Edit: Oct 01, 2009, 03:05 pm by nmno »

loebtmc

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #2 on: Sep 30, 2009, 07:46 pm »
it concerns me that both of these are illegal recordings but no one seems to be saying anything abt that - these shd both be pulled, their owners/originators penalized - the audio and video recordings are clearly not sanctioned, and in addition these folks are ok with posting them on YouTube where everyone can access - it isn't just the phone ring or the photo taker, this is wrong on so many levels

kiwitechgirl

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #3 on: Sep 30, 2009, 09:25 pm »
I did see somewhere that the Jackman/Craig incident video was legit - can't remember where I saw that info, it was somewhere on a fairly reputable site - look at how steady the camera is - it's either on a tripod or with a very, very steady hand which certainly leads me to believe that it was being taped in-house for whatever reason and that it's been released legitimately.  Go Hugh Jackman though for doing what he did!

missliz

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #4 on: Sep 30, 2009, 11:02 pm »

Has anyone read or seen this video of a Broadway play interupted and what the actors did?


Patti Lupone stops a performance of Gypsy because a person is taking pictures. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGoSc8HS2WE



It actually came out later that it was a stunt....the guy taking photographs was actually a guy she'd interviewed with earlier. I'm searching for the article and can't find it, unfortunately.
I personally would like to bring a tortoise onto the stage, turn it into a racehorse, then into a hat, a song, a dragon and a fountain of water. One can dare anything in the theatre and it is the place where one dares the least. -Ionesco

kokobear

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #5 on: Oct 01, 2009, 01:29 pm »
I attended a show in London starring Peter O'Toole.  At one point an audience member took a flash photo.  O'Toole stopped the show, walked DC and shook his finger at the person, saying "It's not polite to flash in public."  'Nuff said!

 :D  Sorry I don't have a video!

ScooterSM

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #6 on: Oct 01, 2009, 02:24 pm »
I did see somewhere that the Jackman/Craig incident video was legit - can't remember where I saw that info, it was somewhere on a fairly reputable site - look at how steady the camera is - it's either on a tripod or with a very, very steady hand which certainly leads me to believe that it was being taped in-house for whatever reason and that it's been released legitimately.  Go Hugh Jackman though for doing what he did!

Every video I have seen of this incident is credited to TMZ, who are completely sleeze balls.  They have stolen photos and video from people's Facebook pages and other sources like that and claim it as their own.  I'm not sure of the origin of this particular video, but I don't think it is a legitimate source, IMO.
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MatthewShiner

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #7 on: Oct 01, 2009, 02:55 pm »
For some reason I doubt any producers would allow video of this incident to go out.
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Anything posted here as in my own personal opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of my employer - whomever they be at a given moment in time.

loebtmc

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #8 on: Oct 01, 2009, 03:21 pm »
plus, the sound and video quality are so bad, that unless it's the video feed for the stage manager, it makes no sense that this would be the archive or a sanctioned taping


MatthewShiner

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #9 on: Oct 01, 2009, 03:42 pm »
and seriously, the producers would be so fined for letting a "legit" video go out.

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Anything posted here as in my own personal opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of my employer - whomever they be at a given moment in time.

BalletPSM

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #10 on: Oct 13, 2009, 11:01 am »
The links in this discussion are somewhat irrelevant - the issue of electronic devices is an increasing issue in our business.  Even the LORT and Production Contracts have now changed their language to reflect what the post show announcement needs to be!

I'd love to see some responses to the OP's original thought:

Quote
Insert Quote
I've been an audience member when a phone went off in an elderly lady's purse and she couldn't hear it.  The actors kept going and an usher finally got to the lady and asked if he could remove her purse from the house. She thankfully allowed the purse and usher to leave the auditorium.

As an SM, have you been in a situation like this before?  How did you handle it?  How did your cast handle it?  What might you have done differently?

Stage managing is getting to do everything your mom told you not to do - read in the dark, sit too close to the TV, and play with the light switches!

maximillionx

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #11 on: Oct 13, 2009, 01:16 pm »
I'm currently working on a one man show (I Am My Own Wife) and we had a cell phone go off about 10 minutes into the first act.  The individual with the phone was clearly panicked and it seemed everyone around them was sufficiently annoyed.  The public embarrassment of creating such an interruption is sufficient punishment for me.
At the theatre I work for, we have a portion of our pre-show announcement that asks people not to text, look at, etc...their electronic devices during a show.  Some people just seem to think it doesn't apply to them and will not even check.  Not much else you can do for these audience members.
When seeing a show, I will happily ask someone near me to stop using their phone.  Anyone else do this?

BLee

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #12 on: Oct 13, 2009, 04:19 pm »

As an SM, have you been in a situation like this before?  How did you handle it?  How did your cast handle it?  What might you have done differently?



This past summer I had issues of audience members taking pictures mid-show. Albeit it was without the flash, but still a lot of copyright/intellectual property issues in my opinion. This is a huge pet peeve to me, almost bigger than vibrating phones (but not comparable to loud ringtones midshow).

My solution was to note the exact seats were photography was spotted and having the house manager inform those individuals personally. After the first show it became a bigger deal to specify there is NO photography during the show instead of the typical "please no flash photography as it is distracting..." etc etc. I think the way many theaters I have attended give their pre-show speeches almost makes non-flash photography seem permissive.
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stephaleph

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Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance
« Reply #13 on: Oct 14, 2009, 11:21 pm »
Yea, so, on the actual topic.

In high-school, my auditorium was so sensitive to cellphones that if someone backstage was on the phone we could hear their conversation on the audio! Basically, we dealt with the cellphones as having a nice speech before the show that was somewhat comedic to get people to turn off their phones. Also, during the show, we had a walkie for the usher with a head-peice.

The ushers would stay at the top of the room and look out for screens in the audience. People who ran spot or techs that had no other job, would sit in the balcony or in the light booth (depending on if the balcony had people in it) and look out for screens too. At any notice of sound or screen the usher rushed out and asked the person to put away their phone. Also, at intermission we welcomed them back in again reiterating that cell phones were prohibited.

That's the main method we used, but if we missed some there's not much you can do. That person will feel embarrassed and hopefully others and they will learn.

Oh I almost forgot! One great method is to over-exaggerate how the cellphone will effect the sound system. It really did mess with ours, but we told them mics would fail and all sorts of things to scare them.