Author Topic: CALLING: FOH calls  (Read 7676 times)

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Mac Calder

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CALLING: FOH calls
« on: May 21, 2005, 02:30 am »
I just want to know, what is your 'all out' call - ie the show contains every possible thing the audience may complain about (nudity, course language, smoke, haze, loud noises etc)

This is mine:

5min pre-show.
Quote
Ladies and Gentlemen, this evenings performance of _____ will commence in 5 minutes. All mobile phones and pagers must be switched off. If it is essential that you be reachable, please give your phone, and seat number to one of our front of house staff, who will record your details, and contact you if necessary. If there is a chance that you will need to leave this evenings performance during an act, speak to a member of our front of house staff, and we will try to relocate you to an isle seat. We ask that all patrons please make their way to their seats now. We hope you enjoy this evenings performance.


Just pre-show:
Quote
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to this evenings performance of ______. We would like to remind you that all mobile phones and pagers must be switched off, and not to silent, as they do interfere with our technical equiptment. Photography, Audio recording and Videography is strictly prohibited. Any patron caught recording any part of this performance will be removed from the audience and the recorded media destroyed. Recording of any part of this performance breaches copyright. This show contains pyrotechnics, smoke and haze, however the biproducts of these machines are hypoalergenic, and therefore not have any effect on breathing. This show also contains strobing. Anyone who may suffer from epilepsy is advised to close their eyes during these sequences. Ladies and gentlemen, we feel it is polite to inform you that this show does contain course language, nudity, and sudden loud noises. Thankyou for coming to see ____, and we hope you enjoy the show.

I find it is a bit verbose - in fact, some people applaud my effort, which is rather unnerving.
« Last Edit: Jun 08, 2009, 10:21 pm by PSMKay »

jenk

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FOH calls
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2005, 07:00 pm »
My call at 5:

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this evening's performance of _____________. It's now five minutes to showtime, and we ask that all cell phones, pagers, and digital watch alrms be turned to their "off" position. If you are unable to do this for any reason, contact one of the house staff, and they will be happy to check your device for you. All recording devices, including digital cameras, are prohibited in the theatre. A reminder that there will be cigarette smoking during th first act of tonight's performance, as well as certified hypoallergenic waterbased fog and haze. Pyrotechnics, strobe lights, and simulated gunshots will also be part of tonight's exciting performance of __________. If you believe these effects will interfere with your enjoyment of tonight's show, please ask any of the ushers to connect you with the house manager, who will do her best to reseat you as comfortably as possible.
Thank you for your attention, and enjoy ______________________. "

It's at that point, incidentally, that I call a "cell phone check" in the booth as well. At the top of the show, I just do the understudy announcements, with a reminder at the end about the cellphones for anyone who came in late. I don't want to have a big seat shuffle going on while I'm trying to start the show. I never really thought about a bad language warning- let the buyer beware, I guess. I have the house staff take care of warning any patrons coming in with young children at the box office and the lobby. Otherwise, patrons who are that sensitive to bad language and loud noises should read the play before they go out to see it!

Tigerrr

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FOH calls
« Reply #2 on: Jun 12, 2005, 02:26 pm »
I've never had to do a verbal announcement, but both of those sound good.  As for the warnings, I will either relate all possible issues to FOH manager who would then make signs that will be posted prominently in the lobby and inform their box office personnel to warn patrons.  Or, as in most smaller theatres, I'll just make the signs myself and post them.

I figure it doesn't hurt to warn of "mature themes" and "adult language".  I'm currently working on a show that has excessive swearing, and we even used that wording on the sign!  Sure, some people have left before buying a ticket (maybe 3 or 4 total), but I think that's better than having them come in and being completely offended during the show that they leave mid-way through and disrupt the performance.

Mac Calder

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FOH calls
« Reply #3 on: Jun 13, 2005, 07:45 am »
Ticket box warnings are definatly a must - a venue I SM'ed at had one that you just placed red garage sale dots in the warnings applicable for those who did not want to make up their own. Another had strict guidelines about including all warnings on all tickets and flyers. God help you if you had a show that had the lot, you could not fit the name of the show on a poster less than A1 in size.

giabow

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FOH calls
« Reply #4 on: Jun 22, 2005, 07:52 pm »
We only do a preshow announcement if there is a casting change (in which case the theatre owner/house manager/production manager does it - she's a busy lady.)  

A lot of our shows are "not suitable for all family members," (a lot of them being original peices.)  There is typically a notice on all posters and flyers, and the house manager will say something if someone brings a child to an adult show.

supershorty

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FOH calls
« Reply #5 on: Jul 06, 2005, 02:03 am »
I'm currently working as a revolve op on "The Full Monty" and one of the FOH "warning signs" says
Quote
Warning: pasty flesh and body hair are used in this production
-Katie Paige

 

riotous