Photo Credit: University of the Fraser Valley via cc
10 Tips for Theatregoers
This article is written by Jason SweetTooth Williams
As a sometimes-house-manager, it is shocking to me how many people are so bad at going to the theater.
So here are a few tips that you can share with your friends and neighbors who might one day go see a show.
Theater Audience Etiquette
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Yes, ushers are there to help you, but they are not responsible for the content of the show, the casting of the show, the number of stairs in the building or the price of your ticket.So listen to them as they tell you where to sit and then leave them alone.
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Everyone wants you to have a good time but that doesn’t mean you should arrive to the theater so intoxicated that you can hardly stand or that you feel like you are going to vomit on yourself in your seat.
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Don’t eat food in the theater!!
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Many of your questions will be answered if you look at and read the signs that are posted in the theater.Much like driving a car, the signs indicate where you are and how to get to where you want to go.Before you scream at someone about how you can’t find the bathroom, take a moment to read the letters on that sign in front of you. (I bet you it will say “Restrooms –>”)
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Take it easy with the cologne / perfume.You are going to be sitting in a room next to strangers. They don’t want to smell you or the smell you used to cover your smell. It gives people headaches. It makes them want to pass out.
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If you are seeing a musical and you happen to know the songs the actors are singing, be inwardly proud of that fact and keep it to yourself.The people sitting near you and the actors on the stage appreciate your help with this.
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No phones.Ever.Don’t leave ’em on. Don’t check your messages or the time. Don’t take pictures or videos.Just pretend you are going to see a show in the early 90s, before you had the option to use technology to be a distracting ass.
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If you are late or need to leave your seat to use the restroom, it’s all good and happens to everyone- no worries!But you must accept the late seating/ return seating policy of whatever theater you are at. You are not at a private performance and the front of house staff and director of the show you are seeing have a reason for making you watch the show from a monitor in the lobby for a few minutes.And when this pisses you off and you want scream at someone, pull out this list and see #1.
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Unless you are having a medical emergency, stay in the theater during the curtain call.And if you are physically able, clap for the people who just performed for you. They are actual humans who just did a live performance.That is a special thing, treat it as such.
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Thank you for coming to the show!A piece of theater only exists with an audience. It’s cool that you paid money to go see people pretend to be other people and sometimes sing and dance.Keep going to see things!
Jason ‘SweetTooth’ Williams – Actor, writer, husband, friend. A guy from Queens:
Jason is a New York based actor/ singer/ writer. He is passionate about performing in and creating new works for the stage.
Along with theater artists Joe Iconis and Lance Rubin, Jason has written the 70’s Exploitation Movie-inspired action musical Annie Golden: Bounty Hunter, Yo! which will be seen by audiences very soon.
He is a regular member of Joe Iconis and Family and can be heard on the recordings of THINGS TO RUIN: The Songs of Joe Iconis and The Joe Iconis Rock n Roll Jamboree, available from Ghostlight/ SH-k-Book records and for sale anywhere you can buy music online.
Follow Jason – @J_SweetTooth
