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electonics admonitions

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3782
Printed Date: 5/14/24 at 7:08am
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Topic: electonics admonitions
Posted By: VPA1
Subject: electonics admonitions
Date Posted: 1/28/09 at 11:05pm
What admonitions to you give your audience prior to your shows? We've always done the photography/videography one, cell phones and pagers. NOW we are considering one about texting. I about choked a woman to death the other night as she was texting during a very emotional scene from THE SPITFIRE GRILL. She was quiet about it, but the blue light from her cell phone cascaded through all the seats above her. Ack!



Replies:
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 1/29/09 at 8:42am
Thanks for the heads up. You would think texting would come under the category of "please turn off your cellphones" but I guess not. Another new thing that can happen (new to me, I guess) is that actors texting or talking on cell phones backstage can get news during a show that disrupts their performance. We had that happen during out last production.


Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 1/29/09 at 10:36am

I had that happen to me about a year ago.  I had just exited and one of the actress in the wings said "My boyfriend really like that scene."  I was confused and asked her how she could possibly know that.  "He just texted me."

I could only shake my head in wonder.

 

 



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KEB


Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 1/29/09 at 12:52pm
Originally posted by KEB54

I had that happen to me about a year ago.  I had just exited and one of the actress in the wings said "My boyfriend really like that scene."  I was confused and asked her how she could possibly know that.  "He just texted me."


I could only shake my head in wonder.


 


 



Well, I guess that could come in handy if you have your zipper down or something!


Posted By: Stageref
Date Posted: 4/19/09 at 3:16pm
I've seen that happen too... actors texting backstage and disrupting their characters.
 
Pre-show announcements have been saying "silence" your cell-phones and pagers.  I guess we'll have to go back to "turn off".


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http://www.stageref.com - Stageref.com
The new, free, on-line social experience of community theater productions and people


Posted By: chelserin
Date Posted: 4/19/09 at 6:46pm
When I made the preshow announcements for the last show, I asked that any electronic devise that rings, dings, vibrates or buzzes be turned off. We didnt' have any problems from the audience.
It was very embarrasing that I was the one to leave my phone on... oops!
 
One time that I've seen having a phone on backstage and out front was helpful was for the stage manager and house manager. They could text before the show and during intermission about what the house looks like and when they are ready to start.


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To be in the world, and of the world, and never to stand aside and watch.


Posted By: P&M Sales
Date Posted: 4/22/09 at 2:04pm
Dear All,

I posted this yesterday (under default.asp?C=5 - Producing Theater : forum_topics.asp?FID=20 - Lights and Sound ) in reply to a request for some anti-mobile-phone sound effects to use prior to a performance ...

Originally posted by P&M Sales

Hi Pandora,

The effect you want is used in some movie theatres over here in the UK and is great in surround sound! Trouble is I don't know where you'd get it from. One alternative I have seen (or is it heard!) is to play a single phone's ring tone over the house PA system quite loud just before curtain up. It quietened everybody down and gave a phone reminder at the same time.

As an alternative, how about using a mobile phone detector in a corridor leading into your auditorium. http://www.eeontheweb.com/cell_phone_detectors.htm - This one is highly configurable with visual and/or audible warnings.


... and it seems like this thread needs it too, but this time for use in the dressing rooms!


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best regards

David
http://www.stagescripts.com - http://www.stagescripts.com


Posted By: gaftpres
Date Posted: 4/22/09 at 10:48pm
We included texting with this performance. We do a matinee for the high schools, we are a community college program. Due to the number of teens in the seats that text, we made a point of telling them to turn off their cell phones for the duration of the performance.  You think that anyone coming to a theatre would do it out of common courtesy for the performers. One word: idiots  My cast has been informed of the same information, no texting or calls at all during the performances and don't let me find out you did.....

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Old volunteers never die, they just get recycled!



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