School is back in session and soon there will be plenty of concerts, plays and other performances to attend. There are some common guidelines for behavior at events like this, to ensure both enjoyment for those attending and respect for the performers. Following are some quick tips, with insight from Falmouth resident Dorothea Johnson, who founded The Protocol School of Washington® and is a nationally known etiquette expert. Johnson’s sixth book, Modern Manners, will be available in late October.
Arrive
early
Showing up at the last minute can make finding an
appropriate seat difficult, as well as creating undue stress. Johnson suggests arriving at least 15 minutes
prior to the beginning of the show. This
allows you to settle in and get ready for the performance to begin, and
promotes a calm demeanor, Johnson said.
Know
the guidelines
Most venues have guidelines that are made known to
those in attendance, and many also have ushers or attendants who can assist
patrons in following those guidelines.
With student performances, Johnson said, it’s up to the school to set
and publicize the guidelines. “People
want guidelines. If there are no
guidelines, people will act any old way they please,” she said. As a patron, knowing the expectations ahead
of time allows you to follow the protocol of the event you are attending.
Keep
movement to a minimum
Moving around during live performances is
distracting not only to the performers, but to other audience members. Arrive early enough to be settled in your
seat well before the lights go down. In
many professional venues, said Johnson, intermission is the only time you are
allowed to enter or exit. At school
performances, the guidelines may differ, but it’s important to be courteous to other
attendees. Getting up and down several
times blocks the view of others, and can be distracting to those on stage.
Leave
electronics home
Although some electronics are now being used for
photographs and videotaping, it can be simply too tempting to do other things
if the device is there. The ringing of a
cell phone that hasn’t been set to silent disrupts a performance, and having a
telephone conversation is a definite faux pas.
Texting, even when the sound is off, is not acceptable, since the light
from the device can be distracting to others, said Johnson. Although phones, tablets and laptops seem to show
up everywhere, when attending a performance it is best to leave them at home or
in the car. At the very least, leave
them turned off in a pocketbook or bag, and use them only at intermission.
Quiet,
please
When the lights go down, that’s a signal for
quiet. A concert or play is not the
place to catch up with a neighbor or friend.
Conversation between audience members is not only disrespectful to the
performers, but can be very frustrating for others who are trying to focus on
the show. “The minute that performance
starts, that is when the conversation should stop,” said Johnson.
Teach
your children well
Attending school performances often means bringing along
younger siblings, who might not sit still well.
Parents should know their child’s capabilities, and plan
accordingly. Johnson suggests explaining
to the child what they can expect, and why they must behave a certain way, prior
to the event. “It is better if the child
knows what is going to happen,” she said.
After doing so, arrive early enough to secure an appropriate seat. Johnson suggests an aisle seat in the middle
of the theater – not down front, where you have to move through the whole
theater or auditorium if the child becomes restless.
Parents should be aware of how long young
children are able to sit, and remove them immediately if they become
disruptive, as it isn’t fair to other attendees to be distracted by restless
behavior.
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