Klarinet Archive - Posting 000651.txt from 1999/08

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Audience Distractions - A Response
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 02:39:27 -0400

angella hedrick noted about pagers:

<<<not even- they do make silent pagers that vibrate.... there's no
excuse for a disturbance like that... but nothing gets me more than
BABIES!!!!! argh! that's something i'll never understand...>>>

I love babies. I personally have 2 of them, and wouldn't trade them for a
whole bunch of Kaspars! I do not, not, not take them to concerts, however,
because it's just not fair to them or the other members of the audience. I
have had concerts ruined by babies, and it makes me seethe.

IMHO, the issue on audience noise is simply one of control. If you are able
to control a potential source of noise, it is morally required of the
audience member to do so--and make it not happen. This means no cell
phones, pagers, watches or babies--they simply should not be physically
present in the concert hall, under any circumstances. Those that bring them
are simply rude and uncaring. My proposed rule about all of this stuff is
simple--if the musician didn't bring one on stage, you shouldn't bring one
into the hall. (Or adjust you ticket prices--for children, charge them $100
minus their age.)

Now, I've played a concert where a gentleman had a heart attack during the
performance. This was not his fault--while certainly disruptive, he wasn't
being rude when he collapsed in the aisle. If you can't get a baby sitter,
though, don't come to my concert.

Please note--I'm not talking appropriate venues like children's concerts or
an outdoor summer band gig. Those are great fun. It's hilarious to watch
toddlers dance along to the Stars and Stripes Forever. Those are
appropriate venues for kids, however--an orchestra concert is not.

The rudest behavior I have ever witnessed was as an audience member at a
pops concert for the Buffalo Phil about fifteen years ago. My ex, a
terrific clarinet player, is probably Sarah Vaughn's #1 all-time fan. I
spent a ton of money (for a poor student) on some pretty good seats to hear
Ms. Vaughn in person. It would have been a great concert . . . but for the
moron in the row behind us who INSISTED ON SINGING ALONG.

This was intolerable. I first harrumphed--gently--and then leaned back and
(between songs) asked him to cease. 1 song later I informed him (a) that I
spent a lot of money to hear a great singer and (b) he wasn't it. Ushers
were then summoned by others (I was not the only annoyed). Even with 2
ushers prodding him up the aisle, he just didn't get why he couldn't hum
along like he did at home . . .

kjf

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