A W O R D F R O M O U R D I R E C T O R
Dear Friends,
Many years ago, during a performance at
Bailey Concert Hall in Fort Lauderdale where I was
the Executive Director, Mel Tormé came offstage
at intermission to complain about an audience
member sitting in the front row eating bananas!
Tormé was very upset because the gentleman was
munching away and it was distracting him from his
performance. I went into the theater in search of the patron, but he
was nowhere to be found during intermission. When the show was
over, we found three banana peels under his seat!
Theater etiquette is somewhat relaxed in the 21st century, but
there are common courtesies audience members should practice so
both the performers and other patrons have an enjoyable experience.
A frequent comment on our audience surveys concerns guests
wearing too much cologne or perfume. Please be aware that your
neighbor may have respiratory difficulties and your Chanel No. 5
could trigger an asthma attack.
What about photographs during the show? Some performances
like dance and Broadway tours have strict “no photos allowed”
policies. Others encourage fans to take photos and post them online.
Refrain from using flash when taking photos and do not illuminate
your phone (texting) during a performance. It is very annoying to
those around you and to the performers.
Also, always wait until the actors take their final bows before
leaving, and exit when the show is over and the house is illuminated.
Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners, has the final word here:
“Etiquette is all human social behavior. If you’re a hermit on a
mountain, you don’t have to worry about etiquette; if somebody
comes up the mountain, then you’ve got a problem. It matters
because we want to live in reasonably harmonious communities.”
Thank you for your assistance in this matter,
Cindy Garren,
Director SFSC
M.F.A.
Director, SFSC Cultural Arts Programs