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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Feb 23, 2016 22:44:35 GMT
On the flip side with the people who block rows and get in the way of people trying to leave, there's the person who has sat in the middle of the row and is trying to push past to get out at the end of the show, despite the fact that the entire theatre is slowly making its way towards the exit.
I had this at Grey Gardens at the Southwark Playhouse, a man and his wife trying to push past me then being all snidely 'excuuuse me' when I didn't get out the way. I actually turned around to point out that I can't move because there is someone right in front of me, and I, along with 200 or so other people, are actually all making our way slowly towards one narrow door. I get that people have trains to catch, but sometimes there's nothing to be done.
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Post by mrtumnus on Feb 28, 2016 20:06:15 GMT
Keeping a place for someone in a Day Ticket queue.
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Post by infofreako on Feb 28, 2016 21:59:25 GMT
Keeping a place for someone in a Day Ticket queue. That seriously bugs me. I dayseated for Memphis and was 2nd in the queue, that was until the lady in fronts 3 friends strolled up 5 minutes before the box office opened. I questioned it having been there for 2 and a half hours by then and was told that she was there before me and could queue for as many people as she liked. Thankfully others joined in and the newcomers were forced to the back of the queue to much tutting and muttering about how they couldnt get there earlier as theyd travelled all the way from Brighton. Needless to say I pointed out having travelled from Brighton myself it was very easy to get there earlier
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Post by Kim on Feb 29, 2016 10:17:34 GMT
I have little problem with that if it's gonna make no difference to the sold numbers (i.e I used to join two friends about 45mins after them but we only wanted 3 tickets therefore only 2 needed to que) or if the person in front says 1 friend would be joining a reasonable time later due to first trains... stroll up 10 mins before opening tho and it's the rare time ill get arsey at strangers
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 10:39:39 GMT
Yes I think as long as it doesn't make a difference to numbers it's fine. But anything else and I will be making a comment! Same with unreserved seating queues- I'd have no problem saving a space for 1 companion who was on the way (or say an older person who couldn't stand in the queue) but anything more than that is out of line.
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Post by Steffi on Feb 29, 2016 10:54:13 GMT
I have little problem with that if it's gonna make no difference to the sold numbers (i.e I used to join two friends about 45mins after them but we only wanted 3 tickets therefore only 2 needed to que) or if the person in front says 1 friend would be joining a reasonable time later due to first trains... stroll up 10 mins before opening tho and it's the rare time ill get arsey at strangers Agreed. I have joined a friend in the queue several times in the past (and vice versa) but we always just wanted one ticket each so it made no difference in the total number of tickets. However, we always make a point of telling people behind us that we are not getting any extra tickets to avoid confusion. :-)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 11:20:41 GMT
It's about transparency, isn't it? "Hello people behind me, I'll be buying two tickets this morning, and my +1 is going to be joining me in the queue for tea and company, but we are still only getting two tickets between us." I think if you've got tickets already then there's a little leeway to be joined by a friend or two (the Globe, for instance), but if you're queuing to acquire tickets, then your friends only get to join you if their doing so doesn't increase the number of tickets you'll be buying.
Either way, it's still about the transparency. "Hello people who've just joined the Globe queue behind me, one of my friends has gone to buy a sandwich and the other one is running late so although I look like one person, I am actually three" has always been met with understanding in my experience (and if the people joining behind me didn't think that was acceptable actually then I'm always prepared to offer to let them go ahead. You have to be REALLY far back in the groundling queue before it becomes difficult to get a decent spot, after all). It's just manners.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 12:02:18 GMT
Indeed.
Of course the 'exception' to the Globe queuing rule is if you're a superior Globe person (self defined) and it's last weekend of the season. In which case it's perfectly acceptable to break all of your own rules in the Globe queue and/or misinform people who've never been before so you and your cronies get 'prime position'
Yes, my experience last year put me off setting foot in the place ever again...
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 29, 2016 16:14:53 GMT
You join the rear of a queue for unreserved seating, to be told by the person in front (A), "I'm saving a place for B..." OK, fair enough. Then 'B' arrives, and in turn informs me "I'm saving a place for C... and D..." You end up being shoved backwards, and find out that A, B, C and D are not sitting together after all.
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Post by bjorne on Feb 29, 2016 20:34:28 GMT
Many times at the end of the shows there is A LOT of garbage on the floor. Plastic bags, cups, empty packagings of various kinds of food, paper towels, kleenex... Ok, ushers are payed to clean up after the shows, but this doesn't give you the permission to act like a bunch of pigs. It's disrespectful on so many levels.
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Post by The Matthew on Feb 29, 2016 21:10:01 GMT
Many times at the end of the shows there is A LOT of garbage on the floor. Plastic bags, cups, empty packagings of various kinds of food, paper towels, kleenex... Ok, ushers are payed to clean up after the shows, but this doesn't give you the permission to act like a bunch of pigs. It's disrespectful on so many levels. My local cinema has started putting up notices telling people to leave their rubbish on the floor so it can be collected. I can't imagine where they were leaving it before that made the floor is a more convenient place for the staff. But seriously, is it that difficult to hold on to your rubbish for a minute or two until you can throw it away properly? It's not like your empty bag of wine gums is going to turn into an evil bag-demon that will rip your head off and eat your spine, although in the case of some members of the public I bloody wish it would.
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Post by peggs on Feb 29, 2016 22:37:23 GMT
Indeed. Of course the 'exception' to the Globe queuing rule is if you're a superior Globe person (self defined) and it's last weekend of the season. In which case it's perfectly acceptable to break all of your own rules in the Globe queue and/or misinform people who've never been before so you and your cronies get 'prime position' Yes, my experience last year put me off setting foot in the place ever again... A self defined superior Globe person? I've been told before in the queue before that last shows of stuff could get bad as the stewards (are they called that?) had been given tickets and then saved lots of spaces for friends. I get really grumpy in that queue if people start having friends show up, as noted already a friend is fine or perhaps two (at some point there seemed to be a rule that you could save one space per person if you had their ticket but how exactly can you check) but a whole group of people and then I am that person complaining in what i hope is a perfectly polite manner. When i have done this the people have always seemed very surprised that i'm bothered but have gone back down the queue, apart from the person who told us all they were short and could therefore go to the front and we were so surprised which just watched her do it. From my experience repeat visitors know the deal it's the first time groups or trips that don't and send one person along and then all traipse up hours later. Misinforming people, that's just plain wrong, there are always newbies looking a bit lost and I've always taken care to explain how it works if they want to know.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2016 8:18:51 GMT
I was going to say 'Stewards' but on one hand it seemed unfair to tar them all with the same brush, and on another there were plenty of non-stewards being equally obnoxious.
They did have that 'rule' and even a sign saying so, but of course rules and signs and general polite behaviour don't apply to everyone as we all well know!! It was the fact that anyone daring to speak up was regarded with shock and awe as well.
And how I didn't REALLY kick off when I realised what they'd done to some poor young girls (either American or Canadian) who were students, wanting to experience theatre for cheap etc who got told completely the wrong information when they'd been a the show the night before so that they wouldn't 'interfere' in the queue. Ugh.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2016 8:59:56 GMT
It is largely the off-duty stewards though. They seem to have forgotten the school trip maxim of "you're not in your uniform but you're still representing the school", and either don't realise or don't care how identifiable they are. I don't usually go to opening or closing performances, but I still wince when I see one of them without their tabard. Some of them are just as bad at other theatres too, it's extremely annoying.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 1, 2016 9:39:52 GMT
Remind me never to go to The Globe. It sounds dreadful.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2016 9:43:02 GMT
It is largely the off-duty stewards though. They seem to have forgotten the school trip maxim of "you're not in your uniform but you're still representing the school", and either don't realise or don't care how identifiable they are. I don't usually go to opening or closing performances, but I still wince when I see one of them without their tabard. Some of them are just as bad at other theatres too, it's extremely annoying. Exactly. They also make sure EVERYONE knows how SUPER IMPORTANT THEY ARE as Stewards. (Conversely if I ever visited one of my theatres as an off duty usher I did my damn best to pretend I didn't work there ) On one hand, yes the theatre relies on you as volunteers and that's all very lovely. On the other, you aren't God, kindly stop acting like it.
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Post by peggs on Mar 1, 2016 13:00:42 GMT
It is largely the off-duty stewards though. They seem to have forgotten the school trip maxim of "you're not in your uniform but you're still representing the school", and either don't realise or don't care how identifiable they are. I don't usually go to opening or closing performances, but I still wince when I see one of them without their tabard. Some of them are just as bad at other theatres too, it's extremely annoying. Exactly. They also make sure EVERYONE knows how SUPER IMPORTANT THEY ARE as Stewards. (Conversely if I ever visited one of my theatres as an off duty usher I did my damn best to pretend I didn't work there ) On one hand, yes the theatre relies on you as volunteers and that's all very lovely. On the other, you aren't God, kindly stop acting like it. In fairness there is a mix as I guess there is everywhere, I've been in queues with off duty stewards who turned up early and joined the queue like everybody else and were lovely and then I've run up against those who weren't. I think as a groundling the Globe can be a bit hit or miss as if you have a large talking group, or run up against people who are plain obnoxious it can have quite a big impact, alternatively you can meet like people and have a great day out. It's true for all theatre and seating of course just standing and queuing seems to increase the impact felt.
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Post by Coated on Mar 2, 2016 1:46:45 GMT
Thanks for reminding me how much I dislike the groundling malarkey. Particularly since there is always that one (usually not short) person who decides to stand in front of you 2 seconds before the performance starts. And with in front I mean about 1.5 inches away from your gritted teeth.
Spatially unaware patrons would ideally be encouraged to avoid all theatres, but should be outlawed for unreserved standing....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 8:29:01 GMT
Exactly. They also make sure EVERYONE knows how SUPER IMPORTANT THEY ARE as Stewards. (Conversely if I ever visited one of my theatres as an off duty usher I did my damn best to pretend I didn't work there ) On one hand, yes the theatre relies on you as volunteers and that's all very lovely. On the other, you aren't God, kindly stop acting like it. In fairness there is a mix as I guess there is everywhere, I've been in queues with off duty stewards who turned up early and joined the queue like everybody else and were lovely and then I've run up against those who weren't. I think as a groundling the Globe can be a bit hit or miss as if you have a large talking group, or run up against people who are plain obnoxious it can have quite a big impact, alternatively you can meet like people and have a great day out. It's true for all theatre and seating of course just standing and queuing seems to increase the impact felt. I agree, and in my original comment I did say I didn't want to tar them all with the same brush (there were equally obnoxious non-stewards too) and likewise the same happens in all day seat queues. Linked to that, can we have a 'no drama school types being uber stagey in a day seat queue' clause? I rarely day seat in London now but in New York I was a magnet for the most STAGEY teens/twenty somethings LOUDLY telling everyone how much they knew about theatre. And of course with day seats you often end up sat next to them in the evening. Weirdly the exception was Hamilton, which perhaps says luck doesn't shine on the stagey
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Post by peggs on Mar 2, 2016 14:16:01 GMT
In fairness there is a mix as I guess there is everywhere, I've been in queues with off duty stewards who turned up early and joined the queue like everybody else and were lovely and then I've run up against those who weren't. I think as a groundling the Globe can be a bit hit or miss as if you have a large talking group, or run up against people who are plain obnoxious it can have quite a big impact, alternatively you can meet like people and have a great day out. It's true for all theatre and seating of course just standing and queuing seems to increase the impact felt. I agree, and in my original comment I did say I didn't want to tar them all with the same brush (there were equally obnoxious non-stewards too) and likewise the same happens in all day seat queues. Yes emicardiff sorry didn't mean to imply you were
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 14:34:08 GMT
Oh don't worry peggs didn't take offence!
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Post by mrtumnus on Mar 2, 2016 22:24:08 GMT
Restricted view seats that force the occupant to interfere with the view of those behind. Theatre's responsibility this one not the person who buys the cheap seat.
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Post by d'James on Mar 2, 2016 22:30:36 GMT
Restricted view seats that force the occupant to interfere with the view of those behind. Theatre's responsibility this one not the person who buys the cheap seat. So true. The Upper Circle's rail at the Palladium is particularly bad. Theatre can be so expensive I just think it's offensive that you have to put up with bad sight lines because you're not rich enough. Of course most theatres were built ages ago and new theatres are better.
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Post by aloneandloveless on Mar 5, 2016 1:12:17 GMT
Can we electrocute the super self-indulgent who feel the need to announce to their entire row how well they know the cast? I don't care if you and Bradley Jaden had a moment in a public toilet in Brighton back in the summer of 06, I'm just here to watch the show thank you very much.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 10:04:39 GMT
Babies at non-baby productions. In the last week I've had two screaming babies at 'adult' shows (not THAT kind of adult show...) I mean I get that childcare is a nightmare but really do you think your baby is happy at the loud/crowded/way past their bedtime theatre?
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Post by theatremiss on Mar 7, 2016 12:48:25 GMT
Babies at non-baby productions. In the last week I've had two screaming babies at 'adult' shows (not THAT kind of adult show...) I mean I get that childcare is a nightmare but really do you think your baby is happy at the loud/crowded/way past their bedtime theatre? Good grief!
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Post by Coated on Mar 8, 2016 0:20:49 GMT
Sniffling. Stop it. I get it, the show is sad. That doesn't mean I have to listen to your teary snot travelling up and down your nasal passage. Get a tissue or let it run free. Quietly. Make sure to wipe your face thoroughly before the lights go on and we'll all be happy.
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