Understanding the Rules of Attending a Venue: What You Need to Know Before Showtime

Can you record at a ballet performance? Can you eat in the middle of a work? Each auditorium has its functionality and, therefore, its basic rules for each “show”. It is for this reason that, for the full enjoyment of everyone in the audience, the stage managers or “stage managers” urge citizens to know what is allowed to do and what is not allowed when attending a “venue.”

According to what they said in an interview with El Nuevo Día, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the public has increased its sponsorship of all entertainment projects, which include music or theater. However, sometimes they are unaware of the rules of the event they are sponsoring. “The shows have mutated and evolved in many ways. Before, the traditional experience was a safe container, where there was this fourth wall and you did not interact with the actors on stage. Now it is another type of experience, as it gives the public the opportunity to have or assume behaviors that are not necessarily on par with what they are seeing,” said Jack Marie Ortiz, who works as a stage director in Puerto Rico.

But, what should you know before buying the ticket? In a conversation with several stage managers from Puerto Rico, these were the most important points: type of venue and show, use of cell phones, dress code and punctuality.

“When we go to the coliseum, we can have our cell phone ringing and there is no problem, but if you go into the experimental room… it is difficult to listen to reggaeton,” Jack Marie explained with a laugh.

If the show is a concert, it is likely that the use of the cell phone will not bother you and may even become part of the show. However, if it is a play or recital, removing this device will not only disturb the rest of the audience, but also the actors or dancers on stage.

“Each project is aimed at a public and they must identify the project in order to know what type of interaction they can have as a public with what is happening,” added Aníbal Rubio, councilor of “Cuca Gómez”.

Likewise, the dress code is a fairly recurring “wake-up call” in the rooms.

“Not everyone knows that, at the Tapia Theater, even if you are in the middle of a tourist environment, it is not allowed to wear shorts,” said Jack Marie, who assured that on many occasions she assumes the role of intermediary in these cases.

The experts alluded to the new way for singers to establish a “dress code” either with just the use of tennis shoes or a certain color. For them, these peculiar situations can make the public think that it is the same in all the venues.

“It is not in me as a stage manager. It’s the administration, the theater has those rules and the audience forgets to assess and prepare for the room they are going to visit,” added the expert.

“It is due to ignorance. Nowhere, except at the door of the theater, they tell you, flip-flops are not allowed,” added Julio Ramos, manager of actress Marian Pabón.

Another situation they exposed was punctuality. Although popularly speaking jokes are made alluding to “always being late” such as the phrase “Puerto Rico time”, not arriving on time to an event can cause discomfort both in the audience and on stage.

For example, in a symphony hall, the protocol is a “symphonic” one, which means that no one enters the hall until the act that is currently occurring has been completed. “You don’t want to interrupt the piece to accommodate the audience, and not alter the experience of whoever arrived on time,” said Jack Marie, who excels in this type of theater.

“It is in our hands to give calls in the room before the start of the show, so that they get to their seats and keep their phones on silent, but the public does not necessarily respond in that way,” they lamented.

Likewise, they agreed that the most difficult position is to draw attention to those who use cell phones to broadcast live on social networks.

“Many spend 45 minutes with the phone on, recording… if I intervene it is worse, because I interrupt the scene more than letting it be recorded,” said Julio Ramos. “Since it is allowed in concerts… they think that in a theatrical event they can do it. But if it is not warned before…

They provide possible solutions

For every problem, there is a solution, and for the councilors, the remedy is to inform the rules from the moment an event is promoted until the ticket is purchased.

“The production should inform through press releases and the venue should make it known to the buyer,” suggested producer Julio Ramos, who is also a producer.

According to what they indicated, if the venue manages to inform its rules in advance, the public can come with prior notice of the expectation of the event.

Likewise, for the stage manager “El Omar”, another alternative could be to coordinate with the companies in charge of ticket sales so that, through emails, they can provide “a little more specific” information about the events.

“We want to bring the best quality of entertainment to the country and its visitors,” concluded Jack Marie.

2023-12-30 15:16:42
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