| re: Did Broadway theaters used to let people in earlier than half hour? | |
| Posted by: portenopete 11:45 am EDT 05/03/24 | |
| In reply to: re: Did Broadway theaters used to let people in earlier than half hour? - JereNYC 10:12 am EDT 05/03/24 | |
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| As always it's a combination of things, I think. As a big person who sometimes ends up in the middle of a row, I like avoiding having to squeeze in and force people to get up, some of whom are less-than-kind and make disparaging remarks about my size as I pass by them. So I try and be the first one in the row. I've always thought that scanners have slowed down the entrance process (although it has presumably lessened the situation of people being at the wrong performance). Before scanners became the norm, front-of-house usually gave a very brief and cursory look at tickets as they ripped them. Now the trickiness of lining up the scanner with the bar code takes way more time, as does people trying to bring up the tickets on their smartphones, which will go dark if the phone isn't being used for 30 seconds. Then the entering of the lock code. And so on and so on.... That being said. they do seem to be getting more efficient on either end. Certainly the few Broadway houses where opening the doors doesn't put an audience right into the house seem to open things up earlier (I'm thinking of the Samuel Friedman and maybe Circle-in-the-Square?). Of course on average the bars in London theatres are ludicrously cramped so I don't consider it more relaxing hanging out in those spaces. The more modern theatres of course have far more space in every department. I love seeing shows at he National and the Bridge because you can hang out in the spacious and airy lobby, grab a coffee or a sandwich, buy a programme and then go to your seat at the 5. The one thing there is no excuse for is the behaviour of security personnel. There are exceptions and sometimes the people are very friendly and welcoming, but just as often they seem tense and aggrieved and rude. If I can avoid bringing a knapsack with me I do, because it is far more relaxing not to get barked at and searched. And I think that culturally, things shift and expectations change. A lot of people who go to the theatre now are not the same people who grew up going to the theatre during "the golden age" and they think that early arrival is the norm. Just like at airports, they feel they are avoiding inconvenience by showing up super early and just like at the airports there is now a whole host of shops and restaurants and bars to spend that half hour before the show. (Not to mention photo op areas with cut-outs of the stars.) I prefer going to the not-for-profit theatres because the attendees are generally more serious, certainly older and calmer. There aren't the teenagers and crazed fanboyz and fangrrls and tourists who create a very different vibe. Of course, the old theatregoing audience can't sustain long runs on Broadway anymore so what are you going to do? (I saw GRENFELL at St. Ann's the other night and the audience was filled with calm, artsy, older folks and the vibe was just genteel and friendly and easy, but I don't expect the house was more than 40% full. But what a gift to have a theatre by the water with a stunning vista outside the front door and a vast lobby with plentiful seating, inexpensive snacks and smiling, helpful front-of-house staff.) |
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