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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2023 9:45:50 GMT
It all feels a bit bleak. The only thing I can think of that would stop it are a triple whammy of breathalysing everyone at the door, proper bag searches to eliminate all alcohol smuggled in and no alcohol being served in the venues. The problem with that approach is how do venues survive without the profit they make on alcohol? |
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Post by BVM on Apr 8, 2023 9:50:11 GMT
It all feels a bit bleak. The only thing I can think of that would stop it are a triple whammy of breathalysing everyone at the door, proper bag searches to eliminate all alcohol smuggled in and no alcohol being served in the venues. The problem with that approach is how do venues survive without the profit they make on alcohol? Indeed - and that's why will never happen. But I do believe this conflict of interests remains a barrier to getting this sorted. |
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Post by BVM on Apr 8, 2023 9:51:57 GMT
I don't even know where to start with all of this. Other than as people have said it's only a matter of time until something truly horrific happens like someone going over a Circle/Balcony and plunging to the ground below. Terrifying. It all feels a bit bleak. The only thing I can think of that would stop it are a triple whammy of breathalysing everyone at the door, proper bag searches to eliminate all alcohol smuggled in and no alcohol being served in the venues. All of which is rather unfair to the majority of people who can enjoy it responsibly. And clearly this triple whammy will never happen. But alcohol has been implicated in 99% of the extreme bad behaviour I have witnessed in my theatre going career. Grim. And the poor poor staff that work in these places. I’m not sure if I am 100% correct here but I believe that the theatre makes virtually nothing from Ticket sales, the revenue goes to IMG, hence the need to sell alcohol.I have been offered a bottle of wine when I really only wanted a glass as it’s cheaper! No wonder people become problematic. As I’ve said before my daughter works FOH at thePslace and Opera House. She has recently graduated drama school and like so many others works at the theatre to make ends meet. She has spent a huge amount of time supervising the Grand Tier, and has witnessed some vile behaviour from audiences. I am so glad she wasn’t there last night, but several of her colleagues were, and it was terrifying for them. I live in fear that someone could go over the balcony. I’m at a loss really to know where to begin with all this. Yes - don't know the exact stats but the sale of alcohol is very profitable. And ATG in particular push it HARD. Really feel for your daughter. FOH are not security and should never be expected to do a security role. |
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Post by og on Apr 8, 2023 12:10:17 GMT
It all feels a bit bleak. The only thing I can think of that would stop it are a triple whammy of breathalysing everyone at the door, proper bag searches to eliminate all alcohol smuggled in and no alcohol being served in the venues. The problem with that approach is how do venues survive without the profit they make on alcohol? Well, they are theatre's first and foremost, not bars. Perhaps they should model their business around making theatre profitable in the first place without becoming reliant on the profit of bar sales. Are we suggesting without FOH Bars theatres would become unprofitable and close? |
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Post by A.Ham on Apr 8, 2023 12:26:20 GMT
The problem with that approach is how do venues survive without the profit they make on alcohol? Well, they are theatre's first and foremost, not bars. Perhaps they should model their business around making theatre profitable in the first place without becoming reliant on the profit of bar sales. Are we suggesting without FOH Bars theatres would become unprofitable and close? Sadly, yes - it’s entirely possible, especially when their finances are stretched post-pandemic too. |
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Post by A.Ham on Apr 8, 2023 12:27:59 GMT
The story is now on the homepage of the BBC News app - The Bodyguard cut short in Manchester due to rowdy singalongs www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-65220527Including tweets from Ayden and quotes from Melody’s Instagram - saying she’s apologised for not being able to finish the performance. It’s hardly her who should be apologising! |
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Post by marob on Apr 8, 2023 12:35:09 GMT
I genuinely hate ATG and I think it’s a shame the pandemic didn’t put them out of business.
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Post by hadeswasking on Apr 8, 2023 12:42:51 GMT
I genuinely hate ATG and I think it’s a shame the pandemic didn’t put them out of business. Then there would be barely any theatres for these tours to go to. |
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Post by A.Ham on Apr 8, 2023 12:43:00 GMT
I genuinely hate ATG and I think it’s a shame the pandemic didn’t put them out of business. When I saw Shirley Valentine a few weeks ago, everyone entering the theatre is greeted by what I can only describe as a wall of Veuve Clicquot facing them as they walk into the main lobby - bottles all beautifully arranged on and behind the bar area. So clearly selling alcohol at premium prices (they want £11+ for a glass of wine) is a big part of their business model. Interestingly, the bar prices are much more reasonable at Delfont Mackintosh theatres but ATG seem more money-grabbing on a number of fronts in my experience. Editing to say I’ve just arrived at the Phoenix for Streetcar, and it’s the same here! Big display of bottles at the main bar and a champagne stall outside the dress circle bar. £17.20 a glass - chink chink! |
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 8, 2023 12:53:33 GMT
The theatre itself (or the company who own it) will take a maximum of 15% of ticket sales and thus that is why everyone pushes bar and programme sales like crazy
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Post by mkb on Apr 8, 2023 12:54:39 GMT
Interestingly, the bar prices are much more reasonable at Delfont Mackintosh theatres but ATG seem more money-grabbing on a number of fronts in my experience. Very true. I'll often have a glass of wine at a DM venue, but never at ATG. There's always a pub within short distance of any ATG that does the job. |
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Post by Figaro on Apr 8, 2023 13:11:43 GMT
They sell shots of alcohol at the Piccadilly after the show in the foyer as you leave!
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Post by fiyerorocher on Apr 8, 2023 15:27:21 GMT
I used to work in a theatre that wanted us to push alcohol sales so insidiously I refused to do it. They walked us through a whole 'scenario' showing us multiple ways we could coerce people into getting a double when they wanted a single, and then turning that into another preordered for the interval. All they care about is making money.
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Post by Peter on Apr 8, 2023 16:52:48 GMT
But I’m assuming these people must arrive already three sheets to the wind? Maybe I’m a cheapskate, but I’m not sure I could afford to get drunk at theatre bar prices…
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Post by richey on Apr 8, 2023 19:25:34 GMT
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Post by shady23 on Apr 8, 2023 22:29:16 GMT
From the clip it looks like the problem people were up in the Grand Tier. It’s horrifyingly steep up there. How anyone could be safely removed if they didn’t want to be I have no idea. With great difficulty it seems... |
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Post by craig on Apr 9, 2023 9:19:30 GMT
This just makes me desperately sad. My partner and I have all but stopped going to the big crowd pleaser musicals because of audience behaviour. The videos of this are shocking.
Imagine not being quiet whilst Melody Thornton sings that song so beautifully! I feel so sorry for the cast and for the 99% of the audience who no doubt knew how to behave.
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Post by craig on Apr 9, 2023 9:22:55 GMT
Actually, it’s the theatre staff I feel most sorry for. It’s just not their jobs to police this stuff. I work in cusomer service and people can be truly awful sometimes, more so when alcohol is involved.
I was the Wycombe Swan recently for the first time in years and saw an audience member being extremely rude to one of the (volunteer) ushers. The usher looked to be in her late 60s. Why can’t people just behave?
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Post by theatrefan62 on Apr 9, 2023 11:20:32 GMT
I wonder if part of the problem is also in how watered down these productions have become, they have edged more into concert territory in how they are staged.
Not saying it excuses the audience, but some of these shows you do feel less like you're watching a story unfold and more like a concert these days.
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Post by kyvai on Apr 9, 2023 11:38:57 GMT
“Unprecedented levels of violence that asking them to stop (singing along with the show) caused”
This is the terrifying part. I have always been one to shush persistently annoying people near me in the theatre or the cinema, or ask directly people to put phones away if they are close enough to me to whisper to and them using their phone is distracting to me. If they’re not close enough to whisper to I have approached people at the interval to let them know they were disrupting us as well. I’ve had some occasional rude words in return (and one grown woman with a teen daughter blow a raspberry at me! Poor daughter was mortified) but generally even after an initial immature tantrum/refusal they shut up and behave because essentially I think they’re embarrassed to have been publicly called out and realise that everyone around them is seething at them. Sometimes they won’t return after the interval which is nice. But to become so violent and disruptive that the police are called? It beggars belief. There’s a definite recent change in a subset of theatregoers. These people are being enabled by a culture of individual entitlement, and now being egged on by prominent media figures supporting their main character worldview and validating their disruptive behaviour as the norm. And now physical violence is the result. Well done Alison Hammond and Vanessa Feltz, well done.
I 100% support a lot more clear rules being sign posted and prominently announced at performances, also include them in ticket emails and programmes etc. State that people will be removed if they are persistently disruptive (singing, talking, using phones etc) and follow through. Refuse service to drunk people, or just rude people. Maybe we will have to employ trained and licenced security staff in venues who have the capability to safely and legally eject people. Sad times.
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Post by deej4life on Apr 9, 2023 12:44:30 GMT
It really is amazing how your theatre experience can be completely ruined by the simple flip of a coin of who will be seated near you.
To add some much needed levity, I once had a wonderful experience in Liverpool where I attended a performance of Wicked alone at the Empire Theatre. I started talking pre-show to the two ladies sat next to me and we had a wonderful conversation about our love for theatre.
At the interval, they came back from the concessions area and had bought me an ice-cream, for no reason other than pure kindness. It's those wonderful experiences that make me hold out hope for my future audience experiences at the theatre!
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Post by shady23 on Apr 9, 2023 14:48:27 GMT
“Unprecedented levels of violence that asking them to stop (singing along with the show) caused” People scroll through social media feeds absent mindedly while doing other things and just read the snappy click bait headline that people were thrown out for singing. They don't read the whole story. I imagine some reading that will be going intending to sing MORE. "I've paid for my ticket and nobody is going to tell me what to do. I am enjoying myself and they're just sat there". Just sat there taking in the experience is seen as not enjoying in some people's eyes. I think it is statistically more likely that people around them won't return. I remember my one and only trip to the Thriller Live tour where a gang of very drunk women ruined the show with their constant standing up, singing, frequent loo and bar trips and spilling drinks over people around them. This culminated in a loud verbal fight with front of house staff during "Billy Jean". None of us behind could hear or see a thing. Lots walked out. However, what I have noticed that I do disagree with is the huge pile on that seems to be happening in the comments section of these news stories, where anyone innocently questions why they cannot sing along. Not everyone is in the frankly privileged position of having attended musicals before and may be completely unaware what as good "theatre etiquette" (I really hate that phrase). I think the theatre community need to politely try to explain rather than say "just don't go then". That really is not helpful. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 9, 2023 15:08:11 GMT
And let’s not forget that only a couple of weeks ago there was a very big, splashy Saturday night MT concert on tv, filmed in Manchester and showing very loud audiences singing along and filming the performers, one of whom was Melody Thornton. Mixed messages?
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Post by richey on Apr 9, 2023 16:37:57 GMT
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 9, 2023 16:48:00 GMT
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