Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Ringtone halts NY Philharmonic performance

    NEW YORK (AP) — It's the dreaded sound at any live performance — a ringing cellphone.

    That's what happened Tuesday night at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall toward the end of Gustav Mahler's Ninth Symphony by the New York Philharmonic.

    Conductor Alan Gilbert stopped the orchestra until the phone was silenced.

    Betsy Vorce, speaking for Lincoln Center, says an announcement is usually made before every performance telling audience members to turn off their phones. If a device does go off, ushers discreetly ask the owner to turn it off.

    This time, when the iPhone went off, it was the conductor who turned his head to signal his displeasure. But the ringing from the first row persisted.

    Gilbert asked that the offending noise be turned off and finally stopped the orchestra until it was.

     
     
    • Lisa  •  4 mths ago
      Off with the offenders head! But seriously folks..turn the phone OFF when you go to venues such as this. If you're expecting an important call, stick it on vibrate or STAY HOME!
      • righteousaurus 4 mths ago
        Please ego and vain minded people, turn them off while driving.
      • DHLD 4 mths ago
        Don't even put them on vibrate - the light is also hugely distracting in a theater! I am sick of paying $12 for a movie ticket and upwards of $100 for concert and play tickets, only to have people around me, texting like teenagers. That's right *like* teenagers. These are adults doing this.
      • christina p 4 mths ago
        but I forget
    • S  •  Boston, Massachusetts  •  4 mths ago
      I work in the entertainment industry. I went to theater school. I used to work on Broadway shows and live theater performances. No one is taught any manners anymore. Rules for behavior of audience members:
      1. Turn your cell phones off. Period. Do not talk on the phone, do not text. It is rude and distracting to the people sitting near you. Believe me, people several rows around you can see the light from your phone and it's distracting. Give the performance 100% of your attention and enjoy it because tickets aren't cheap; Be Here Now. The rest of the world can wait for an hour.

      2. Be quiet. Period. Talking is rude and disrespectful to the people sitting near you and to the performers. You're not sitting in your living room. If you want to have a conversation, go to a bar or restaurant, or wait until the intermission.

      3. Take your hat off. Any hat. Be considerate to the people sitting behind you.

      4. Take care of your personal business before you go to your seat or at intermission. Don't get up during the performance. Again, it's rude and disrespectful to the other people in the audience and the performers.

      5. Arrive on time. Again, it's rude and disrespectful to the other people in the audience to have to get up for you, and it's disrespectful to the performers.

      6. Don't leave during the curtain calls!!! It's part of the performance, and it's your opportunity to say THANK YOU to the performers. Walking out during the curtain calls is unbelievably disrepectful to the performers; it's like saying "F- you!"

      7. Don't sing along at a concert. Seriously, save it for your car. People paid to hear the performers, not you.

      8. Clean up after yourself. Don't leave your trash at your seat, take it out of the house and put it in the trash can in the lobby. A theater is not a dumpster. Didn't your mother teach you to clean up after yourself?
      • 906 Mom 4 mths ago
        I have been going to Broadway shows with my dad since I was about 8 years old. I'm 45 now and when I go home my dad and I will still take in a show or 2 together. It appalls me the behavior of people. When I was 8, I remember them selling little snacks at intermission but you were not allowed back in the theater area with drinks or snacks. I saw Spamalot a couple of years ago and the guy alongside of me was he!! bent on opening that box of snow caps during the performance! I wanted to rip the box out of his hands and toss it! If you can't go 90 minutes without a freaking snowcap... My God! Get out of the theater and go around the corner there is a huge M&M store, Hershey factory store, even a store that sells only pop tarts! Have at it pal, no one there will be disturbed by your crackling of the paper to open a box of candy!
      • 906 Mom 4 mths ago
        Oh, my son is in the military... His ship just recently had a port call in NYC. His girl met him in the city for a nice weekend. He asked me what would be fun to do, I told him go to Sardi's for dinner and take in a show. Then of course Junior's for cheesecake in Shubert Alley afterwards! :) He told me there was no way he could do Sardi's and a show... he just didn't have clothes nice enough on the ship to attend those things. I told him sadly, people don't DRESS anymore. So long as he had nice jeans, a pressed shirt, good shoes... he would be fine. I think we raised him ok for a 23 year old to realize nasty clothes just are not acceptable in certain situations. They did end up going to Sardi's for dinner, he asked the Captain at the door if their attire was acceptable. They said of course. He ended up eating dinner seated next to Lainie Kazan! They unveiled her picture at Sardi's that night. I was jealous I wasn't there, I just love Ms. Kazan!

        Some people have class, some don't. How sad for our society!
      • DHLD 4 mths ago
        S: I think your rules should be posted at every theater! Bravo (or brava)!
    • fishmanpa  •  Front Royal, Virginia  •  4 mths ago
      I'm convinced that future generations of human beings will have no social skills whatsoever and smaller thumbs from using these devices.
      • fly 4 mths ago
        The future is here!
      • James 4 mths ago
        Actually their thumbs will be bigger but their fingers will be webbed.
      • cymbalholic 4 mths ago
        smaller thumbs, smaller brains.
    • ian  •  4 mths ago
      twits with their phones- I cant stand people who have loud conversations so all can hear-they are obnoxious and rude! like this person who couldn't even bother turning their phone off
      • Sarah 4 mths ago
        What is worse? A women talking to her boyfriend in the bathroom stall next to me. I"m not sure about others, but I don't want some strange having the ability to hear me pee......
      • JohnB 4 mths ago
        Hey, but that marimba beat is so cool! A real show-stopper.
      • John 4 mths ago
        Not only do they have loud conversations,then they get upset at you for listening in.When I'm forced to listen to someones "personal conversation,I feel obligated to join in.I figure if they don't my input they would keep it quiet.
    • Stephen  •  4 mths ago
      My friend was on a train out of NYC when the guy across the seat from him got on the cell and talked loudly (as they usually do). My pal opened the newspaper and started reading the baseball statistics out loud for the length of the conversation. That was funny!
      • jeeriokid 4 mths ago
        Love it !!! I shall definitely remember this tactic ! Nothing to read out loud, no problem. I do a great impression of a street corner hellfire and damnation preacher.
      • UnknownPlanet 4 mths ago
        I'm often tempted to join in the conversation-- I mean, it's apparantly for public consumption.
      • Raptured 4 mths ago
        I'll have to remember that one! Would love to try it in line at Publix some time!
    • george  •  4 mths ago
      There's nothing more odious than some fool taking/making calls during a live performance or movie. They should have it crammed up their #$%$
    • RT  •  Wartburg, Tennessee  •  4 mths ago
      Bette Midler had this happen during one of her performances. she verbally dressed the guy down in front of the aqudience, and had security throw him out of the theater. That's how it should be handled.
    • Poe's Crow  •  Warren, Ohio  •  4 mths ago
      We want to see the face and name of the idiot offender who has the money for a first row seat but obviously not enough class and brains to turn off his flipping phone.
    • super8monsters  •  4 mths ago
      It's also a ruined performance, especially if being professionally recorded or shot on video. If the concert been recorded concert this ruins the telecast totally.
    • I N  •  Berlin, Germany  •  4 mths ago
      The only way this could get any "better" is if the person eventually answered their phone and then began a long (and loud) conversation with the caller: "Hi! Hey, good to hear fron you! How's it going? Uh Huh. Uh Huh. Yeah... Nothing much- I'm at a concert at the Philharmonic! Yeah, it's really great! So tell me, how is the job..."

      I've had almost that exact conversation go on at movies I have gone to. It is surreal how fecking rude some people can be...
    • Florida Resident  •  4 mths ago
      I miss the time BEFORE cell phones. Every week I almost get hit at least a dozen times by some #$%$ talking away and not paying attention to life. Who the hell needs to be connected to people 24/7! The whole "cell phone" fad has gotten WAY out of hand!
    • ADK 4ever  •  Warwick, New York  •  4 mths ago
      I hope the jerk who did this is banned from Philharmonic concerts for life. Geez, how stupid and inconsiderate can you get?
    • A Yahoo! User  •  4 mths ago
      The "all about me crowd" strikes again. How difficult can this be?
    • Dax  •  4 mths ago
      How hard is it to turn it to Vibe? You have someone walk out, announce in 5 minutes we will start, please turn them off or to vibrate. Wow.
    • Lee  •  Knoxville, Tennessee  •  4 mths ago
      No word if the offender was removed/ banned. Perhaps a fine of $1000 would remind patrons.
    • myjeep2  •  4 mths ago
      Good call on the conductor's part. People in the orchestra should have gone into the audience and kicked his/her butt proper. Now that would have made an impression...lol....
    • William  •  4 mths ago
      What sort of ignorant rude cretin would leave his phone on in a concert? Phones have vibrator settings that avoid any disrupting sound. Confiscate the cellphone and prohibit the culprit from ever trespassing in the venue again.
    • dfyujtfgyujdfy  •  4 mths ago
      Leave the phone in the car. No reason to have a phone at a concert. Enjoy the concert. If the phone is more important, stay home.
    • Tom G  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  4 mths ago
      Utterly RUDE concert-goer. If you can't keep your DAMNED cell phone OFF in such a venue DON'T F--in GO!!!!

      Too many are umbilically/aurally attached to those damned things. Ridiculous. Classless. Stupid and RUDE!
    • docsound  •  4 mths ago
      The problem is a-holes who think they are so important that the must be "connected" 24/7...this jerk should have stayed home an wated for his "important" call.
    [ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
    [ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]