Double Bass Opera disrespect (rant)

[BioDriver]

Last night I attended a university production of The Mikado and while it was a well done production, I was blown away by the crowd. I know it's A. an undergraduate student production and B. a comedic light opera, but all the same there was no excuse to what all was going on. People in the crowd were hooting and hollering, making snide comments about the costumes, snoring loudly, and asking how much longer until they could leave. When some people near me were asked to be quiet they just glared at the usher, waited for him to step away, and then resumed their conversation, albeit at a slightly softer volume. The couple behind me who were long-time contributors thanked me for behaving and said that if the staff doesn't keep the crowd in check they'll stop funding the program.

I've played in operas and musicals before and fully expect some in attendance to be disrespectful. It typically didn't bother me because, being in the pit, I can't really see the crowd (or production for that matter). However, when the actors look out at the crowd and see people being inconsiderate boobs who are obviously only there because a professor made them, I'd imagine it's pretty disheartening and insulting, especially since some of those are most likely in the theater department themselves. As mentioned above, others in the crowd shared my resentment and I'm sure were just as appalled as I was.

I seriously hope manners are not being lost on people my age and younger. Suffice it to say this is the last time I'll be attending one of the university's student productions; if I want a bit of culture I'll make the drive to St. Louis.

 

[elgecko]

Yeah, southeast Missouri isn't exactly a "hotbed" of culture.

 

[BioDriver]

I was hoping this would be an exception to that notion. The St. Louis Symphony is playing here in a few weeks and I'm pretty sure that crowd will be much better than last night's.

 

[TheSuzie]

Sadly, I am afraid that may be the case. I am older but I had it drummed into me very young that there was a certain standard of behavior required of audience members. Barring some extraordinary circumstance, a basic level of respect was expected. My mother and my teachers all enforced this quite strictly.

That said, in addition to poor training and discipline, I wonder if the existence of home audio-video systems contributes to some small degree. People at movie theaters and live performances seem much more likely to behave like they are in their own living room than in the past. The other side is that when I was growing up it was still expected that one would not distract other family members if we were watching something together at home.

Hope you find things to be better off campus.

 

[AnchorHoy]

people being inconsiderate boobs who are obviously only there because a professor made them

You just answered your own rant

Forcing people to sit through a generally excruciating style of musical performance (especially the preferred vocal technique) is not conducive to good behavior

 

[BioDriver]

You just answered your own rant

Forcing people to sit through a generally excruciating style of musical performance (especially the preferred vocal technique) is not conducive to good behavior

I've been forced to sit through The Vagina Monologues, Gaelic folk concerts, and attend modern contemporary art galleries, none of which I wanted to do. I was still respectful during them.

 

[LM Bass]

This story reminds me of one of my best University Professors. He said "Why would anyone have to force you to read 'The White Cross Knight'? It is one of the best works of art in our culture, and it's so enjoyable. .. " He was right, but plenty of the young students couldn't be bothered to participate in class. It was a bit heartbreaking, actually.

Why should anyone have to force you to listen to opera? Why can't people just enjoy it?

(NOT a classical snob, by the way. I play many styles of music).

 

[elgecko]

This is a job for Opera Man!

 

[bass12]

Sadly, I am afraid that may be the case. I am older but I had it drummed into me very young that there was a certain standard of behavior required of audience members. Barring some extraordinary circumstance, a basic level of respect was expected. My mother and my teachers all enforced this quite strictly.

Part of the problem is that the ushers are often too wimpy to throw people out when they misbehave. And fellow audience members are often too wimpy to call others out on their lack of manners. A lot of people figure they can just do whatever they like - from talking during a performance to spray-painting a wall in broad daylight - without being taken to task over their actions. It's easy to stand by and tell ourselves that it's "not our business" but, in the end, we all lose if we don't take some kind of personal responsibility for the way our society is functioning.

 

[Violen]

The problem is that recital attendance is required for music degrees, and experiencing music classes.

Too bad you have a bunch of asshats at SEMO. I Should send this post to their department chair.

Here at UCM they threatened to fail anyone for recital attendence or experiencing music if they were caught texting during a recital, let alone talking.

Im not sure if they actually did it.


I hope so.

 

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

Sadly, I am afraid that may be the case. I am older but I had it drummed into me very young that there was a certain standard of behavior required of audience members. Barring some extraordinary circumstance, a basic level of respect was expected. My mother and my teachers all enforced this quite strictly.

That said, in addition to poor training and discipline, I wonder if the existence of home audio-video systems contributes to some small degree. People at movie theaters and live performances seem much more likely to behave like they are in their own living room than in the past. The other side is that when I was growing up it was still expected that one would not distract other family members if we were watching something together at home.

Hope you find things to be better off campus.

In their defense, it's because young people don't go to their local theater and see an opera or a musical or even a play for that matter. They go home and watch it on their giant, big-screen televisions with surround sound and eat popcorn or go to the movies.

Most people aren't very acquainted with music either--talking quietly to somebody in a movie theater isn't nearly as rude because you can still hear the movie, namely, and because you're not trying to hear the movie so much as watch it.

Most people don't understand the time and effort that goes into making a production either, or the amount of practice you put in to make it sound wonderful. They don't appreciate it in movies, music, games or any other theater of entertainment. Probably because it's expected of the world around them now, for everything that's made a public performance to be the best of that entertainer and no less.

Also, it sounds like many of the people didn't want to be there in the first place.

 

[forester]

the same could be said for some church services these days...

 

[TheSuzie]

Part of the problem is that the ushers are often too wimpy to throw people out when they misbehave. And fellow audience members are often too wimpy to call others out on their lack of manners.

It is one thing for a parent or teacher to smack a six or eight year old kid on the back of the head or to shush them. It is a very different thing to confront an unknown adult who may also have a bunch of friends with them.

A lot of people figure they can just do whatever they like - from talking during a performance to spray-painting a wall in broad daylight - without being taken to task over their actions.

And those same folks are the ones most likely to shoot you dead in your tracks or beat you down and feel they are totally entitled to do so.

It's easy to stand by and tell ourselves that it's "not our business" but, in the end, we all lose if we don't take some kind of personal responsibility for the way our society is functioning.

Standing up in these sort of situations is always a calculated risk. One has to size up the situation and the people involved. Even then, the unexpected can happen in an instant. Some folks are better equipped to handle such a situation than others.

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

You just answered your own rant

Forcing people to sit through a generally excruciating style of musical performance (especially the preferred vocal technique) is not conducive to good behavior

Excrutiating? I think that the people who spend millions supporting and enjoying opera (as well as those people who spend their lives learning to perform it) might disagree with you.

Music majors should be forced to listen to a range of music and learn to understand it and appreciate it just like lit majors are forced to read books that they may not understand (and may even detest) at first but that they will eventually learn to appreciate if they give the effort and have guidance.

Learning to appreciate something you didn't grow up with is hard for everyone, and it requires some discipline, but it's worth it.

 

[sirero]

Just for the record that would not have happened at Umass Lowell, NEC, Berklee, or any of the other universities I have seen performances at up here. The problem lies with that universities policies, or those particular students. My generation as I have seen here completely understands proper behavior in a public setting, even if it lacks a basic understanding of appropriate dress.

 

[bejoyous]

To quote a grade 6 student from school I no longer will supply teach at, "If it ain't got no ****s or n****** in it, it's ****, dawg!"