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The Do's and Don'ts of going to the Theatre

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Going to the theatre can be a wonderful experience for seasoned patrons of the arts as well as first-timers. Remember that you are part of a large body of individuals: the audience. Knowing how to conduct yourself properly will result in a more enjoyable experience not only for you but for everyone around you.

Do:

Arrive early enough to be able to be seated before the curtain goes up. (If you are late, most theatres will not seat you until an appropriate break in the performance occurs.)

Do:

Read the program beforehand to aquaint yourself with the actors, the plot and other interesting information about the cast and the performance. It will make your theatre experience that much more enjoyable.

Do:

Turn off cell phones, pagers and/or anything else that will distract not only the performers but the rest of the audience as well. Nothing is more unpleasant than the constant ringing and beeping of all these wireless devices during a live performance. If you are a doctor on call or have small children at home with a babysitter, set your cellphone to vibrate in case of an emergency.

Do:

Make sure the performance is suitable if bringing children. Also make sure to visit the washroom with the little ones before the performance begins. Fellow patrons of the arts won't appreciate having to be disturbed if you must leave during the performance.

Do:

Get up and go out into the lobby during intermission. It's a great way to meet up with others you may know as well as a good time to purchase show merchandise like t-shirts/sweatshirts, key-chains, mugs, pens or the like. If the vendors are very busy during intermission, you can also purchase before and after the performance.

Do:

Book tickets early if you have a specific area in the theatre in which you wish to sit. Some shows sell out incredibly quickly. If you aren't too particular about where you sit, then rush seats or standing room only seats are often quite a bit cheaper than regular tickets.

Do:

Dress appropriately. Jeans are not really suitable although more and more people are dressing "down" to go to the theatre. Live performances are a special event for most of us. Get festive by dressing for the occasion. It's your chance to haul out something fancy that you don't get to wear that often.

Don't:

Talk during the performance. Not only is it annoying to those around you, but it can distract the performers as well.

Don't:

Sing along with the show. As much as you may think you have a great voice, people paid to see and hear the performers on stage - not you.

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