Concert Etiquette

The PHS Vocal Music Department is always proud to showcase our students at each concert.  When parents and friends attend, please keep in mind that while everyone may have a variety of reasons for attending, the most important reason is to watch and listen to the performers.  This is not a recorded or televised event; these singers are LIVE.  They can see and hear the audience and they want to do their best for you.  Good concert etiquette helps the performers perform more effectively and helps the audience have a good experience.  Please show your respect for our students by following some simple rules of concert etiquette.

1.                  Refrain from talking.  This is the first and greatest rule.  This rule includes whispering or disciplining your other children.

2.                  During the concert, all areas downstairs from the lobby in the music wing are off limits to parents, family, and friends.  Students are preparing for their concert and have responsibilities.  Please do not distract them or encourage them to leave the area.  They are not permitted to do so.  Wait until after the concert to congratulate them or deliver messages.

3.                  Leave all food and drink outside the theatre.  Snacks and beverages are not permitted and noisy wrappers and spilled drinks are unwanted distractions.

4.                  Turn off pagers, cell phones and watch alarms.  It’s not enough to just silence them.  When you check your phone for messages or texts, the light is incredibly distracting and disruptive to those onstage.  Put your social life and work life on hold for two hours and enjoy the wonderful music being made!

5.                  Do not wave to your child during the concert.  After all, they do know who you are—they probably sold you the tickets!

6.                  Do not take flash photography.  It’s not only distracting, it’s hazardous.  Flashes can disorient a singer or dancer during a number, causing a dangerous tumble from the stage. 

7.                  Do not leave as soon as your child’s portion of the concert is over.  All of the students deserve a full audience for their performances.  Remember, the next time your child’s song could be last!  Besides, the students are also responsible for staying for the entire duration of the concert; it’s part of their performance grade.  Why not stay to congratulate all the performers?

8.                  Applaud appropriately.  Clap enthusiastically to show your appreciation.  Don’t hoot or holler or attempt to embarrass your child.

9.                  It’s a concert, not a sing-along.  All audience members deserve to hear the performances of each choir as they’ve been prepared.  We are flattered if you are so moved to sing along, but unless you’ve come to rehearsal, you don’t know our arrangements.  Save it for the shower.

10.              Do not leave the theatre during the music.  If you MUST leave your seat for an emergency, please wait for the applause between numbers and move quickly up the aisle so as not to interrupt audience members or performers.  If you must re-enter the theatre, again wait for the break between songs.  We use the aisles for entrances and exits by the choir and you may be in the way—we don’t want concert injuries!

Thank you for helping to make each concert a more memorable performance!