Showtime Etiquette

10 RULES OF ETIQUETTE FOR AUDIENCE MEMBERS

Suggestions from the National Association for Music Education

1. Refrain from talking.

This is the first and greatest rule. This rule includes whispering to or disciplining your other children.

2. Refrain from unwrapping noisy candy wrappers during the performance.

If the composers wanted to include crinkle paper noises in the music, they would have.

3. Turn off pagers, cell phones and watch alarms.

While many phones and pagers now have very symphonic-like rings, they don't always fit into the musical score, nor do they provide pleasant sounds for your neighbors.

4. Do not wave to your child during the performance.

After all, they do know who you are already, and they know you are there; you most likely brought them there!

5. Do not take flash photography.

You don't want your child to walk off the edge of the stage from flash blindness, do you?

6. Do not walk down the center aisle with your video camera/phone.

Recording devices work just as well from the back of the auditorium or from your seat.

7. Do not leave as soon as your child's portion of the show is over.

All of the students deserve a full audience for their performances. Remember, the next time your child's big moment could be the finale.

8. Applaud at appropriate times.

Some music has several sections. Remember, it's not over until all of the sections have been performed.

9. Do not leave the auditorium during the performance.

Wait for a break in the show to visit the restroom, unless you are carrying a screaming child, in which case you should leave quietly and quickly, please!

10. Go to the performance expecting the best.

You just might be surprised how good your student sounds when other students join in.