If you have never checked your cell phone during a performance at the theater, you definitely have reasons for not doing so. And you’re familiar with the dire consequences that occur if you do:
1. The jaded theater-goers will definitely use you as an example to complain about the ‘new generation’ ruining the theater!
2. You might have to serve jail-time. Okay, maybe not.
3. Several audience members will attempt, through lengthy evil staring, to make your cell phone spontaneously combust.
But, several theater producers have begun to reject this rule that all of us (maybe just me) have held so dear.
Several Broadway theaters have started to add ‘Tweet Seats’ into their performances. These seats are separate from the main audience, and actually encourage the ticket holders to use their cell phones during the show! Tweet Seats moved to Broadway with Godspell in 2012, and have been incorporated into many productions since. Many people were very opposed to this idea, and it makes sense why! A big part of theatre is about the suspension of disbelief, and by live-tweeting while watching the show, it prevents you from being fully immersed in the world of the play. It’s hard to forget that the characters aren’t real when you are tweeting about the actors and actresses playing them.
On the other hand, cell phone disruptions are going to happen, Tweet Seats or not. We live in an age where social media is growing to be a huge part of daily life, and some people just can’t log out- even for a couple of hours. So wouldn’t we rather have a section where that use wouldn’t bother other audience members? Not to mention, it also benefits the production. The publicity from the live-tweeting and blogging is huge for the show, especially since famous bloggers often occupy the seats. In the early days of Godspell’s tweet seats, they invited their most supportive twitter followers to the show for free!
Where do you stand on the topic? Do you think Tweet Seats are a needed update to theaters, or do you think they could ruin the experience? Is the publicity worth it? Tell us in the comments!
Photo via ArsTechnica