Choir concert etiquette

[freakyfemme]

As far as not clapping between movements - I have found this really interesting over the years of being a musician and also an audience member. I think it has alot more to do with the conductor than the audience's knowledge. I have been to high school band concerts where most of the parents and family in the audience probably think Beethoven really is a St. Bernard where there was no clapping between movements. Recently I attended a Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert that had applause after every single movement in both of the pieces they performed. The high school conductor kept his arm up where it was visible to the audience and they could tell by his intensity that it was not the end. The DSO conductor..not so much. I know this is not always the case, and some audiences are either rude or just do not know any better. And as Freakyfemme said, sometimes a performer would much rather receive sincere applause at the wrong time than other rudeness!

On a lighter note, my mom attended my old high school's winter choral concert a few weeks ago and just as the last number finished there was a knock down - drag out fight between 2 highschool girls AND both of their mothers. It took several grown men to separate them and it made the news! Talk about bad concert etiquette. 

As for the conductor's cues, well, that's all well and good when there is a conductor, but in the case of solo or small-ensemble performances, there isn't, so the audience just has to know for themselves.....which is why it doesn't bother me if they don't.

[P_Cloud]

As for the conductor's cues, well, that's all well and good when there is a conductor, but in the case of solo or small-ensemble performances, there isn't, so the audience just has to know for themselves.....which is why it doesn't bother me if they don't.

Well in that case I think the soloist or members of the ensemble can give similar cues to the audience that they are not finished. Such as keeping their instrument in playing position, and keeping pauses between movements brief. But like I said, I know this doesn't always work.

[jane7166]

^{Posted by: sammycat
Insert Quote
Did everyone comply with these rules?  I hope so and good on the person making the announcement; it's just a shame that it was needed in the first place. At my childrens awards assembly last week a mobile phone went off just as the first name was called so an announcement was made to please turtn off all mobile phones.  5 minutes later that exact same phone went off.  The principal was on stage at the time and did not look impressed.}

It was odd.  There were a few whiny babies that seemed to settle down or were taken out but the audience behaved very well, actually.

The choir director did give the evil eye to someone in one of the first rows.  I have no idea what that was about.

And then he stared pointedly at two choir members who were returning to their audience seats through a side door between pieces.  These two were part of a group who had already sang and were off the stage in their reserved seats.  They did what they were supposed to - they were quiet and didn't interrupt a piece so I don't know what the problem was.

I think I'll ask the mom of choir member that I am sure was at the first concert in the fall. 

The director must have just had enough of bad behavior and was over-reacting a bit, I think.

I still applaud his stating the rules ahead of time.