GREAT PERFORMANCES DEPEND ON GREAT AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR!

Throughout the school year, students, staff, and parents have the opportunity to support our student performers in a wide variety of programs. Many students and parents support others by attending athletic, musical, and drama events. This is basic information on the appropriate audience behavior for various events. Some expectations or “rules of behavior” apply to every event you attend, and some are more specialized. Please know what behavior is expected before you attend an event and always demonstrate respect for the performers, other audience members, and property. Thank you for knowing the rules and following them! Have a great time at every type of performance you attend!

GENERAL BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EVENTS

• Arrive on time for the event and select your seating location. Remain seated in the location you have chosen. If there is specific seating provided for you or your group, use that seating. Only leave your seat at designated times such as intermission.

• Turn off cell phones or other electronic devices while attending the event (e.g., games, IPods, etc.).

• Follow instructions that are provided verbally or in writing before or at the event. (Look around the theatre or gym, or on your program to see where information is posted.)

• Do exactly as a supervisor asks or instructs at every event.

• Be prepared for emergency situations. KNOW where you should evacuate if needed and where to go for severe weather. If you do not know, or if it is not posted, ask a supervisor.

• Always support the performers in a positive way (e.g., clapping at concerts and dramatic performances, cheering and clapping for good plays at athletic events). NEVER demonstrate negative behavior.

• Always stand respectfully and quietly during the National Anthem. Remove hats and place your right hand over your heart. If appropriate, you may sing along softly. These behaviors demonstrate respect for our country. If you are at a sporting event – you may cheer with others after the National Anthem is played. At non-athletic events, you may join in clapping with others if it is appropriate. Students please observe the adults in the audience and follow their lead on whether or not clapping is appropriate.

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS FOR DRAMATIC OR MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

The expectations for ALL events apply to dramatic and musical performances, but following are some additional “rules” audience members are expected to know and use.

• Be a good listener. Do not say or do anything that will distract the performers or other audience members. NEVER hold a conversation or make verbal comments during a performance.

• Keep hands and feet quiet during a performance.

• Do not bring cameras, tape recorders, or other electronic devices into a performance. (There may be exceptions to this rule. If you are unsure, please ask a supervisor.)

• Always remove hats during a musical or dramatic performance to insure everyone can see easily and to demonstrate respect for the performers and the event.

• Clap politely in the appropriate places. Do not cheer or yell at a musical or drama performance.

• During musical performances:

• Clap at the start of the performance to welcome the musicians and conductor.
• Clap at the end of a performance (watch for the conductor to put her or his hands down and turn and acknowledge the audience). Students, watch the adults in the audience for a cue to clap.
• Clap between “movements” of a large piece of music. Again, watch the conductor and adults in the audience.

• During dramatic performances

• Clap at the end of each scene (watch for the stage lights to go down or the curtain to close).
• Clap at the end of a performance.
• Laugh at the funny scenes when appropriate. This helps the performers to do an even better job if you recognize and respond to the funny scenes.

• Stay for the entire performance. Only leave if you have an emergency situation.

• Use restrooms before the performance or during the planned intermission where you can leave. In some cases, audience members will be asked to remain in the theatre during intermission and will be given the opportunity to stand at their seat.

• If a program is provided, use it to lean more about the performance. Keep the paper quiet during the performance and be sure to take the program at the end and dispose of it properly.

Reviewed 11/06