Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:11:22 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
From: Susan Wall Kronenberg <susan-AT-carouselpuppets.com>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Bad audience behavior


You have to tell the parents what's expected of them, too.   Whenever 
I do a show, the first thing I do is tell the kids "da rules."  I 
also let the parents know that the rules are for them, too.  If I'm 
at a library, I tell the parents to turn off their cell phones.  I 
have been known to stare a parent into silence if they are talking 
during a show. (Boy talk about that parent being embarrassed!)  You 
have to command respect in order to be respected.

Susan



At 10:13 PM 12/11/2007, you wrote:
>You can say that again....even at school in my little class of children with
>special needs, when I put on a storytape for them to listen to, the adults
>start to talk. I mean how are they supposed to concentrate on listening if
>so much talking is going on? This has always bugged me....
>
>Mary
>
>
>On 12/11/07 9:01 PM, "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com> wrote:
>
> > Many puppet shows and other children's programs DO talk about how 
> to behave,
> > before the show begins, and many urge parents with crying infants 
> to retire to
> > the lobby.
> >
> > But more than 60 years ago, adults at Christmas  Party shows 
> could rudely talk
> > loudly and drink at the back of the room, creating competiion for the
> > performer.
> >
> > Not that long ago, the late Alton Wood, longtime partner of The Bob Baker
> > Marionette Theater in Los Angeles stood before the audience just before a
> > performance. Some minor noise from the audience set him off on a lengthy
> > diatribe. about the APALLING MANNERS OF TODAY'S AUDIENCES. The room fell
> > silent, mouths fell open as the harangue continued. All the 
> while, Alton held
> > a marionette clown in his hand, as he lectured the room like a stern,
> > no-nonsense old-fashioned school marm.Then he stopped, paused, and began
> > animating the marionette, while providing it with a falsetto 
> voice, ..."now my
> > name is 'Happy'.
> >
> > The once-quiet room errupted in an avalanche of laughter. The 
> audience was not
> > sure if Alton had been tweaking them, or not, but dammit, they behaved very
> > well  throughout the show.
> >
> >  We are living in  time when too many parents have abdicated responsibility
> > for their children's behaviour and so teachers, program chairmen and the
> > performers must fill the gap or it wll just get worse.
> >
> > ALAN COOK
> >
> >
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