New Poll - Dress Run?

New Poll topic:

Do you make an effort to dress up when you go to see theatre?



The Poll-tergeist

Hi Grant

Once again, I've been informed that not all votes are registering. Are you able to see why?

Thanks mate.

The Poll-tergeist

[%sig%]

crgwllms wrote:
> Once again, I've been informed that not all votes are
> registering. Are you able to see why?

argle!

Yup. Fixed. Kinda.

*makes note*

must fix this problem permanently!

:-)

*goes back to fending off spam, police and lawyers*

Cheers
Grant

Thou artless tickle-brained bugbear!

[%sig%]

50 percent of votes so far say yes they do!

Why? And what does dressing up mean? And should we or shoudlw emake going to the theatre less of an event and more of a regular thing everyone does?

I'm interested in some qualitative data (to use big buzz type words)

Cheers

Dave R

My theory is - Why Not?

Personally if I have a chance to dress up, I take it. I don't necessarily think we're talking about ball dresses here, but why not get a wee bit prettied up when you have an excuse? Don't we all spend enough time in boring clothes when we're at work/home/the shops/etc?

As for what counts as dressing up - I think for girls it can mean a lot of things - long dress; short-but-classy dress; nice pants and a groovy top; etc. For guys I think it means a nice shirt, and depending on the venue it can be nice jeans or proper suit pants. Definitely not shorts of any description...

I think it does depend on the venue/ type of show as to how dressy is appropriate. I would get more dressy to go see something at His Majesty's than I would to see a community theatre production... but maybe that's just me...?

I think there's possibly an element missing in the poll topic - whether or not you get dressed up any differently for theatre than you would to go anywhere else...to the movies, for example. If you get dressed up every time you step out of the house, that's a different concept to making a specific effort for theatre.


I recently went with my parents to see "We Will Rock You" at Burswood. (a bit disappointed by it, by the way). Mum (being Mum) was a bit disappointed I was wearing jeans, rather than dressy pants. She expected I'd have dressed up more to go to a big venue. (At least I was wearing a classy jacket, and a collared shirt, rather than my perrenial t-shirt and a flannel). But honestly, if I'm going to sit in the dark for two hours in a place where all the focus is elsewhere, my main concern is comfort (especially if the entertainment turns out to be less than desired). Even the jacket and shirt were chosen for comfort rather than look, and the jeans I'd been wearing already and so didn't need to go home to change before going to the theatre.

Now I admit there's a certain lack of effort involved in the equation...but there's an inbuilt spontaneity as well. I HAVE been to His Majesty's and elsewhere in shorts, simply because I was wearing them at the time and found myself in the city and bought a ticket to a show.

That's not to say I don't occasionally 'get tarted up' if I'm going on a date or want to look smart - I'm really posting this because I'm surprised at how low those options are scoring on the poll, while 'Yes, always' is now up around 75%.


My mum (who rarely doesn't look smart anyway) has on occasion commented that she can't be bothered going to see a performance because she's ''too tired to get all dressed up". Because her concept of seeing a performance is so tied to making it an event to get dressed up for, she doesn't make the effort to see as much as she says she'd like to.

My concept of a performance is that neither the audience or the performers are going to be looking at me, so I'd rather be comfortable, casual and spontaneous. It also means I see a lot more theatre.


Cheers,
Craig

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PS

I have relatives in the eastern states who are not particularly well off, and consequently had NEVER been to a theatre performance, because they were embarrassed they could not afford to dress up.

It wasn't until I had paid for their tickets and dragged them reticently to see me in a show recently that they were astonished to find most of the audience were dressed the same as them, simple smart casual.

Until that moment, they'd been suffering under the assumption that theatre was an elite activity and you needed a dinner suit and cocktail frock before they'd let you in through the foyer.


So I guess that, while I certainly don't disapprove of making an effort to look nice, I am hoping that theatre doesn't retain any old fashioned airs of fashion snobbery...it could well be costing us audiences.


Cheers,
Craig

Hi Craig/all

Do you think that this casualisation of theatre (if I can put it that way) has led to a loss of theatre etiquette and a treatment of venue more as cinema rather than a theatre.

Maybe the two are unrelated, but having worked in different venues for a number of years I have noticed a large increase in the number of younger people up to mid forties that have no knowledge of theatre etiquette and treat venues like a cinema and dress to match.

So you have people turning up late and expecting to get in, bringing fast food to eat during the performance, taking calls on mobiles, send and recieving sms during performance, feet on seats and eating and drinking in the auditorium.

It maybe that because these people don't attend enough theatre they don't realise there is an etiquette or learn the etiquette? Does dressing up for theatre then attach a certain etiquette to it and therefore a certain way to behave? Thoughts anyone?

walter plinge wrote:
> Do you think that this casualisation of theatre (if I can put
> it that way) has led to a loss of theatre etiquette and a
> treatment of venue more as cinema rather than a theatre.



Good Point Walter.

I think to an extent, yes. But it seems more a failing of etiquette in general, rather than comparing cinema to theatre. I get just as pissed off by people answering phones, etc, in cinemas. It's hard to tell whether casual dress influences casual attitude? I reckon I know how to behave even if I enjoy slumming it....and if you dressed the people that you're observing in very classy gear, would their behaviour necessarily improve?



Your post suddenly made me aware of several incidents that have occurred in only the last few days, as we have been performing a Barking Gecko show in metropolitan schools.

Teachers bringing latecomers in and marching them into their seats - between the existing audience and our ongoing performance...
Teachers having their own conversations loudly at the back of the venue, oblivious to the performance...
FREQUENT use of flash photos and video cameras, even when it is expressly prohibited in the prologue to the show...
Mobile phones that aren't switched off....
A janitor who entered the venue and noisily emptied bins around the perimeter...
Workmen continuing to do building maintenance, gardeners mowing lawns, etc, at the same time the school has us scheduled to perform...


I know these are isolated incidences, and there are plenty of examples of good rolemodelling....but when each of these individual teachers is being an example to about 200 kids at a time, is it any wonder nobody seems to be learning any etiquette?


Cheers,
Craig

Do you make an effort to dress up when you go to see theatre?

202 participants in 2 weeks.

Yes, always. 103 votes = 52%
Depends on the venue. 65 votes = 33%
Why bother, I'll be sitting in the dark. 14 votes = 7%
Only on opening night 7 votes = 3%
Only on a date 6 votes = 3%

Bit of a landslide toward always dressing up. Some venues appear more casual than others. Prompting some good discussion. I need to wear my Chinos more often.


The Poll-tergeist.

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Oh, don't get me started on flash photography. I recently performed in part, and watched the remainder, of an anniversary concert for my old school, performed at Hamer Hall, and there were people taking photos with flash on all through the performance. Out of all the things that are prohibited at the start of performances, that would have to be the rudest. (Leaving mobile phones on is close, but at least you don't make them ring intentionally) It's distracting for audience and performers, and such a blatant flouting of etiquette and regulations...

On a calmer note, I dress up to go to the theatre simply because I enjoy any excuse to wear a skirt and perhaps a touch of makeup. Why else would I be doing theatre? The acting itself? ;-)