Download Backstage Etiquette

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The Student will…
•recognize and respond to live theatre;
•use appropriate audience etiquette;
•discover appropriate rehearsal etiquette;
•determine appropriate backstage etiquette.
AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
Having the opportunity to attend a play is a very
special event. You can’t view a play every day, as you
might a television show or a movie. Even though live
performances are extremely popular today, plays are
not always readily available.
AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
•The audience is the group of spectators,
listeners or viewers collectively, in
attendance at a theater or concert.
•Audience Etiquette is appropriate
audience behavior at a theatrical event.
AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
Appropriate audience behavior is another
important social grace you need to learn as
you grow up. Because attending a live
theatrical event is different from watching a
movie or television program, it is important to
know what is expected of you at a play, opera,
ballet, musical, or concert.
AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
Appropriate behavior begins when you arrive
at the theatre or auditorium. If you do not
have a ticket for the show, you should allow
time to purchase one before the performance
begins.
BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE
•Always
arrive on time. It is annoying to the other
members of the audience when they are distracted
from the performance because of late-comers.
•People arriving late also make noise as they are being
seated, which prevents audience members who
arrived on time from hearing the dialogue or
music.
•Gum, food, and drinks have no place in the theatre!
Chewing, eating, and drinking are all noisy activities
that can distract the actors and the audience.
•To be a good citizen and theatre patron, remember
to use the trash receptacles in the lobby of the theatre
before you enter the seating area.
BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE
•Remember
also to take care of rest room
business and drinks of water prior to being
seated. If you have to leave in the middle of
the show, you will miss some of the
performance as well as distract the people
seated near you.
BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE
•Once
you are seated, be considerate of those
who are seated around you.
•Keep your hands, arms, feet, and personal
belongings to yourself.
•Be especially careful not to put your feet on
the chair in front of you.
•If you want to visit with friends, do so quietly
before the performance begins.
BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE
•As
a safety precaution, always take note of the
exit nearest your seat.
•Law requires exit signs to be lighted and
clearly visible.
•If an emergency should arise and the exit
needed, you would know where to go.
BEFORE AND DURING THE
PERFORMANCE
•TURN
•NO
OFF YOUR PHONE!!!!
FACEBOOKING
•NO TWITTERING!
•NO ANSWERING PHONE CALLS!
•AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, NO
TEXTING!!!
DURING THE PERFORMANCE
•Be
considerate of those seated near you.
•Do not distract anyone’s attention from the
performance by talking or making noises.
•Even if you know all the lines to the show or
all the words to the songs, others in the
audience did not come to hear or see you
perform.
•Speaking aloud or singing along from the
audience is considered to be in extremely
poor taste.
DURING THE PERFORMANCE
•As
a member of the audience, you can best show your
respect for the actors by giving them your full attention.
•Shouting out comments or whistling is not considered
appropriate theatre behavior.
•Such responses should be saved for football games and
track meets.
•Responses such as laughter, tears, or even gasps of
surprise are expected from the audience.
•Performers enjoy such reactions and hope that they will
come from the audience at the appropriate times.
•These type of reactions give the audience feedback, letting
them know how their performance is affecting the
audience.
DURING THE PERFORMANCE
•Avoid
leaving your seat once the performance begins
unless you have an emergency.
•If
you must leave, do so as quietly and
inconspicuously as possible.
•If
you are attending a performance with your class
or school group, quietly notify your teacher or
director that you have an emergency.
DURING THE PERFORMANCE
•Recording
music, videotaping
performances, and taking photographs
are all prohibited during a theatrical event.
•Recording any music during a
performance without written permission of
composers and performers is a serious
violation of the copyright law.
•Cameras are distracting to other audience
members as well as to the performers.
•Flashes on cameras can momentarily blind
a performer or cause a break in character
or dialogue.
AFTER THE PERFORMANCE
•When
the performance is over, wait until
the house lights are turned up so that you
can see the aisles and exits clearly.
•As you wait patiently for your turn to exit,
it is appropriate to quietly discuss the
performance with your friends.
•Check under and around your seat for any
personal belongings that you might have
left.
•As you exit the theatre or auditorium,
avoid pushing against those in front of you.
•Climbing under or hopping over seats only
demonstrates to others that you lack good
judgment.
•This type of behavior is rude and
extremely irritating to those who enjoy the
theatre experience.
REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE
o Rehearsals are production session in which the actors and
technicians prepare by repetition.
 Before rehearsals begin, everyone involved in the
production should take time to review rehearsal etiquette
guidelines.
 Rehearsal etiquette guidelines are helpful reminders of
appropriate actor and technician behavior, which involves
appropriate behavior and common courtesy.
REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE
Abide by all school and classroom rules.
 BE ON TIME!!! Be ready for rehearsal: dance shoes on,
script/music out, etc.
 Leave only when dismissed.
 Attend every rehearsal, unless you have special
permission to be absent.
 Immediately contact the director in case of an emergency.
 Come to rehearsal willing and prepared to work- bring a
pencil, your script, and any other items the director has
required.
 Learn your lines as soon as possible.

REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE




BE PREPARED! Have your script, a pencil, etc.
Talking and chatting is unacceptable while in
rehearsal. Let everyone focus; do not pull
attention from those who want to work.
Pay attention to what is going on during
rehearsal even if you are just waiting for your
turn. You want to be ready at a moment notice
so that you don't waste any working time.
Listen to your Stage Manager. Period.
REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE
Observe common courtesy to other members of
the cast before, during, and after rehearsals.
 Avoid touching anything that doesn’t belong to
you-including costumes, props, makeup, lights,
mikes, or scenery.
 At the end of a rehearsal or performance, put
away your props and costumes. Also check the
backstage area or dressing rooms for any of your
personal possessions.

REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE
Be quiet backstage. Period.
 Listen while backstage to avoid missing cues or
entrances.
 Avoid “mouthing” the lines of others.
 Call “line” if you need a prompt.
 Keep up your grades. Let your director know if
you are having academic difficulty.
 Continue to study your part during the run of the
show.
 Give 100 percent at all rehearsals, work sessions,
and performances.

REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE
TURN YOUR PHONE OFF AND PUT IT AWAY!
 NO TEXTING!
 NO FACEBOOKING
 NO TEXTING!
 NO TWITTERING!
 NO ANSWERING PHONE CALLS!


AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, NO TEXTING!!!
BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE
•Backstage- any part of the area just off the perimeter
of the stage, including the stage left and stage right
wings, the upstage crossover space, dressing rooms,
and immediate hallway.
•Backstage Etiquette- guidelines for appropriate actor
and technician behavior in the backstage area of the
theatre.
BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE
•Backstage etiquette is necessary during all rehearsals
and performances. Many of these guidelines are
similar to those of rehearsal etiquette, but are specific
to the backstage area.
BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES
•Do whatever the Stage Manager (SM) tells you
without arguing, especially in performance. When an
Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) tells you something,
assume it’s a directive from the Stage Manager.
The SM (and ASMs backstage during a show)
are responsible for running the show, and
represent the voice of the director or faculty
mentor.
Discuss any issues with the Stage Manager
AFTER that night’s production, not during set
up or the show itself.
BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES
•Don’t hang out in the wings watching the show.
Backstage space is usually limited and the last
thing needed is to have to work around an extra
body.
Things can happen pretty quickly backstage,
and you could find yourself causing a disaster
by blocking the view of a visual cue or being in
the way of a quick entrance or exit.
Stay at your post if you’re backstage crew.
BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES
•Don’t talk with anyone backstage unless
it is essential to the show.
Whispered conversations are distracting
to the crew waiting for cues, the actors
on stage, and can even be heard in the
house.
If you have something you must
communicate to a crew member because
it affects the show, then do so, but make
sure you’re not interrupting something
else going on. If they’re on headset,
assume they’re listening to the stage
manager as you approach them.
BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES
•Stay put until you’re called for your cue.
The crew can’t call you if they can’t find
you.
Find some place where you’re
comfortable and out of the way and
make that’s your spot for the run of the
show.
If you must use the restroom or run
back to the dressing room, tell someone
where you’re going and let them know
immediately that you’re back.
BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES
•Don’t play with or move the props, and don’t sit on
the furniture backstage.
Never move a prop – they have specific places so
they can be located in the dim backstage lighting.
Picking up a prop and playing with it often
results in it being broken.
If you are using a shared prop, make sure who
is responsible for putting it back in its place for
the next actor. If that’s you, put it back as soon
as possible; if it’s a crew member, hand it to him
as soon as you come off stage.
Check your props before each
performance, including any that are set for
you to use onstage. Even if it’s someone else’s
job to set that prop, you’re the one who will look
foolish onstage if it’s not there.
BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES
•Don’t sleep backstage.
It means you’re not doing your job or that you may
potentially miss a cue.
In the real world this will get you fired.
•Bathe. Applies to both cast and crew.
Close quarters simply require it.
•No PDA (public displays of affection).
I mean, do we really need to discuss this?....
ETIQUETTE PROJECT CHOICES:
Skit
Present the do’s and don’ts of a selected
etiquette category. (Audience, Rehearsal,
Backstage)
Visual Aid
Create a visual aid comparing the do’s and
don’ts of selected etiquette category. Provide
situational examples.
Announcement
Present an announcement to the audience
telling them appropriate audience etiquette
OR
Write a contract for backstage and rehearsal
etiquette to give to your crew and actors