sherlockspeare:Benedict asks fans not to film...

sherlockspeare:

Benedict asks fans not to film Hamlet (X)

Just speaking as someone who also performs in front of live audiences rather than in a pre-recorded milieu (like film/tv/recorded music, with the exception of my new CD), I fully support this. It’s HUGELY distracting, it’s not appropriate, and it’s rude. A live performance is a delicate thing, very much influenced by the dynamic of the performers and the people participating with their eyes and ears and energy. It’s just not the same when people aren’t paying attention, or are watching it through a screen, making an illegal copy. It’s a large scale version of trying to have coffee with someone who won’t stop taking pictures of you rather than just listening to you or responding, conversing, engaging. Sometimes you just need to put the camera down and engage. Actors, classical musicians, musical theatre performers, and dancers all over the world have started having to take a stand against the rudeness of their audiences. It takes a lot of courage to do it and it’s upsetting to have to do, the same way it would upsetting for you to have to call your coffee friend out for not paying attention to you, being in the moment with you.

The fact is that some things are temporal, and they’re meant to be. Even very good, professional recordings can never replace the dynamic of a live performance, and it’s that relationship between what’s happening on stage and what’s happening in the seats that makes it magical. Making a cheap copy, at the cost of you giving back what’s expected in this two-way relationship, just isn’t cool. I’m sorry that Ben had to speak out, and I’m glad that he did. I hope people will be understanding about how this dynamic of performers/audience works and respect it. If you want a recording, wait until Hamlet is playing in movie theatres. If you want to participate in the live event, then hold up your end of the contract. Live performance isn’t a jukebox where you put in your coins and then sit back and consume a pre-recorded thing. Just because you paid to be there doesn’t mean you paid for the privilege to ignore it, steal it, or disrupt it. You paid to experience some of the most talented actors around perform one of the greatest pieces of English theatrical literature, and your part of the price of getting to be there is your energy and engagement.

I hope people aren’t being dicks about Ben having had to say this. It’s true that it’s a widespread problem that’s come up just within the past ten years or so, and the theatre/classical music industry is still trying to figure out how to best deal with it. They could do body searches and make people leave their phones and tablets at the coat check (cloakroom for ye Brits), or they could do what they’re currently doing and trust that people will behave with respect. The fact that Ben had to say this means that people weren’t - and not just one person. Lots of people. It’s enormously upsetting for a performer to experience this in the first place. Live performance takes a much different energy than in film or tv where there’s nearly always a second or fifth chance to do something. On stage you’ve got one shot and it takes incredible amounts of energy and focus and Ben is the sort of actor who will give every ounce of it. The very least his audiences can do is engage fully, to listen with just a fraction of the same commitment that he and the other actors in his cast are putting out there. It’s uncomfortable to have to hear, maybe, but it’s uncomfortable for you to have to confront your distracted friend on your coffee date, too. Bit of a loose analogy, but I hope it helps people get what’s wrong with this scenario. Sorry for the extended rant, but just speaking as a fellow performer (of a much, MUCH lower circle, but still) - I had to say something.