Concert Etiquette

Little things that may seem trivial to audience members may interrupt a performer’s intense concentration. The following suggestions will help audience members show respect to the performers on stage as well as other members of the audience,
and help our performers put on their best show!

Arrival Time – Arrive early enough to allow time for parking/traffic and getting your tickets if you have not already. 

Entering and Exiting the Auditorium – Never enter or exit the auditorium during a performance. The most appropriate times to move about are during audience applause or set changes. If you arrive late or must exit/re-enter, we will ask you to wait by the doors until the current piece (not just a movement) is finished. Once you can enter, please discreetly take the nearest seat available or your reserved seat (if applicable).

When To Applaud – Performers always appreciate applause, but there are appropriate moments to applaud. In a multi-movement work, applaud only after all movements are completed. This allows the continuity of the piece to flow from one movement to the next. “Hooting and hollering” is not appropriate in the concert setting.

Talking – Talking should not be tolerated. It is not only distracting to the performer, but to every person in the audience, and sound carries further than you might think in the auditorium. It is just plain rude to talk; even whispering can be heard during a musical performance. If someone around you is talking, ask him or her nicely to please stop.

Other Noises – Avoid rustling your program, tapping your foot, bouncing your legs, etc. Pagers and cell phones should be turned off. Watches set to beep on the hour should also be turned off. These high-pitched beeps are distracting to the performers and audience members.  [Special note in theatrical stage productions: Electronic devices that are set to "vibrate" or "silent" still interfere with signals from headsets used by tech crew members. Avoid causing missed cues, and disturbance in lighting effects by turning the devices "off".]

Children – Children need exposure to good music and live performance, and we encourage you to bring them! However, if your young child begins to get restless in the middle of a performance, it may be best that you exit the auditorium until calmer times prevail.