To think that audience members shouldn't sing along?

[TriggersBroom]

Went to an open-air production of HMS Pinafore last night and the woman sitting behind me would sing along with the actors every so often. It wasnt all the time - just a few lines occasionally. I found it really off putting. I turned round and gave her a look a few times but she continued.

Eventually I turned around and politely said: "can you please stop singing".

Her facial reaction was a bit but she did shut up after that.

I think its ok to sing if it's a singalong production by the way - e.g. Rocky horror or special screenings of Sound of Music or Mamma Mia.

Urgh, YADNBU! My mother is a compulsive sing-alonger. I took her to see Our House (the one with all the Madness songs) and she couldn't keep her trap shut. It was made no less embarrassing by the fact that she is tone deaf and NEVER KNOWS THE FECKING WORDS!

aw i couldn't hear her either but all those people recording on their phones would have pissed me off just as much!

I think it depends where you are. I have no problem with people singing along at festivals, outdoor or stadium concerts, in fact the singers often encourage it. But not at intimate gigs or in the audience at a musical (except singalongs as OP notes)

I think at large concerts it doesn't matter, but in smaller gigs and also at the theatre, it is inexcusable. Some people just do not know how to behave in the theatre full stop. Not quite on the same theme, but worth recounting, was when DH and I went to see something at the Globe Theatre about three years ago. We were sitting in the middle tier of seats and as the theatre is a recreation of the original Globe, there are no mics, so the actors really have to project to be heard and obviously, noise carries through the 'auditorium'. Anyway, the actors make the now obligatory comment at the start about McPhee and cameras etc. About half way through, a phone rings, and of course it was some hideous ring tone. That in itself was bad enough but then, and I kid you not, the woman who's phone was ringing, actually picked it out of her bag, answered it, and started a conversation!!!!!!

We were sitting in the same block of seats and there was quite a bit of tutting and eye rolling from the rest of us, although as I recall, no one actually said anything directly to her (including us.)
I still am incredulous when I think about it now. Like I said, I know it's a bit off topic, but just shows some people have no concept of what is acceptable behaviour in a performance venue...

**McPhee?!? I meant mobile phones!!!

Stifnstav couldn't hear your woman in the background, but i bet that concert was amazing. Wish i'd been there.

Noquontrol listen carefully around 2.54 you can hear her really clearly at that point.

I remember going to see Handel's Messiah and someone was singing along with the soloists until we told them to stop.

"no one actually said anything to her"

That's so British, isn't it? One of my friends was embarrassed that I'd confronted this woman.

Shocked at some of these examples. Especially the kid at The Sound of Music.

You are so NBU. I hate this.
I went to see Mamma Mia (I know, I know) and the person two seats from me sang e v e r y song.

It made me stabby.

Rule of thumb, standing = sing along, sitting = trap shut. It's like public transport, the seats are so close together you're automatically in someone's personal space, unless the music is really loud it's fecking irritating.

I do forget myself sometimes, but am suitably embarrassed and shut up very quickly when I realise!

I remember at a non sing along mama mia an out of tune man singing along to I have a dream.

I just don't get the watching the concert through your phone, whilst recording it.

My DP has started doing this and it is ruining the night, all of the time.

I wish he would go back to singing.