Actor stopped because of emailer in audience

[ChangeNameLikeIChangeSocks]

I just read about this in the guardian, I'll put a picture of the heading of the article.

He says he "thought" the audience member was sending emails on his laptop. I wonder how he knew that, presumably he couldn't see the screen, and signal in theatres is dreadful. I would take a punt that he was in fact playing minesweeper.

I'm going off topic. The reason I wanted to post this is because it leapt out as me as a parallel to typical behaviour in many of the (Good!) schools I've taught in. Low level disruption. Except it's not one audience (class) member, it's most of them.

So I had to smile wryly to myself that this made the national news.

Either the audience member had very good reason, or this is a natural follow on from the deterioration of respect and good behaviour in schools.

Oh actors, come teach the dear children!

How do they go on holiday then?

speaking for myself I remain contactable whilst on leave and my team knows to phone me with anything urgent. I check in on emails every few days. Usually I don’t need to do much more than sign/approve documents but occasionally I’ve had to abandon my leave.

So the trainer has to put up with people disrupting their course

I think most decent trainers understand that interruptions are a reality and are capable of managing the occasional review of a phone or quiet exit from a room. They are professional and experienced enough to understand that attendees are acting in good faith.

@Nanny0gg In 30 years I've never met a corporate trainer who batted an eye at people checking messages on phones or nipping out to take a call in the hallway. Honestly, if they needed us all lined up in a pew in silence it would never happen! We'd just find another trainer.

When I go on leave I do it in at a time of year that makes most sense of the cycle of the business and I line things up so they are unlikely to need me. My team and my boss will of course call me if they need me and it's unavoidable which happens more times than not at least a few times. If no one has called I'll still pop in my email a few times to make sure everything is ticking over. Training just aren't that important and you're at the mercy of the greater corporate training schedule. My boss would think I'd hit my head quite hard if I didn't answer his call because I was in a training.

Yep so the show really should've gone on. I hope they issued refunds for him spoiling it.

For laptop man spoiling it? Maybe they should have sued him.

I wish they had.

Ohhhh it's the infamous Janiie. That explains everything.

I've been on speed awareness courses and they get very, very upset if you allowed yourself to be distracted. Dh did an online oneduring covid and ds 2 ran in to say hi to him - he was muted - the trainer stopped and said "haven't you got a wife?"

I would 100% rather the actor stopped the show to deal with the one ignorant twat ruining it than that they battled on leaving everyone having to deal with the distraction and disrespect. Five minutes of stoppage for the remainder of the show being enjoyed as it’s meant to be is far preferable!

Very well said!

Jesus wept!

That's awful!

The show did go on - without some A-hole disturbing either the cast or those members of the audience affected by the laptop-idiot

Gosh!

Aren't you important . . .

<admiring>

In 30 years I've never met a corporate trainer who batted an eye at people checking messages on phones or nipping out to take a call in the hallway.

Shows how unnecessary and wasteful most management courses are, doesn't it.

Indeed - it's not as if the tickets are cheap, too!

Oh sorry i thought he'd stopped his lines at an apparently highly emotive and intense moment thus spoiling it for all the ticket payers.

So he didn't stop and the interview is incorrect? Odd.

Gosh!

Aren't you important . . .

<admiring>

@Emotionalsupportviper

Gosh!

you seem rather chippy. Or perhaps just limited in your understanding of the world. I assume you don’t get out much. Either to work or the theatre.

Not relevant to the thread, but what a sexist comment!

If this post is illustrative of your comprehension skills, I can see why Shakespeare isn’t your thing.

To be honest, I hate that it has become necessary to broadcast such a reminder. It reminds me that people just don't know how to behave these days (how old do I sound? I'm not even thirty!)

I'd prefer it if theatres took a hard line on this, with immediate ejection for using a device. Unfortunately ushers don't have enough back up in case of someone kicking off.

Not representative of any general French attitude. I work across Europe and phone etiquette is the same (poor) across the board. I’d say in fact that the Brits are on the better end of the scale.

There's been a long discussion about training providers. Those courses are like that. I would say it's relevant.
Anyway, I'm the op, flounce flounce 😂😁

What I meant was that my observation about sexism wasn't relevant to the subject of the thread.

I give presentations in schools and its one of my most hated things when the teachers bring their laptops to check emails while I'm talking, so rude!

I don't as it happens. So when I do I like to get the most out of the experience.

You must be prescient.

I hope you use your powers only for good.

Observations about sexism are always relevant on munsnet.

Janiie · Today 12:28
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God, he needs to get over himself if he can't concentrate because there is a screen visible. How utterly horrid!
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Screens are everywhere, as long as they are silent then so what.
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Not ideal granted but I'd rather have someone silently on a screen next to me then those who talk non stop or stuff their faces with crisps rattling the bag and slurping”

There’s always one. Screens (phones/headphones, whatever) in the audience have no place whatsoever at a live performance.

Maybe just stay home and watch Netflix in future?