Concert etiquette

[nafmeadmin]

Any one have any clever announcements concerning concert etiquette they’d be willing to share with me. I’d really love something pre-recorded or even a video. I’ve been perusing youtube and haven’t found anything much other than great videos for specific concert halls or poor quality class projects.

Any ideas?

[nafmeadmin]

We’ve tried a lot of things in my program, and what works best for us is having one of the kids do the announcement. Depending on the kid, I usually give them guidelines and let them prepare the statement themselves. One year a girl told the audience “we worked really really hard, so if you talk when we’re playing it really hurts our feelings.” I’ve never heard it so quiet- nobody wanted to be the jerk that upset a bunch of kids.

[nafmeadmin]

Definitely going to give this a try

Thanks,

Art G

[nafmeadmin]

NAfME here. Noticed your cry for help on something we have answers to. Go to our website and type Concert Etiquette in the search box. Multiple sites will appear including this one http://musiced.nafme.org/resources/concert-etiquette-home/. Caroline, NAfME staff.

[nafmeadmin]

Caroline,
We used the NAFME concert etiquette PDF in our programs prior to this topic being posted and had an uproar that ended in a meeting with the school board and several “offended” community members and our music staff. It’s kind of blown over now. They argued that the rules on the PDF “stifle” and “discourage attendance.” Many found the explanations of the 10 or so rules to be crude like the “no flash photography” rule where it says kids could fall off the stage. I was completely taken aback that it was even an issue, I couldn’t believe people were offended at nationally recognized standards of etiquette. I’ve been here almost 4 years and it’s been a real struggle to get audiences to behave appropriately. I’ve had everything from air horns to parents unplugging our sound system mid song because they needed the plug to charge their phone.
It’s getting better. But we’ve got a lot of social education to go before they can treat the kids decently. The kids seem to get it, but it’ll take a generation or two to implement some etiquette.

[Author]

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