COLUMN: USU students are having trouble following concert etiquette
Students of Utah State University, where are your manners? I don’t come from a city that is heavily involved in the arts; we don’t have a real theater anywhere within the Layton city boundaries, but I have never seen concert etiquette as bad as I’ve seen at USU.
Dr. Tom Peterson’s Creative Arts classes are required to go to many different fine arts events in the. Students have to scan their ID cards at the beginning and at the end of every performance to get credit for attending. Since it is a requirement, it’s expected that there would be a few unwilling audience members who show disregard for the various performances. However, when a substantial fraction of the audience is being unbearably impolite, we have a problem.
The latest required event for that class was the concert given by the American Brass Quintet. When the concert was finished, nearly half the audience jumped from their seats and hurried as fast as they could for the door. They didn’t spend any time applauding. I can only imagine how the performers must have felt, watching everyone leave as soon as they could to scan their ID cards. This was a nationally-renowned chamber music group, yet they were hardly getting a clap from many of the students.
Such rude behavior not only appeared at the end of the performance, but also throughout. The man who introduced the quintet said specifically that we should only clap after the whole musical piece is done, not in between movements. Obviously, that didn’t happen.
This isn’t just a problem with Creative Arts students. I went to an carnatic music performance by Prasanna on Monday, where at least half of the audience left during the intermission. Did they not have any consideration for the performers?
These people have dedicated their lives to art. They have put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into their work, only to be scoffed at by ignorant students. Sure, many of you are required to go to these things, and sometimes they’re not that interesting. But are you here at college because you’re required to be here, or because you want to learn? So much can be gleaned from these performances, yet they are constantly looked over and ignored.
In light of this shameful behavior, here’s a few suggestions that people should at least take notice of before they go to a concert.
No. 1: Dress appropriately. You are being a disgrace to the university and to the audience when you dress in bluejeans and a ballcap. Concerts by Chanticleer, the American Brass Quintet or any other prestigious artists deserve respect.
No. 2: If you are in doubt, do some research. A quick Google search for “concert etiquette” finds several informative pages in 0.36 seconds. You can spare yourself the humiliation of not knowing what to do by this easy technique.
No. 3: Turn off your cell phones. It’s not that hard, people. You just have to press a button. Or better yet, just leave your cell phone at home. Why would you need it anyway if you’re trying to enjoy the richness and beauty of the arts? Nearly every single production I’ve been to has been rudely interrupted by someone’s irritating ringtone. Don’t let this happen to you.
No. 4: Be patient. It’s true, some things in this life are boring, but that doesn’t give you license to be rude. Once you commit to something, you should be in it for the long haul. That means staying to the end, then giving the performers the applause they deserve.
I desperately hope this kind of behavior doesn’t continue. USU is slowly gaining a reputation for having rude, unmannerly audiences. I don’t want to be associated with that kind of image. Do you?
Marisha Parker is a undeclared freshman. Comments can be sent to maripark@cc.usu.edu.