[HANASHIR:14245] Re: Performance etiquette

[Burton A. Zipser <zipmusic...>]

Dear Colleagues,
        Recently some discussion concerning presenter-audience 
relations appeared. Some responders feel that the listeners should be 
expected to not pursue personal discussions during a presentation. 
Others adopt a "laissez-faire" approach and are willing to be treated 
like a "muzak" recording. I was even surprised at the person who was 
willing to continue the Torah reading even though the rabbis seated 
on the bima were talking, albeit quietly.
        One needs to question your reason for standing in front of a 
group, whether as a teacher in a class, or as a speaker to a group, 
or as someone who has been asked (with or without compensation) to 
perform.  Eliminating the "open mike" atmosphere of a karaoke bar or 
an amateur evening at the local comedy club, in any other situation 
(assuming that you have respect for what you are going to do, and are 
qualified either by training or by the opinion of others to be 
presented to an audience) there are certain conditions which ought to 
prevail and you should have enough self-respect to either have a 
contractual arrangement with whomever has invited/hired you to 
appear, or to inform those in charge that you will feel obligated to 
teach those in attendance some manners.
        Most people in an audience/congregation do know or have some 
conception of what kind of behavior is expected of them, whether they 
have paid to get in or have arrived with an interest in what is going 
to be presented.
        You do not have to imitate Harry Belafonte and injure 
yourself vocally by shouting down the audience as he did in his 
earliest Las Vegas appearances. You do not have to gain the attention 
of a crowd by turning up the volume of the P.A. system.  But you can 
be a teacher and request that those who wish to enjoy or learn from 
the program be permitted to do so.  It can be as simple as:
1.  In a "one-to-one" situation, look at someone in a movie theater 
who is talking too loudly and either make a "shush" sound or ask 
him/her/them not to spoil the story by a "play-by-play" description.
2.  In a congregational situation, for those who may not know Hebrew 
very well, insert the English translation of the Hebrew between 
Hebrew verses. If you can do it in your own words, that is even 
better.
3.  If the people in the congregation are disruptive, say nothing, 
stop the service, and look at those who ought to be elsewhere.  They 
will eventually realize that they are discourteous, especially when 
those around them either start looking at them or reprimand them. 
Expect them to be open to a spiritual experience and they will 
appreciate the opportunity.
4.  If you are appearing in front of a group, you can ask those who 
have children to keep them in control either to avoid problems or to 
give the rest of those in attendance the opportunity to enjoy what is 
going to be presented. If you have a contract, you can specify a 
minimum age for those who will be attending.  Advance planning can 
prevent a future problem.
5.  You can also use humor or a brief story to keep the audience 
engaged, not to silence a heckler, but to give the listeners an 
insight into the music or the text. This can also give you a chance 
to catch your breath, tune your guitar, or cover for some onstage 
activity.  Embrace and involve your audience--remember that they 
could be home watching cable TV except that they were willing to come 
and experience what you have to offer.
6.  While you don't have to emulate the rock star who expected that 
there would be a dish of M & Ms (with no "green ones") in the 
backstage room, you have the right and privilege to expect those who 
are responsible to provide an environment in which the performance 
can be appreciated. Or to paraphrase the proverb, if you do not 
expect the conditions of the event to permit you to do your best, why 
would you permit those in charge to disrespect your efforts?

                        Burton Zipser, Oak Park, MI
3.

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