So this is not a ticketing question per se, but we are looking to find out how other venues are handling cell phone usage during performances.
I’m looking into how other venues restrict or allow cell phone usage during performances in their venues. Are there places where cell phones are allowed during performances for photography? For video? For tweeting? Do place allow phone usage for certain types of shows and not others? If so, what sorts of shows allow for cell phone usage? How do other venues go about educating their patrons about what is or isn’t acceptable behavior? How do other venues go about enforcing those policies?
Thank you in advance to anyone who responds.
Hi! I am the manager of new media at UMS and we've done a bit of work with tweet seats over the past few years. Our general policy is no devices during performances, so we had to be very careful to set up the program such that the performance experience of non-tweeters was not disturbed. We sat the tweeters together in one section at the back of the venues and had them use a (DIY) box for their phones to limit light emissions. We also staffed the section so that a staffer would always be able to answer questions about the program and also be there to remind participants to turn off sound, dim light, etc. If you're curious to learn more, I wrote a details piece about the program for artsfwd.org here: artsfwd.org/how-can-tweet-seats-provide-new-opportunities-for-audience-engagement/