Prost Stage Productions has a cell phone policy, but it’s nothing that should come as a suprise. Unfortunately, common sense… isn’t.
These days, we all have voice recorders, digital cameras, video cameras, and strobe lights that we carry everywhere (even if they also sometimes make phone calls). Modern devices create lots of opportunities for commemorating an event or performance, but they can also create distractions and infringe on the performer’s, venue’s, and producer’s rights of ownership.
First off: no flash, no calls
No one wants to listen to one side of a conversation an audience member is having. Don’t be that guy or gal, obliviously airing your dirty laundry to everyone in earshot! We ask that you put your ringtone on vibrate or silent before the curtain goes up. If you do need to take a call, take it outside and we’ll be happy to welcome you back in after your call wraps up.
Strobe light ringers and flash photography are also a big distraction. They not only break the suspension-of-disbelief, but are also extremely distracting for our cast and crew. If we’re doing fight choreography with swords, moving heavy furniture during a scene change, or executing an involved dance number, even a moment’s distraction can be disastrous.
If you would like to take a few discrete photos, please be mindful of the audience around you. We ask that you turn your phonescreen brightness down to minimal levels, disable that shutter sound effect, and not spend more than a minute or two taking photos in each act. Some of our venues may not allow photography at all, and we will try to clearly post any such restrictions on the ticket sales sites & also on our promotional efforts.
A ticket is for an experience
We make money by putting on a performance and putting butts into seats. So, we’re hoping not to see grainy videos of our shows pop up on YouTube (or elsewhere) that might ruin the punchlines or give a negative impression due to a bad angle or audience members heavy-breathing over the dialogue. If you like what you see, there’s no need to videocam it. Come see it again! For some shows, we will also have professional videos available for sale.
Our actors and actresses love having their picture taken, and we’ll do our best to create opportunities to do so. But – and this is a big but – they retain the rights to their likeness. When performing in a private venue, there may be additional restrictions beyond what’s posted here. If you take photos (sans flash), we also ask that you frame them to avoid catching other audience members. Not everyone who goes out to see a show wants to *be shown* – they may be camera shy, in witness protection, or just having a bad hair day.
There are also some video & camera misbehaviors that we shouldn’t have to wag a finger at. Anyone livestreaming the show or intruding on the privacy of others will be either warned once or immediately asked to leave.
When do we encourage pictures?
During curtain call & after the show are great times to take photos. And, if you do share any of your pictures or video clips, feel free to tag #ChildrenOfTheNight & @ProstStageProd or @ProstStage or @ProstStageProd.