hcmf: Sat 23 Nov 2009: 8.15pm concert: fidgetting performer
inv...@invalid.invalid
I went to the hcmf 8.15pm concert at St Paul�s on Sat 22 Nov 2009,
(having paid a full price ticket) and was shocked by the behaviour of
one of the performers (sound techician). Because there were electronics
in the second half, there was a mixing desk in the middle of the
audience seating (this is normal). When the audience went into the hall
at the beginning of the concert, there were two sound technicians seated
at the mixing desk. I got a seat just behind the mixing desk a few
seats along, not expecting to have to want to be well away from the
mixing desk.
The first half of the concert contained 3 pieces which didn�t seem to
require any electronics, or certainly no input from the sound technician
in question. He sat there slouched in his seat for the whole of the
first half. Throughout the first half of the concert, this sound
technician fidgeted continuously: picking at his face, nose, teeth,
ears, & hair. He didn�t have to be in the concert hall for the first
half (so e.g. if he was of a nervous disposition, he could have stayed
outside).
Because this sound technician was on the periphery of vision, every
movement was noticeable (and disturbing). If an orchestral performer
isn�t needed for a movement, they tend to sit still & quietly, or
increasingly nowadays, come on stage between movements as appropriate.
Sadly, there seems to be a prevailing feeling of not criticising people
(& certainly not performers/artistes for fear of offending a sensitive
disposition), and also a sense of embarrassment when this matter was
mentioned to people in neighbouring seats (who seemed to be in
knowledgeable positions in respect of the concert). One expressed a
similar view point and another being somewhat embarrassed at the
suggestion of criticism/complaining (such a British failing). One of
the people also expressed dissatisfaction with the fidgeting sound
technician. I suppose I could have moved seats, but the concert was
sold out, and you can�t really move in the middle of a concert
To add injury to insult, at the end of the piece where the sound
technician actually did do something, he rose to take applause. So, the
audience reinforces this type of anti-social behaviour!
For better of worse, this type of behaviour is unprofessional,
disturbing to paying audience members, inconsiderate and IMHO, unacceptable.
Having said all that, the quartet were fantastic, and the programme
interesting: It was just the annoying tw*t at the sound desk that ruined
the concert. Perhaps I am getting old and grumpy, and there will be some
who are horrified at the thought of the negativity/complaining herein
(what a British reaction!), and perhaps I should be more tolerant.
However, in the same way that there are notices in the gents toilet
asking that the toilet not be flushed during the performance (as it�s
right underneath the audience seating and might disturb the
performance), and latecomers are not allowed into a concert until a
convenient break, the fidgeting sound technician largely spoilt my
enjoyment of the performance, and behaved unprofessionally.
I was supposed to be going again the following day, but I voted with my
feet. I won�t be going again. I won�t be supporting hcmf in future
either, so that�s one lot of patron�s contibution they�ve lost (but I
don�t suppose they�ll worry about that too much). I suppose I�ve been
going & supporting hcmf for around 10 years or more.
Grumpy old get