I. HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT BUN

II. AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE

The audience members, in addition to the performers, are participants in every concert. When you participate in watching a concert, you play an important role in sharing this experience with others in the audience and with the performers on stage. Formal concerts are different from rock concerts or sporting events, and require you to know some specific concert manners.

Enter the auditorium quietly.

After each dance on the program it is customary to applaud politely.

Whistling, yelling, or screaming is not appropriate at any time before, during, or after a

dance concert.

Remain seated while a dance is being performed.

It distracts the audience around you, as well as the performers. If you must leave for any reason, wait until a piece is finished, and the audience is applauding. Also, return to your seat only between dances.

It is impolite to talk, or even whisper, while a dance is being performed.

Remain still, and be thoughtful of others by talking or making sounds only between dances.

It is impolite to wear hats or caps during a concert.

It is impolite to eat or drink refreshments during a concert.

Always say “excuse me,” if you must pass in front of someone while going to or from your seat.

When leaving an auditorium, always return your seat cushion to the upright position to make it easy for others to pass through the rows.

Adapted from The National Association for Music Education's Teacher Success Kit, http://www.menc.org/

III. BACKSTAGE ETIQUETTE

Dancers, When You’re The Performer...

Do whatever the crew tells you without arguing, especially in performance.

 

The proper response to anything a crew member tells you is “thank you.” You may also repeat the information given so that the crew member knows you have understood.

 

Why it’s important: Sometimes the reasons for the requests aren’t obvious. Never question what the crew tells you to do in performance; just trust that it’s for your own good and all will be well.

 

Stay put until you’re called for your cue.

 

Stay in your dressing room (at The Scottish Rite Temple this means the “G” room for girls and younger boys.)

 

Why it’s important: The crew can’t call you if they can’t find you. And while you may know perfectly well where you are, they don’t. If you need to use the restroom, make sure someone knows where you are.

 

Don’t hang out in the wings watching the show.

 

Only come backstage when the crew brings you for your cue. After your dance, go back to your dressing room.

 

Why it’s important: Backstage space in most theaters is pretty cramped, and the last thing the crew needs is to have to work around an extra body. Things can happen pretty quickly backstage, and you could find yourself causing a disaster by blocking someone’s view when a visual cue is needed, or being in the way during a quick entrance or exit. Stay out of the way.

 

Don’t talk with anyone backstage unless it is essential to the show

 

That’s it. No talking backstage.

 

Why it’s important: A whispered conversation going on in the wings can be very annoying to the actors on stage, and in some small theaters can even be heard in the house. Not only that, but a lot of what the crew is doing is waiting for a cue, just like you. If you distract them with conversation, they may miss a cue, just as you would if someone were trying to hold a conversation with you while you were trying to dance on stage. If you have something that you must communicate to a crew member because it affects your performance or the show, then do so, but make sure you’re not interrupting something else that may be going on. If your crew uses headsets, always make the assumption that they’re listening to something when you approach them and you won’t go wrong.

 

Don’t play with or move the props, and don’t sit on the furniture backstage.

 

Never touch a prop that is not yours.

 

Why it’s important: Props should only be handled in the context of the performance – you’d be surprised how easy it can be to break or damage a prop that looked sturdy enough when you picked it up. Never move a prop -- stage managers and prop masters have specific spots for certain props, making it easier to find things in dim backstage lighting. It may not look like a big deal to just shove that flower garland under the props table so it won’t be in anyone’s way, but when the crew goes looking for it in the dark, it may not be so obvious that it’s been pushed off to one side. Likewise, if you inadvertently take a prop that should remain in the wings to the dressing room with you, try to get it back up into the wings as soon as possible, preferably by handing it off to a crew member who comes to the dressing room to call someone. Don’t just lay it down somewhere, promising to put it back later; it’s easy to forget both that you had it and where you put it, and there’s bound to be a panicky search for it for the next performance. Never sit on furniture that’s stored backstage – many pieces are borrowed, or may have been mended just well enough to last through the run of the show. Your group doesn’t want to have to explain why there’s makeup smeared on the upholstery, or be forced to rustle up a replacement if a chair leg is broken beyond repair.

 

Check your props before each performance, including any that are set for you to use onstage

 

The Ballet Academy  will check props that are used by whole classes. You should check if you use a prop that one else does.

 

Why it’s important: If something that you need to use on stage isn’t set, you can lay all the blame you want on whoever fell down on the job, but ultimately you’re the one who looks like a fool in front of the audience. This is a self-preservation measure, as well as back-up for the crew. If your props aren’t there, blame yourself as well as the crew member who didn't set them, because you should have double-checked.

 

Don’t peek through the curtains at the audience

 

You shouldn’t be backstage anyway!

 

Why it’s important: Needless to say, looking out through the curtains is strictly amateursville. Ever see a professional dancer stick her nose through the curtains to check out the house? Of course not. Do it, and you’re branding the whole Academy as unprofessional.

 

Adapted from The Actor’s Guide to Backstage Etiquette, www.communitytheater.org