On Attending a Symphony Concert

advice from an expert

Photo by Tuur Tisseghem from Pexels

DECEMBER 12TH, 2021

The first time you attend an orchestra performance can be intimidating. You may feel out of place not knowing all the rules and intricacies – making new attendees feel like they are standing amongst giants!

When attending your very first show, there are some basic guidelines that will help you enjoy the experience. We'll share some tips and tricks for newcomers to know before attending your first concert. You'll enjoy the performance without feeling embarrassed or intimated.

Do we agree with all the formalities and guides? No! Some of the rules below are too restrictive and a bit stuffy. However, if more people start attending concerts and let their disagreement with the rules be known, things may change for the better in the future.

There are quite a few rules, so let's get started:

Turn off or Silence Cell Phones

We completely agree with this rule at concerts and honestly are shocked by how many people break it. Cell phones have dominated for around 20 years! We're even giving out cellphones to children. We've reached a point in the world that most people can't be without their phones.

However, no one likes to be distracted during a concert or movie, so why is there always someone who doesn't follow the simple rule of: "please turn off or silence your cell phone." Even more surprising is that they leave their phone volume up so high that everyone around them can hear. Again, we've had 20+ years to learn this simple rule. Research has shown that it takes at least 21 days to build a new habit...

As you can see, there has been more than enough time for us to learn.

The sound of your phone's ringtone is so distracting to you and other guests. It can literally remove you from whatever experience you are having. Whether at a concert, movie theater, or show – the interruption becomes very apparent and frustrating, as it draws all your attention to it rather than what you paid for. It feels like life has grabbed you by the arms, shaken you, and shouted, "PAY ATTENTION TO ME."

I know it sounds like a lot, but trust us and try to avoid checking your phone at all during a concert. You only have to wait about two hours. Plus, there's always a break halfway through, so if you need to, you can check your phone during the fifteen-minute intermission. Who knows, a few hours without all the distractions from cell phones might do wonders for some people. So let's all be courteous to each other and keep our phones off or on silent.

No Photos or Videos

Another rule that covers your phone is another good one. You don't want to be distracting others with the light from your device shining in the eyes of those behind you during a show or concert. It's also distracting to the performers, who may see that bright light penetrating the hall's darkness. It ultimately takes away from the experience of those around you.

To be respectful to all those around you, please don't use your phone.

If you want to take a photo for social media or remember the experience, take a quick photo before the performance begins when musicians are warming up on stage or once the performance is over and the audience is applauding.

No Talking and Avoid Loud Coughing

You know we've been saying the same thing over and over again. However, it is crucial, so let us repeat ourselves: do not do anything to distract those around you during a concert. Talking to those around you will make this happen.

Your experience is impaired when any distraction occurs; it takes you away from the beautiful moment that is happening right in front of you. You are enjoying an audible experience, so any noise created can remove you from the experience.

While you can control speaking, coughing may be difficult to avoid. However, don't be like some people who don't cover their mouth. A lot has changed since Covid-19 - but one thing that hasn't budged an inch? The importance of covering up when coughing or sneezing is because it helps prevent germs from spreading as well as mutes the loud sound. Be friendly to your neighbors and do everything you can to avoid making bothersome noises. If it is not possible, try as hard as possible to mute these sounds so they won't bother anyone else.

What to Wear

It's time to take a break from etiquette in the concert hall and talk about what you should wear. For some, this can be an anxiety-inducing dilemma because there are no rules at many venues which adds more difficulty on top of this already stressful situation.

First, you should check if the venue has a dress code. Some venues have strict dress codes, like wearing a jacket and tie or skirt/short suit; you could be refused entry, so make sure to check that the venue you plan to attend doesn't have any formal rules on attire.

If the venue doesn't have any rules, you must decide for yourself! Most will choose business or cocktail attire, but it's up to each attendee to choose how they want their outfit to look.

If you don't get bothered by those around you (judging your appearance), we recommend wearing whatever is most comfortable. However, if conformity with other attendees at the venue is what matters to have an enjoyable time, then take a look at their outfits before going and get some ideas on how best to look like them. Most performing arts organizations have social media accounts, so you may be able to find a few photos of audience members.

It's your big day, and you should wear whatever makes the most sense. Whether it's jeans and a polo or you dress a little fancy (might help out if it's a date night), go with what's comfortable for a fun night at the symphony.

Quick warning: if the performance is a gala concert, many guests may be wearing tuxedos, so be cautious what you choose to wear if you want to avoid drawing too much attention.

Arrival Time

There are no previews for upcoming concerts, so show up at the venue 10-15 minutes before the performance start time. You'll have enough time to handle parking, avoid waiting in line, and get through security (if the venue has it).

If you are new at this whole concert thing, it won't be easy to find your seat at a concert, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time. The ushers will help you find your way to the concert hall, but it can get really crowded with 1,000+ audience members. The 15-20 ushers can only go so fast with helping the large audience.

If you don't have your ticket, be sure to pick it up early! You'll most likely end up waiting in line if many people also don't have their tickets. So plan on coming an extra 15 minutes earlier than what we recommend – to avoid any potential hold-ups at will call.

What happens if you arrive late and the concert has already begun? During some performances, they may make you wait in a lobby before going inside. This could mean 5 minutes, or it could be 15-20 minutes; waiting is not great for starting your experience as a concertgoer!

It's essential to arrive early, avoiding any potential problems and creating the best possible experience. Additionally, most venues have places where people can buy drinks or food before the concert starts, so you can enjoy yourself and not worry about being late.

When to Clap?

The one rule we have problems with is a dreadfully brewed concept that currently creates chaos in concert halls.

Most follow the rule of clapping after the work is finished. In a multi-movement work, you want to wait till after all movements have been played, which is difficult for beginners unless they have some experience.

We hate this rule, and it doesn't have much traditional precedent. Many who follow it will say it's tradition. However, it's a more recent unwritten rule. During the 1800s and 1700s, it was customary to applause without trepidation after each movement or even during the piece. Composers even wrote in ways that signaled audiences to applause after a movement.

So, why is there still so much friction over this? There is still a lot of debate, without much reason. What is the problem if an audience member is so passionately motivated to applause after hearing something so beautiful? There's no need to stamp on their appreciation of your work.

To make it worst, some musicians even turn to the audience and demand they shush or loudly remind them of rules. It's so disrespectful! These patrons of the arts paid to hear the musicians and made it possible for them to perform in the first place. With classical music having issues recruiting new audience members, we need to do everything in our power to appreciate having them in the audience as much as they appreciate the performance.

If you want to follow the rule, the best way to tell if the work has been fully completed is to wait for the conductor to relax fully and brings his arms down. However, please don't be rude to those who only passionately exclaim their appreciation for hearing such beauty.

Final thoughts

We hope that these tips will help you enjoy your concert experience.

Don't forget to turn off or silence your cell phone, no photos or videos, and don't talk when people around might be annoyed by it.

Don't worry too much about clothing and wear what is comfortable for you. You'll be seated for 1-2 hours.

Finally, clap when you want during the performance. There's no reason to quiet your appreciation. If you have any additional final tips, share them in the comment section below.