Opera House and Concert Hall Etiquette
1. Arrive at least a half hour early so you can be settled before the stated start time.
2. If you need to leave your seat for any reason during the performance, remember that the venue is unlikely to allow you to resume your seat until the current piece is between movements or has ended. Major opera houses will not allow you to resume your seat until intermission.
3. No food or drink is permitted, especially any that will make any noise. This is not limited to potato chips.
4. If you have chocolate, cough drops, or hard candy, remember that crinkling paper will annoy other attendees. Either unwrap the item in advance or between musical pieces or acts.
5. No talking during any part of the performance, for obvious reasons.
6. No leaning your heads together. This obstructs the view of the person behind you.
7. If you have a cold, bring cough drops and follow rule #4. If you have a very runny nose, bring enough tissues to take care of the problem without having to blow. If it's too bad to follow this rule, do not attend.
8. Shut off all portable communication devices. It is insulting to the artists and annoying to other patrons to have phones ring during a performance.
9. If you need to leave a row, face away from the others in your row and say "Excuse me" as you pass. Facing toward them (if there is the usual lack of leg room) will cause you to fall into them or step on their feet.
10. If you are one being passed, accept the apology graciously. If the seat flips up, stand if you can to make it easier for them to pass.
11. Dress decently for the venue. Classical music events and opera are not cheap and you will not want to look like a slob in a venue where people are often dressed to the nines.
12. Do not wear noisy jewelry such as multiple bangle bracelets, charm bracelets, or elaborate dangling earrings that can be heard at the slightest movement. Save those for your belly-dancing class or a hot date in a different venue.
13. Avoid making noise. No humming, singing, foot tapping, or other noise. Be aware that this is specifically frowned upon at these types of concerts.
14. Avoid foot jiggling. Seats are usually connected, therefore a vigorous foot shaking can annoy the rest of the people in your row.
15. Follow the rules regarding applause. These may vary by venue or composer, so a little research is required.
16. Not every performance deserves a 10 minute standing ovation. Applaud appropriately to show your appreciation, but don't go over the top (especially if the purpose of this is to get the artist to do an extra piece).
17. If you want to bring any children to the concert or the opera, check to see if it is age-appropriate for them.
18. If the you are bringing children, see to it that they understand the etiquette rules of concert attendance.
19. If you have children with you, please keep them from kicking the seats in front of them. Apologize profusely if your child kicks the seat anyway. If (s)he won't stop, take her/him home.
20. Try very hard not to fall asleep. Or snore. While you are not required to leave your seat during intermission, this is often helpful to preventing fatigue that results from sitting in one place for extended periods of time.
21. Relax and enjoy.
22. Unless the performance has run very late do not leave your seat until the first curtain call has ended. This is rude to other patrons, especially in the upper sections of the opera house when the house lights have not yet been turned on. In the Family Circle at the Met and the balcony at Carnegie Hall this can even be dangerous.
1. Arrive at least a half hour early so you can be settled before the stated start time.
2. If you need to leave your seat for any reason during the performance, remember that the venue is unlikely to allow you to resume your seat until the current piece is between movements or has ended. Major opera houses will not allow you to resume your seat until intermission.
3. No food or drink is permitted, especially any that will make any noise. This is not limited to potato chips.
4. If you have chocolate, cough drops, or hard candy, remember that crinkling paper will annoy other attendees. Either unwrap the item in advance or between musical pieces or acts.
5. No talking during any part of the performance, for obvious reasons.
6. No leaning your heads together. This obstructs the view of the person behind you.
7. If you have a cold, bring cough drops and follow rule #4. If you have a very runny nose, bring enough tissues to take care of the problem without having to blow. If it's too bad to follow this rule, do not attend.
8. Shut off all portable communication devices. It is insulting to the artists and annoying to other patrons to have phones ring during a performance.
9. If you need to leave a row, face away from the others in your row and say "Excuse me" as you pass. Facing toward them (if there is the usual lack of leg room) will cause you to fall into them or step on their feet.
10. If you are one being passed, accept the apology graciously. If the seat flips up, stand if you can to make it easier for them to pass.
11. Dress decently for the venue. Classical music events and opera are not cheap and you will not want to look like a slob in a venue where people are often dressed to the nines.
12. Do not wear noisy jewelry such as multiple bangle bracelets, charm bracelets, or elaborate dangling earrings that can be heard at the slightest movement. Save those for your belly-dancing class or a hot date in a different venue.
13. Avoid making noise. No humming, singing, foot tapping, or other noise. Be aware that this is specifically frowned upon at these types of concerts.
14. Avoid foot jiggling. Seats are usually connected, therefore a vigorous foot shaking can annoy the rest of the people in your row.
15. Follow the rules regarding applause. These may vary by venue or composer, so a little research is required.
16. Not every performance deserves a 10 minute standing ovation. Applaud appropriately to show your appreciation, but don't go over the top (especially if the purpose of this is to get the artist to do an extra piece).
17. If you want to bring any children to the concert or the opera, check to see if it is age-appropriate for them.
18. If the you are bringing children, see to it that they understand the etiquette rules of concert attendance.
19. If you have children with you, please keep them from kicking the seats in front of them. Apologize profusely if your child kicks the seat anyway. If (s)he won't stop, take her/him home.
20. Try very hard not to fall asleep. Or snore. While you are not required to leave your seat during intermission, this is often helpful to preventing fatigue that results from sitting in one place for extended periods of time.
21. Relax and enjoy.
22. Unless the performance has run very late do not leave your seat until the first curtain call has ended. This is rude to other patrons, especially in the upper sections of the opera house when the house lights have not yet been turned on. In the Family Circle at the Met and the balcony at Carnegie Hall this can even be dangerous.