Audience Etiquette Quiz

Eating during a live performance of a play?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Playing or scrolling through your phone during a play?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Answer explanation

This causes a distracting light to others around you, and your attention should be focused on the performance.

Talking during the live performance of a play?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Standing up and walking around during the live performance of a play?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Answer explanation

The only time you should get up and walk around during a live performance of a play is if there is an emergency. Even then you should minimize the attention you bring to yourself, and leave as quietly as possible.

Giving a standing ovation at the end of a live performance?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Answer explanation

At the end of a performance, it is absolutely acceptable to stand and clap to show how much you enjoyed the performance.

Clap along in time with the music during a live performance of a play?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Answer explanation

Clapping in time with the music is acceptable only when the audience has been encouraged to do so (example: an actor addresses the audience asking the to clap their hands). For the most part, you should not clap in time with the music.

Eating during a choir or orchestra concert?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Talking during a choir concert?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Singing along to all the songs during the live performance of a play?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Answer explanation

Sing along to the soundtrack on the drive home, but please do not sing along during the performance. Your fellow audience members paid to hear the performer sing it, not you.

Vocally reacting during the action of a live performance of a play?

• Always acceptable

• Sometimes acceptable

• Never acceptable

Answer explanation

Laughing at funny parts of a show, gasping at shocking moments are acceptable in certain situations. Making "funny" comments is not.