Why let fear of embarrassing yourself get in the way of the music ? Here are some tips and guidelines that will usher you to your seat, ready to steep, with no worries.
1. Get to know the music. Do your homework before you go. Know the program for the evening: Look up the works, the composers, and the artists online. The main thing at the concert is the music; the richer your appreciation of it, the bigger the payoff, whether or not you flub in some minor point of concert going etiquette.
2. Wear your Sunday best. You do not need to match the Filipiniana elegance of Mme. Imelda Marcos, whom you may sight at a concert or two! The key is to dress respectfully. No ripped denim or exposed brassiere straps please. Office attire or casual chic is usually sufficient for smaller or amateur concerts; gala evenings or a night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines may warrant more formal wear—a dress or suit for ladies, suit and tie or barong for the gents. As the venue may be cold, come with a shawl or jacket; you don’t want to drown out the music with chattering teeth.
3. Arrive and be seated with ample time to spare. Make sure that you arrive at the venue at least 15-20 minutes before the show begins. This will give you enough time to acquire a souvenir program (the print matter which usually contains a list and description of the pieces that will be performed, as well as something about the artists), make a restroom stop, and look for your seat. It is ideal to be seated with about five minutes to spare; use the time to browse through the program. You may want to take note of the longer pieces with many movements, so that you will know when to clap. (More on this further down.) Finish whatever it is you are eating or drinking before you enter the hall; no eating or drinking is allowed during the concert.
4. Prepare to be quiet. Along this line…
- Do NOT forget to turn off your cellular phone or any other beeping device.
- There is nothing more maddening that the sound of someone’s cellphone going off in the middle of a performance; a sounding cellphone will guarantee your status as persona non gratato other members of the audience. It is absolutely unacceptable to take calls while the performance is ongoing. If you are expecting an urgent call, leave your phone on silent alert and step out of the hall before answering the call.
- Put away the camera.
- Flash photography is the next most maddening and inconsiderate thing after an audible cell phone. The flash will distract both the artists and fellow members of the audience; the sounds of a camera, soft as you think they are, are also distracting.
- Unwrap the candy beforehand.
- If you need to take lozenges for the tickle in your throat, unwrap the candy before the concert: Crackling plastic makes a louder sound than you think.
- Take out everything you think you will need from your bag.
- Another bothersome noise is the sound of someone zipping and unzipping a bag and rummaging around for something. Do everyone a favor and keep your bag shut while the performance is ongoing.
5. What to expect as the concert begins. In orchestral concerts, you will see the musicians file onto the stage. Frequently, a musician (usually the oboist) will sound the note “A” , and the ensemble will tune their instruments to this note. After everyone has gotten settled, the conductor will enter; the audience will respond in applause. In concerts of fewer musicians (solo or chamber), you may applaud as soon as they appear onstage. The concert officially begins with the playing of the national anthem; it may be canned, but if it is performed live by the orchestra, do not not applaud at the end of it.
6. Be utterly silent during the performance. Everyone’s attention will now be riveted on the musicians. So as not to distract or irritate anyone, please refrain from speaking (even whispers can be heard). Do not hum along, sing, clap or dance, no matter how enjoyable the music may be.
- A word about applause:
- It is proper to applaud only after an entire work has finished. If a work has multiple movements, do not clap between the movements. If you are having trouble figuring out when to clap, take your cue from more experienced members of the audience around you.
7. Curtain calls and encores. At the end of a work, as the audience applauds, you will see the conductor or soloist leave the stage and return; this is a curtain call. It is customary for the performer(s) to come back for repeated curtain calls when the applause is enthusiastic or prolonged. This is also the proper time to express your enthusiasm for a performance. The word to use is “Bravo!” (if the artist is male), or “Brava!” (if the artist is female). You may also hear the word “Encore!”, which means “More!” The artist may respond to this appeal by once again taking his place at his instrument; this is a sign for the audience to quiet down. Usually, the artist will turn to the audience and identify what he will perform by way of an encore. (That’s what the artist is saying that the front rows can hear, but no one in the balcony can!)
