The jarringFurther details in the Wall Street Journal.ringtone—the device's "Marimba" sound, which simulates the mallet instrument*—intruded in the middle of the movement, emanating from the first row at Avery Fisher Hall.
When the phone wasn't immediately hushed, audience members shook their heads. It continued to chime, and music director Alan Gilbert turned his head sharply to the left, signaling his displeasure. Minutes passed. Each time the orchestra reached a quiet section, the phone could be heard above the hushed, reverent notes. Finally, Mr. Gilbert could take no more: He stopped the orchestra...
After Mr. Gilbert took matters into his own hands, the man reached into his pocket and silenced the device. Mr. Gilbert asked him: "Is it off? It won't come on again?" The man nodded.
Satisfied, the conductor addressed the audience. Usually, Mr. Gilbert said, it is best to ignore disruptions, because the reaction itself can be even more disruptive. "This was so egregious that I couldn't let it go by," Mr. Gilbert told the audience, apologizing.
The audience applauded vigorously.
*Update: The original posting of this story was at thousandfold echo, who report that the sound came NOT from the phone ringing (it HAD been silenced), but from a preset clock alarm.
thank god. it's one thing to forget you have your cell phone on (which is obnoxious and ignorant to begin with) but to let it ring over and over it just moronic. Anyone who does not know the basic etiquette with cell phones should not own one.
ReplyDeleteThe trick that I have observed for when you ARE the moron:
ReplyDelete1 Do not move
2 Wait for others to move for their phones
3 Turn off your phone while it is still in your pocket
4 Glare at the nearest person who moved.
I've got more observations in this category: like the guy who answered his phone in church and proceed to sell a house while walking out - loudly - I can only guess he thought the move, while rude, surely displayed that he would do anything to sell your house...
Another blog that I read (Broadside) has a cartoon of a Marine Sergeant instructing a class with a ringing cell phone in his pocket, and he's yell at his class "I said turn off you @#$^@ cell phones!"
ReplyDeleteDaBris
"The original posting of this story was at thousandfold echo, who report that the sound came NOT from the phone ringing (it HAD been shut off), but from a preset clock alarm."
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can tell, the iPhone - when properly turned off - does not wake up, even if there's a pre-set alarm.
This is certainly a case that begs the question why concert halls don't offer a cellphone-check (like a coat check) service... or perhaps a more elegant solution... simply block cell phone signals by integrating it into the design of the building...!
I don't know how it works, Bryan, but perhaps I misphrased my description.
ReplyDeleteRevised to say the phone (ring) had been silenced, rather than that the phone had been turned off.
NYTimes had a report of an interview with the guy. He said he hadn't slept in two nights, he was so horrendously embarrassed by the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteApparently it took him awhile to realize it was his phone ringing, because he knew he'd silenced the ringer. He was sure it was someone else's, so he didn't even try to fiddle with his. As I recall the story, finally the conductor glared directly at him, and light dawned, whereupon he turned the alarm off immediately.
--Swift Loris