Not every performance deserves a standing ovation, amirite?

Every time i've been to Broadway i am totally blown away and i can't help myself but stand up and applaud. They are so damn talented there.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

And most people don't get to see dozens of Broadway plays. So I'd imagine a large portion of the audience at nearly every show doesn't have many other Broadway performances to compare to, so they are understandably blown away.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

This is it for me when I have been to Broadway. My typical experience is with elementary school plays, which usually receive a standing ovation because they are kids that are getting to school early every day for months for rehearsals, and the adults putting in all the work are doing it as volunteers. So it feels deserved. And then you go to Broadway once every few years and its mind-blowing how good it is. So you do end up giving them a standing ovation too.

by Think-Bandicoot 2 days ago

And then when you realize that much of the people involved in Broadway were once those same kids and it's standing ovations all around, not many people get to see that happen in their lives

by Big-Initiative8304 2 days ago

That's kind of why the mandated standing ovation has become a thing. Lol

by Anonymous 2 days ago

This is kind of me. Sure, I've seen dozens of decent to pretty great local and regional and traveling theater productions, and I don't see standing ovations at them all. (Les Miz always gets them up but that company is amazing.) However I've been to exactly one opera in my life (this year) and you can bet I stood to applaud because it was simply amazing. This was by the regional opera company located in my medium-large metro (Opera Colorado in Denver). I have no idea how good they are in the grand scheme of the opera community at large, but it was pitch-perfect and soulful and brought tears to my eyes.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

fair enough

by Anonymous 2 days ago

It does seem like the standing O has changed from meaning "this was excellent" to "this wasn't bad." It's also possible that those art forms just feel more excellent compared to others, so maybe it more easily evokes that urge to recognize it as such. I think it's just an aspect that has been incorporated into the performance, just like encores are now too.

by Harvey38 2 days ago

It was just people clapping as they hurried to exit the theater. Saw one concert review where the singer was being bashed for not doing an encore. Then other concert reviews will talk about how there was 3 encores and they wished there was more. People need to just admit that they want a show that doesn't end until they are ready to leave? They wish people worked like streaming.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

Somebody give this round of applause a round of applause!

by Anonymous 2 days ago

As a (non-professional) performer and director, you can tell if it's real or not. Sometimes if it's kids, everyone does it because they accomplished something. At high levels like Broadway, the sheer spectacle of a professional production will bring many tourists or non-theater people to their feet. Sometimes it's standing up right away, sometimes people don't stand until the leads (or a lead) come out to bow. But community to regional theater productions usually are a mix based on how good the show was, I've seen heavy sustained applause, weak perfunctory applause, and my favorite is normal applause but then one person vigorously stands and claps hard.

by Senior-Knowledge2104 2 days ago

That one person is generally the father of a cast member.

by Padbergmeghan 2 days ago

Often times, sometimes the show strikes a chord but just for that guy.

by Senior-Knowledge2104 2 days ago

This. Granted, I'll usually join in on the standing ovation because I'm usually going to Broadway shows where everyone on stage, behind stage, and in the pit deserve it, but sometimes I'm not feeling it (show was just ok, maybe I've had a long day, whatever, etc etc) and I'll stay seated while I'm temporarily trapped in a sea of standing people. Not one person has called me out for being disrespectful, probably because they were so moved by the performance to care!

by Pitiful_Chemist 2 days ago

Maybe not all, but most of the plays I've been to have a very talented cast

by Joesphjohns 2 days ago

Give ‘em a standing ovation. You're getting up anyway.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

I get it but it's also mostly the crowd effect. When one person is blown away and stands those around them start to stand then everyone stands. It's the exact same phenomenon as someone running and screaming in fear so others start to run away too. We are still herd animals regardless of our superior intellect.

by Dazzling_Junket9614 2 days ago

I don't want to be the only person left sitting so I get up anyway, lol

by Anonymous 2 days ago

Sometimes I give a standing O just because I've been sitting for two or more hours and I need to stretch

by huelsstephan 2 days ago

Not every performance deserves a standing ovation Yes, that's why not every performance gets a standing ovation...

by Austendach 2 days ago

You don't know what unpopular means.

by Agreeable-State-2729 2 days ago

I've been performing on stage for over 20 years, and this is accurate. I will give a standing ovation when something really exceeds expectations. To me that means that the level of performance i see at a local community college may get a standing ovation compared to, say, an equal level of performance at a national tour where i won't. I've also become a little numb to them as a performer, for exactly the reasons you've pointed out. I can't really trust the standing ovation as a benchmark for quality anymore

by Anonymous 2 days ago

the level of performance expected from volunteers also juggling a daily life should be different from that of a professional actor on broadway. its an acknowledgment of their work; give it to the community theater folks, they deserve it, even if the show sucks. they spent the last 4 months of all of their free time to make that happen from virtually no budget and some toothpicks. its respect more than anything. you cant do that? pros, idc and neither to they. that said, its an energy exchange. perhaps if you didnt connect with the cast, you failed as an audience member. if you enter with an agenda to not stand - maybe you are not entering with the energy and openness to experience the show and co-create an energy together. its also not just about the actors. maybe you are standing for the orchestra, or the sound mixer, or light designer, or to avoid bed sores. i mean, participate you know? you do look super cool sitting tho. arms crossed, frowning.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

you have every right to not stand - just as folks have every right to judge you for it. if you cant stand the glances, stand up. lets see your try on stage tho. those actors deserve a standing ovation just by landing a gig on broadway! what a major accomplishment!

by Anonymous 2 days ago

I prefer a sitting ovulation myself

by Anonymous 2 days ago

Nah when the pilot lands, they deserve a full standing ovation and then hopefully the pilot performs an encore

by Anonymous 2 days ago

If my pilot is wearing sequins and makeup I will give him a standing ovation

by MaximumGood 2 days ago

Standing ovations turned to tipping culture. No not every fart is worth. It's just the special ones.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

YES I had a friend who wrote an article about this once. It's so true.

by Impressive_Smile 2 days ago

Performing live in front of people is hard. I think good or bad, I'm applauding and encouraging the people on stage's hardwork and willingness to put themselves out there

by Big-Initiative8304 2 days ago

I think this is about as close to objectively wrong as you can get while still calling it an opinion. Standing ovations aren't used as a way to honor good performances anymore. You just do it. It might still emerge if something particularly mind-blowing happens mid-performance, but it's just standard to do it otherwise. Like, it would be a valid opinion if there was any truth to standing Os being a socially accepted way to express your enjoyment, but it isn't.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

Maybe that's just, like, your opinion, man?

by Anonymous 2 days ago

🙄🙄🙄🙄

by Anonymous 2 days ago