Last night I went to see a Yanni concert at the Ruth Eckerd hall Clearwater, we were a party of four seated at the end of the row. It started with an announcer stating Yanni had requested no photography, no video or recording of any kind and cell phones will be turned off.
As soon as the show started two women in front of me were holding up their cell phones and recording the show and the light from the phones was shining right in my eyes.
Looking around to find a usher to let them know I was surprised to find all ushers were standing in the aisle on each side of the hall watching the show and two ushers were right at the end of the row I was in and behind the women (in the first two seats of their row). I asked the man in my party seated in the first seat to get there attention and ask that the cell phones be turned off, the women were told to turn them off and the did for about four minutes and they turned them back on again, again we asked the usher to get them of they did this time it lasted about ten minutes.
At this point the usher went and got security who told me they were allowed cell phones. I got up and left the hall walking into the lobby with security behind me, I asked him to see the manager as I was leaving and wanted a refund. At this point he again told me they could have cell phones as long as they were not disturbing other people. I told him they were disturbing me as the light from the phones was shining into my eyes, he said he would have them turned off.
The phones stayed off whilst he was stood at the end of their row but when he moved down the aisle they came on again, again he told them to turn them off.
The rest of the evening was a cat and mouse game between them and him.
To add to all this a man in the row behind us was giving a running commentary (loudly) to his group about how hard it was to play the piano pieces for every one he did, someone else had to ask him to shut up.
I have been to four previous Yanni concerts were the audience sat quietly and appreciated the music/show, and I enjoyed them all except this one.
If this is the future I think I will stop going to shows and save my money for something more worthwhile.
Grumble over.
