People shouting at performances - a rant

LillyBilly started this discussion · 6/14/2012

Am I the only one who finds the widespread habit in our community of SHOUTING THROUGH THE ENTIRE DANCER'S PERFOMANCE incredibly annoying? Yes, I realise that the viewers want to express their enthusiasm and support the performer, and I realise that it feels good for the person who is performing, but I've been in shows where I had to plug my ears because there was so much noise that it actually hurt, and some youtube videos I watch muted or do not watch at all, because you can't hear the music or enjoy the dance anyway so what's the point?

36 replies

Kobajo84 · 6/14/2012
You're not. A lot of people have expressed this to me as well. My husband in particular. He makes fun of the woo-hoo's when I watch a performance and sometimes I have to mute it too because it scares me all of a sudden when my ear is blasted with a scream. I know as a performer I wait for audience approval during moves- it's kind of a reassurance that it looks good and boosts your confidence as you're performing. Some nice polite claps would work just as well too. A completely silent audience can be nerve wracking.
Cherished · 6/14/2012
I know what you mean too (even though I also understand how a performer might like the audience support). There was one video I really loved and also wanted to try to learn some of the moves. I ended up downloading it then putting the music back in over the original audio to get rid of the bad noise.
LillyBilly · 6/14/2012
I agree about the audience being silent, but maybe it's just because this is what we are used to. You don't hear people shouting during ballet performances, for example, but then they express their appreciation afterwards. I also think that the noise can be distracting for the dancer. I find it hard to concentrate when people are cheering around me...
Dancing Paws · 6/14/2012
My fiancee HATES it when the audience yells. It can bother me sometimes if I can't hear the music, but not always.
Debss · 6/14/2012
It never used to bother me but now I can't stand it! I was at Miss Pole UK the other weekend and almost ended up deaf from some girl screeching in my ear constantly!
Porshka · 6/14/2012
OMFG - I hate it!! I thought I was the only one and that I was a bad sport or something. I think it is just bad form. It is distracting to the dancer, I assume, and also to the audience. I feel like, "we're trying to enjoy this performance, not listen to your stupid voice the whole time." They are really putting some of the focus on themselves; I wonder if they realize that?
LillyBilly · 6/14/2012
@Cherished OMG, this is a fantastic idea! I never thought of that, thanks!
Sassafrassle · 6/15/2012
As a performer and a pole show frequenter, I think a gentle woooo and clapping is good for a performer when they do something worth woooo-ing about - in fact, I am also in the camp that if a pole audience is quiet, I'd be worried during one of my performances! What I don't understand though is the increasingly predilection of some people to screech like banshees throughout the ENTIRE performance! That's when it stops meaning anything and actively impinges on other people's rights as audience members. That's my opinion anyway!
OopseyDaisey · 6/15/2012
I wholeheartedly agree. Not only does it distract from the performer's interpretation of the music, but I think it cheapens the art of pole in the view of the public. I guess I expect more of a theatre mentality so you can be immersed in the character and story.
dustbunny · 6/15/2012
I'm have mixed feelings about this. When I performed, I loved hearing the audience cheering me on. It made me feel like I was "good enough" to be there, and that I should continue because everyone was enjoying it. I think part of the "is it appropriate" question can come from the mood of the venue too. Face it, in a bar, people are going to cheer and yell, they are likely drinking too and one most often leads to the other. But at a more serious venue, say in a theatre, or a large respected competition, I think a more quiet form of appreciation (clapping) would be more appropriate.
polergirl · 6/15/2012
I don't want a quiet audience. To me a quiet audience seems bored. 😕 At the other end of the spectrum I don't want a crowd who doesn't know how to shut up--but those seem few and far between. I think most crowds get the mix just about right.
Elektra Vallens · 6/15/2012
I don't like the screaming either. I think there's definintely a way for the audience to show support for the performer without screaming her/his name over and over- for example by clapping. LillyBilly made a good point when she said that this is not how an audience behaves at a ballet- you would get clapping and perhaps a "bravo" for something really spectacular. I also think that sometimes the problem with videos of competitions is that the person recording the video is also the person screaming so they are RIGHT in front of the mic.
NinaPoles · 6/15/2012
I've never seen outright screaming/shouting at any of the showcases I have been to. When I perform I love hearing the audience, but like someone here said - it should be clapping and woo-ing at appropriate times, when you do something extra cool, not constantly throughout the whole performance..
tarah · 6/16/2012
I agree with everyone! There is too much Loud yelling during performances at competitions. I have never been to a live event, but it would be nice to be able to watch performance videos without having all the screams. If it's at a bar, that's another story, people are going to be loud. Thanks, lillybilly for starting this thread! :)
hookedonpole · 6/16/2012
I've been to a competition and it was wonderful when showing appreciation by clapping and an occasional "nice" "amazing" "pretty", etc. within the audience. It was so enjoyable to focus on the performances and not the screaming and squaking. We also went to an air show performance that was again enjoyable and respectful, while showing appreciation for the performers. I struggle with the videos of performances that I watch, and agree wtih tarah, the ones with screaming, etc are not enjoyable to watch. It seems to be a group of a few because the rest of the audience in the videos seem to be enjoying the performance. But that group of few can be distracting, um...are distracting. You are not the only one, LillyBilly.
OopseyDaisey · 6/16/2012
I recently attended a competition where many people were very polite but enthusiastic; however one school in particular started screaming for their dancers (& their dancers only) to the point I couldn't hear the music. Unfortunately, that started a trend with other schools screaming as though the cheering was part of the competition. Of course, the competitors who weren't from big schools or were from farther away had fewer people to cheer for them, so it was sad. I think competitions can definitely have more cheering than a theatrical performance, but please...cheer for all or cheer for none, and please be considerate of those sitting around you. IMHO :)
OopseyDaisey · 6/16/2012
I recently attended a competition where many people were very polite but enthusiastic; however one school in particular started screaming for their dancers (& their dancers only) to the point I couldn't hear the music. Unfortunately, that started a trend with other schools screaming as though the cheering was part of the competition. Of course, the competitors who weren't from big schools or were from farther away had fewer people to cheer for them, so it was sad. I think competitions can definitely have more cheering than a theatrical performance, but please...cheer for all or cheer for none, and please be considerate of those sitting around you. IMHO :)
OopseyDaisey · 6/16/2012
I recently attended a competition where many people were very polite but enthusiastic; however one school in particular started screaming for their dancers (& their dancers only) to the point I couldn't hear the music. Unfortunately, that started a trend with other schools screaming as though the cheering was part of the competition. Of course, the competitors who weren't from big schools or were from farther away had fewer people to cheer for them, so it was sad. I think competitions can definitely have more cheering than a theatrical performance, but please...cheer for all or cheer for none, and please be considerate of those sitting around you. IMHO :)
OopseyDaisey · 6/16/2012
Sorry for the triple post! Dunno what happened!
Dancing Paws · 6/17/2012
It sound like if might be worthwhile to hand out pamphlets at comps with a little disclaimer to please avoid yelling and screaming and that polite clapping is encouraged....along with the dance line up. Just a thought.
LillyBilly · 6/17/2012
Good idea...
Runemist34 · 6/17/2012
While I've not been to a pole performance before, I know that when it comes to Burlesque (I notice the communities overlap quite a lot) a lot of noise is encouraged- even expected. I've been to one show that said "These ladies are encouragement based- you yell louder, they give you a better performance!" And, while the performance wouldn't be bad without the yelling, it certainly wouldn't have that interaction between performer and audience that burlesque usually has. It's meant for encouragement, for a show of appreciation. I can understand that some people may be a bit loud, and I've sat around people like that... But, if I'm honest, I'd rather have the audience show their apprecation, their excitement and enjoyment of a performance I do, than not. I'm not going to a golf tournament, I'm going to an awesome, sexy, fun pole or burlesque performance!
mishamishamisha · 6/17/2012
I don't mind if when a big trick or tumble is pulled out but recently I've noticed that ANY trick gets a "ow ow!" or "woooooo" or whatever. And really, as a stripper, I hate it when guys howl and make barking "who who who" noises or whatever. It's just so gross. And when I see / hear audience members making them during pole performances it's even worse since it isn't really even a sexual thing!! I remember seeing an Alethea Austin floorwork performance and was like. Holy shit, I can hear the music and don't hear any howling! It was such a treat! I think that there should be more enforcement about cheering and when it is appropriate.
Black Orchid · 6/19/2012
I think it depends on whether the context of the performance has been clearly set up for the performer/athlete and audience. Like with burlesque, the audience is encouraged to whoop & holler and with "serious theatre" people know to hold their applause til its done ( and actually with some recital performances I know audience members have been requested to hold their applause til the end of the routine). But honestly I think the unpredictable nature of performance is part of the nerve-wracking fun: did they like it because they were completely silent til the end? If they are yelling a lot do they like it or are they drunk? LOL After doing this competition in June I'll have a better sense of how I feel about this, I guess...you want to connect with the audience through your showmanship but on the other hand I'm nervous enough about the tricks without adding some audience noice to the mix as I go for it!
monica kay · 12/13/2012
i dislike obnoxious screaming and i cringe when i hear high-pitched cheers during pole performances. i think clapping is adequate during the performance and afterwards, when the dance is over, its ok to scream and whoop or whatever. great thread.... i thought i was the only grinch in the pole community lol

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