I am always impressed when I see anyone performing, whether it is on Broadway or the guy playing guitar in Starbucks on a Sunday afternoon. Performing in public is a tough thing to do. Not only does it take a lot of nerve but inevitably there will be some idiot who won’t shut up or is doing something to distract you in some way.

Case in point, my husband and I went to a cute organic cafe for brunch the other day and there was a man playing guitar and singing in the corner. The volume was very reasonable, even dare I say somewhat low and the songs were background-music friendly. Perfect for a nice mellow brunch. Cue the obnoxious people in the front of the cafe. They decided to sit in the table directly in front of the singer - seriously maybe 3 feet or closer to him - and then complain to him between songs about how loud he was. A - he was not loud by any standards, and B - MOVE! Why in the heck would you sit 3 feet from someone singing and then complain that they are singing? There were tons of open tables, many in the back of the room far away from his acoustic guitar. I cannot for the life of me understand people who react this way to public performances. Do they have any idea how difficult it is to get up in front of a room full of people and share your talent like that? I think someone should force them to and maybe next time they will sit in the back and just deal.

A few years ago I saw Dracula on Broadway and it was one of the first times in my life I majorly shushed someone. There was a small group of people sitting behind us who were whining and complaining throughout the show and the intermission. They didn’t like the show, they thought so and so left something in their limo, etc, etc. Finally towards the end of the show they just would not be quiet and I finally turned around and gave them an annoyed SHUSH! I got nervous for a second thinking I might have just provoked an altercation but to my surprise they actually shushed! I don’t enjoy reprimanding strangers but I felt it was necessary in this case. This is Broadway people, these actors are actually good and the tickets are expensive so shut the heck up and wait for the after-show cocktails to complain to your friends!

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