Thread: Do you clap after a performance you don't like?

You must remember that it isn't impolite to not clap after a bad performance.

Originally Posted by eorrific

I've recently attended a concert that I don't like (and believe most weren't too thrilled about it either), but after the last movement ends, everyone just clapped and not a single person boo'ed. [It was like the orchestra didn't even bother for rehearsals]


What do you do if you're attending an outrageous performance? Do you polite clap at the end? Boo? Or clap in the middle of the performance?

Yes I do , but only with one hand.

Originally Posted by Ravndal

Is it fair to blame the orchestra if they didn't interpret it the way you'd like, or the way you're used to?

You are not blaming them, you are purely indicating that you didn't enjoy what you had payed to see.

Sure. But every orchestra interprets pieces differently, and most of the audience is aware of that. So to cut things short, why not just clap politely? You can't expect the orchestra to satisfy everyone.

And i say this because i feel it's rude to not clap, unless it's a terrible performance.

No need to boo; save it for sporting events for the opposing team. There are no opposing teams in music!


That said, I agree with CoAG above. One is not required to clap. We'd love to read your opinion in a scathing concert review on TC.

Originally Posted by Lunasong

No need to boo; save it for sporting events for the opposing team. There are no opposing teams in music!


That said, I agree with CoAG above. One is not required to clap. We'd love to read your opinion in a scathing concert review on TC.

I have not recently been to a concert that deserves a scathing review, but I could review a performance I have watched on the internet of a fairly recent Opera Australia production of Lakmé that I thought was appalling.

I always clap, but with various degrees of enthusiasm.

I guess I might not have clapped for that rude pianist someone mentioned, but that's about it.

Originally Posted by Ravndal

Sure. But every orchestra interprets pieces differently, and most of the audience is aware of that. So to cut things short, why not just clap politely? You can't expect the orchestra to satisfy everyone.

And i say this because i feel it's rude to not clap, unless it's a terrible performance.

You mention the orchestra interpreting the music twice, it's the conductor who does the interpreting.
I heard an example today---the Ulster Orchestra were at the Proms ,the have a new conductor an American lady.
They started off with Chabrier's Espana and there was huge applause at the end, now I would have thought it was impossible to make this piece boring. But this woman managed to and if I had been there I certainly would have not applauded.
It's certainly not rude to fail to applaud. I hope you're not one of these people who moan all the way though your meal at a restaurant, but when the manager enquires as to whether you are happy you say :"Yes everything was fine,thankyou".

Originally Posted by moody

You mention the orchestra interpreting the music twice, it's the conductor who does the interpreting.
I heard an example today---the Ulster Orchestra were at the Proms ,the have a new conductor an American lady.
They started off with Chabrier's Espana and there was huge applause at the end, now I would have thought it was impossible to make this piece boring. But this woman managed to and if I had been there I certainly would have not applauded.
It's certainly not rude to fail to applaud. I hope you're not one of these people who moan all the way though your meal at a restaurant, but when the manager enquires as to whether you are happy you say :"Yes everything was fine,thankyou".

But I am.

And it's retarded.

I do that ambiguous hand movement thing where it's unclear whether or not I'm really clapping, and maybe if I'm feeling generous I'll commit to one audible *puhf* without any extra claps. Anyone know what I mean?

I hope you're not one of these people who moan all the way though your meal at a restaurant, but when the manager enquires as to whether you are happy you say :"Yes everything was fine,thankyou".

I do this, except I don't complain during the meal either. Life's too short to get all upset about food and hold up waiters.

Originally Posted by regressivetransphobe

I do that ambiguous hand movement thing where it's unclear whether or not I'm really clapping, and maybe if I'm feeling generous I'll commit to one audible *puhf* without any extra claps. Anyone know what I mean?



I do this, except I don't complain during the meal either. Life's too short to get all upset about food and hold up waiters.

Obviously you are wealthy, if you buy something in a store do you take it back or just keep it in case you inconvenience the serving staff ?

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

I have not recently been to a concert that deserves a scathing review, but I could review a performance I have watched on the internet of a fairly recent Opera Australia production of Lakmé that I thought was appalling.

Was it this? Tell me quick, and why it was appalling, so I can take it out of my shopping cart.

Originally Posted by regressivetransphobe

I do this, except I don't complain during the meal either. Life's too short to get all upset about food and hold up waiters.

I always give honest feedback. either way. Otherwise how is the restaurant going to know what they are doing wrong? They'll just lose customers and close. I think any waiter would rather have some "inconvenience" rather than lose his/her job.

Concerts are a bit different as they are more than a one-off.

Operas are difficult because of having to separate the music and the production. I did once boo at a terrible Regie production of Mazeppa and now I feel ashamed because it wasn't the fault of the perfectly good singers who were trapped in a directorial nightmare.

If you have never heard the slightest smattering of applause, or a near absence of applause, it speaks volumes.

I have left only a few performances, the quality of playing being that irritating it would have added injury to the insult of having paid for the seat. Walking out on a performance is only effective if large numbers in the audience do so. [Otherwise it could appear the departing party simply had to leave urgently, to use the washroom, for example....

The only booing I've heard, and joined in the fray as participant, well, that was at the Opera (in the states), and it was not a bad neophyte singer, but a great and internationally known singer who was clearly just 'phoning in' the performance - they were totally uninterested and not at all invested in delivering a performance. They only 'worked' at all during their solos, were plainly laid back during duos or ensemble pieces: that one was only interested in working if the spotlight was solely on them, and it was plain to the audience that was exactly what was happening. [That singer, now deceased, had a reputation for being 'best' in recital :-) ]

Otherwise, I don't believe I would boo, but would leave the hall. It is rude to play so badly that it is clearly unprepared, and to 'deliver' that to an audience who have gone out of their way to pay and attend - far ruder than being an audience member who walks out.

Originally Posted by mamascarlatti

Was it this? Tell me quick, and why it was appalling, so I can take it out of my shopping cart.

Yes that. The acting was terrible. It was basically just walking around the stage moving their arms (some of the arm movements I guess are appropriate for the character Lakmé though). Really painful to watch. Emma Matthews' facial expressions just seemed either to be an awkward smile or an awkwardly worried expression which again was not pleasing to the eyes. The singing was good most of the time, the orchestra was nothing special and the costumes and set designs were spectacular although far too distracting from the plot. In my opinion the singing, orchestral playing and acting are much more important than the costumes and scenery nd in this production they seemed to do the opposite which I really did not enjoy. That is just my opinion, I don't know what you would think of it though so I would suggest you watch some excerpts of find some other reviews before you make up your mind.

Personally I am not a fan of Opera Australia. Their acting usually looks very unnatural and boring, the orchestra is never amazing and they spend too much money on the sets and costumes. Their repertoire never interests me either and their tickets are awfully expensive.