Poll -- Cell phone use while in ensemble

[Worth]

IMO it seems the ultimate in rudeness to be tending to a cell phone (texting, email, internet, etc) routinely during rests, tacet pieces, or when the conductor is explaining something to the group or working another section during rehearsal. I've always wondered if I was hypersensitive and out of touch but I've noticed it with more and more frequency these days in different levels of ensemble playing. Poll follows and you can answer more than one response. Thanks for your honest responses -- this may be interesting.....

[hup_d_dup]

The problem with this poll is that you didn't define emergency. For some people, any time they want to answer the cell phone it's an emergency.

When I'm at a rehearsal, the cell phone is OFF.

Hup

[Tubaru]

Just this week I attended a rehearsal where I was allowed to come 30 minutes late. I did not play on the first piece being rehearsed. I then sat there for another 45 minutes while the orchestra continued rehearsing the first piece. We then moved on to pieces that I played but in the remaining 45 minutes I only had the horn on my face for about 3 minutes. Seriously I only played about 3 minutes in that rehearsal and that included the tuning note. I spent most of my time counting and recounting rests because we had to stop so the strings and our horrible bassoon player could learn their parts. Honestly I spend a lot of time on my phone doing crossword puzzles. Can't check the internet since I do not receive a cell signal in our rehearsal space. If I didn't have my phone to keep me occupied I probably would have packed up my tuba and left.

By the way the ensemble was a local volunteer community orchestra.

[Worth]

The next time we have a tacet section in a piece during rehearsal (maybe in a few hours) I'll try to snap a photo of the brass section. Some of the top players in North Texas, and every one of them are killing time on their phones. It's no worse than 20 years ago when the same people would bring a book or magazine to read.

I never knew this. I guess paid job vs. for the love of it (as Bloke distinguished) can and should make a difference. With little prior insight into the pro or semi-pro world I'm learning here....

[Steve Sykes UK]

Grrrrrrr

[Rick F]

At community band rehearsal I keep my phone on (vibrate mode) until all of the section has arrived (I'm section leader). Then I put my phone on 'Airplane' mode once rehearsal starts and the section is all there. At church band rehearsals, I actually see more use of cell phones by the pros helping us out. Maybe it's because they don't want to miss a gig... at least I choose to think that.

[bighonkintuba]

I don't use my phone during rehearsals as I feel that part of my obligation to the band is to give it my full attention. I don't care what anyone else does as long as it's not disruptive. The (actually pretty limited) phone use I've observed is certainly far, far less disruptive than playing after the conductor stops, noodling, asking for note checks and unnecessary talking (generally all by the same very few 'Look at meeeeee!' individuals).

[Jay Bertolet]

I didn't choose any of the responses because none of them really fit my view. Down here we seem to have figured out how to manage this issue. If your cell phone use hampers your playing (you miss entrances, play badly) or is noticeable to others (especially the conductor or contractor) then you don't get called to work there again. Problem solved.

[Heavy_Metal]

I don't use my phone during rehearsals as I feel that part of my obligation to the band is to give it my full attention. I don't care what anyone else does as long as it's not disruptive. The (actually pretty limited) phone use I've observed is certainly far, far less disruptive than playing after the conductor stops, noodling, asking for note checks and unnecessary talking (generally all by the same very few 'Look at meeeeee!' individuals).

+1

[Worth]

The phone use I've observed is certainly far, far less disruptive than playing after the conductor stops, noodling, asking for note checks and unnecessary talking

Yes this is true for sure. Judging from the responses I will work to be less judgmental of others in this respect in the band and orchestra setting. My bias regarding most everyone's obsession with cell phone use as a society goes way beyond the scope of music rehearsal and performance. Someone even got shot and killed for cell phone use in a movie theater this past year just minutes from where we live here in Florida. I guess the key word is disruptive which can be quite subjective as even this poll indicates.

[bighonkintuba]

Agreed...

They are disruptive/distracting/annoying in schools/classrooms, theaters, concert venues, restaurants, buses, subways where there is reception as well as business meetings and everyday conversations. As a rule, I simply walk away from anyone who interrupts our conversation for cell phone use.

If my phone rings or indicates a new text message during a conversation, I continue the conversation and deal with phone related business LATER. I don't even look at the phone to determine who's attempting to make contact. If I know that a call is imminent (which almost never happens), I let the other party to the chat know that in advance. This is all common courtesy, plain and simple.

My conclusion is that, in general (though not in my band... yet...) cell phone use has given people with bad manners the excuse to have even worse manners.

My bias regarding most everyone's obsession with cell phone use as a society goes way beyond the scope of music rehearsal and performance... I guess the key word is disruptive which can be quite subjective as even this poll indicates.

[oldbandnerd]

I'm an on call service tech and am required to be available at all times. But, for an hour and a half once a week my phone goes on vibrate . That's MY time .

[oldbandnerd]

I ignore it.

[bort]

I think it's amazing that people can't even disconnect themselves for a couple of hours anymore. I'll admit, I have trouble with it like anyone else, but it really feels good when you actually *can* put the damn thing away and just focus on something *real* for a few hours.

[Mark]

The survey is poorly worded.

If you mean talking on the phone or doing anything that causes noise, that is not acceptable.

If you mean checking email, etc., then explain to me what the difference is between reading a book. If I am tacet for an entire work and still required to remain with the ensemble during the rehearsal of that work, then I'm am going to read something.

If you are talking about a performance, then no phone or book. While tacet, sit quietly and appear to be giving the conductor your undivided attention.

[Worth]

The survey is poorly worded.
If you mean talking on the phone or doing anything that causes noise, that is not acceptable.

Agreed although I assumed it would be understood that we were talking about non-verbal phone use. If we were talking about speaking on the phone during ensemble there would be no question as to the appropriateness of it all. You know what assume stands for.....

[doublebuzzing]

The survey is poorly worded.

If you mean talking on the phone or doing anything that causes noise, that is not acceptable.

If you mean checking email, etc., then explain to me what the difference is between reading a book. If I am tacet for an entire work and still required to remain with the ensemble during the rehearsal of that work, then I'm am going to read something.

If you are talking about a performance, then no phone or book. While tacet, sit quietly and appear to be giving the conductor your undivided attention.

It seems to me that the only reason they would require you to sit there during a long tacit is because there is something they want you to hear/pay attention to during that tacit. Reading a book or messing around on a cell phone probably wouldn't be the most conducive to hearing what it is they want you there for. Otherwise, why not just let you quietly go backstage for the tacit? When I played in orchestras the conductor always let the tacit players go for however long he figured it would take to rehearse that part.

[hup_d_dup]

It seemed clear to me that the poll was asking about audible cell phone communication. Why else would you have a question about leaving the phone on vibrate?

However, there have been a number of responses regarding use of cell phones for something other than communication. If that's the case, I have to admit that sometimes I turn the cell phone on and use it … as a tuner.

Need a different poll.

Hup

[bearphonium]

I have a couple different hats. I am on call 24/7/365 as a member of our Critical Incident Response Team, which requires that I have some sort of access. So, the phone is always there, and on vibrate when I remember to put it on. I am also the person who provides directions on how to get to where we are to the ensemble members who got lost on the way to the gig, so the phone is always there, even after downbeat.

I am an amateur musician in a couple of community bands, and also have been known to send photos of the band to members who aren't able to be at rehearsal (illness/injury). I am not good enough to read/play games during rehearsal, but I don't have tacet movements either.

[Radar]

As a volunteer in a community band, I'm on call for work one week out of every four. During that on-call period I'll put my phone on vibrate, and tell the director I may have to step out and take a work related call.

I have avoided and continue to avoid orchestral groups, because I can't stand sitting around waiting to play. I certainly can understand someone in that position passing time quietly on their cell.