To Boo Or Not To Boo, That Is The Question...?

I have booed (the same one) twice ... both productions had problems that were caused by the conductor and it was obvious to all that the conductor was just using very bad judgment and I was one of many ... also once we (the audience) sat silent as the diva (Tosca) left the stage after very sad Vissi d'arte

It takes a great deal of misguided effort to get me to boo ... being a performer I do know how difficult it is to put on a good performance ... sometimes you must get your reaction to a performance out

I could never mount the courage to boo any performance, no matter how dismal, poor, or maybe even disturbing, UNLESS, I detect a total lack of perparation or effort on the part of the performers. Thankfully though, I have yet to ever have to do that. So instead, I simply prefer to not clap if I have an issue with a performance.

On a separate note, one thing I absolutely cannot stand is lack of respect for modern music. If it's not your cup of tea, then by all means leave, but don't give a half-hearted applause simply because you aren't a fan of Messian or whomever. If the symphony performs a piece masterfully, then please give us our due respect!

I have never booed a performance although I have left. And you bet your bippy I asked for my money back too!

Everyone has a life off the stage and I always like to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they just found out about a death in the family, maybe all the traveling is getting to them physically, who knows. If I feel I didn't get to see the performance I payed for I walk out, I write a letter, complain in person, and ask for my money back.

Booing just isn't me I guess!

As King Louis XVI of France, is quoted as having responded when asked about his opinion on a question of state during most meetings of his counselors, "I am of the opinion of the preceding speaker"(which as I began this, my response, was #-3, "violin_d...").

But then, looked what happened to him: "thuuummmppp" went the guiottine.

Unfortunately, this never seems to happen after painfully dis-appointing, really terrible performances in the realm of classical music, be they operatic, symphonic, ballet or whatever.

But for me also, to "boo", is something I can't bring myself to do: I feel it to be "belittling", as if I would be joining the ranks of the "babble" - those who are uncouth, ill-mannered and to be socially avoided.

The better policy I think is a response of "dead-cold" silence, and/or just to walk out; and then a complaining to the management and demand for the return of the price of your ticket.

Alberich

I think booing is for the rabble. Yes it's irritating to pay good money for a performance which turns out to be shoddy. Being subjected to an 'endless stream of the director's most twisted sexual and violence fantasies', however, may be a matter of opinion rather than quality. I don't like to see Mozart operas staged in a modern setting but that is purely my personal fad; if doesn't necessarily mean that the performance is, per se, inferior. We all have our little fads and idiosycratic turn-offs; it doesn't mean that others who don't share them are wrong.

Back to downright bad performance, however; I favour you own option of simply not clapping. In my home city of Edinburgh, Scotland, audiences are renowned for their 'polite applause'. And believe me there is no colder rejection than the polite applause of an Edinburgh audience. You don't have to be insulting to express disappointment or disgust!

I agree with you 100% about standing ovations in the US. Josh Bell just got done playing here tonight, and I'm sure he could have taken a 5#!* on stage and still gotten a standing ovation.

I'd have to go with "not booing."

However bad the performance, maintain your dignity and silently walk out (straight to the box office to demand a refund). That is, if it is a professional performance.

I would just walk out during the performance if it was that bad, particularly if it was offensive.