I have been told it's considered declasse, when a performance merits a standing ovation, not to stand. I'm also interested in the origin of the custom of a standing ovation, or any facts about it. And why is this civility so often not honored at modern performances?
2007-02-09 06:25:33 · 12 answers · asked by calmag200323 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
if everyone got a standing ovation then no one would feel special from them happening.
2007-02-09 06:28:27 · answer #1 · answered by colera667 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the culture where I live, I attend a lot of performances that get standing ovations. The way I see it, standing ovations are for the truly outstanding performances, those that really stand out from the everyday performances. Therefore, whether a person chooses to stand or not should not be based on what the other people are doing, but rather on whether that person thinks that the performance is one of the best he/she has ever seen. In that spirit, I have remained seated sometimes when others were standing.
But I would never want to judge others for not standing if I was standing. For all I know, they have a knee problem or something that makes it difficult to stand. That doesn't mean they don't appreciate the performance.
2007-02-09 16:16:21 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A standing ovation is to be reserved for a performance that is extraordinary, but over the last 30 years or so every mediocre performance by every mediocre artist seems to end in a standing ovation. Each individual should judge for themself whether the "standing O" is merited.
The ritual of playing half a concert then begging for applause before doing a series of encores is getting real old too.
2007-02-09 14:28:49 · answer #3 · answered by frugernity 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My experience is that whether or not to stand is very much a cultural thing - try getting a standing ovation in New Zealand (!). I'm with the others on this - you should respond from your own heart and not be led by the people around you.
I think that the custom originated simply by people being so swept off their feet that they couldn't help it. The one historical fact I'm aware of is that of standing for the Hallelujah Chorus in The Messiah; on its first performance, after the first few notes the king rose to his feet and of course everybody else had to follow. So audiences in Britain will always stand for the Hallelujah Chorus. I have some very personal memories of this, because I'm English; when I was nine, Dad took me to Jugoslavia, where we heard a performance of Messiah given by the Red Army Choir (amazing!) and Dad pulled me to my feet ... 'This is what we do,' he said. And ever since then I've stood for the Hallelujah Chorus in various countries - a mixture of can't help it, tribute to Dad, a spot of 'this is my culture, like it or not.'
Hope that shed a little light.
2007-02-09 14:39:53 · answer #4 · answered by mrsgavanrossem 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think it's bull**** I mean if you're moved to the point that you want to get out of your seat and clap and hollah, then you should do it, otherwise sit on your butt and clap. I think it's relative. It just depends on how well you personally enjoyed the performance. When a performance merits a standing ovation, you'll feel like standing. I don't know anything about the custom because I think it's etiquette bull**** :)
2007-02-09 14:29:56 · answer #5 · answered by Jade D. 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Origin? Standing is a mark of respect. Think about it: you always stand in the presence of a superior until invited to sit. You stand at the conclusion of a truly outstanding performance as an acknowledgment of the superiority of the performance.
Someone earlier mentioned that standing Os have become common and thus meaningless, and I agree. The decision to recognize a great performance is yours, and if you choose not to stand, you have merely expressed an opinion.
2007-02-09 14:41:56 · answer #6 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's rude. People do standing o's so often that it's meaningless. (I suspect that they're just tired of sitting.)
Standing should voluntary and something thinks it was good but not great, then they should not be forced to go along with the crowd.
What I think is rude is when people stand and then quickly leave to avoid traffic snarls. Kind of a mixed message to the performer isn't it?
2007-02-09 14:30:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm in band and my firector always says that there are 3 types of standing ovations
1.a parent led standing ovation
2.clapping turning into standing ovation
and when the concert is REALLY good
3. immidiate standing ovations
Just do what you want. If you really enjoyed the performance, stand up. If it wasn't that good clap politely.
2007-02-09 21:38:52 · answer #8 · answered by leroy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A standing O is for exceptional performances. I believe they are sometimes overused, thus lessening their impact.
It's not declasse not to stand if you don't believe the performance deserves the standing O.
2007-02-09 14:28:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I stand .. I always stand .. I didn't stand one time and the guy playing the Phantom jumped my @ss outside the theater ... pummeled me reeeeal hard too while singing Masquerade over and over again. *shudder* the horrors it brings me in the nighttime
2007-02-09 15:25:40 · answer #10 · answered by hondo_civicson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋