I attend many events with crowds (concerts, musicals, football games, plays, cock fights, political rallies, dentist check-ups, etc) many times a year. While not always the case, I typically have enough experience as an audience member to appreciate a good performance from a bad one. Certainly I can recognize when I’ve been entertained, when the entertainer was either doing something exceptional or was going above the call of duty (or at least the call of the ticket price), and when my expectations of being entertained were not met.
With that being said (typed), I’d like to address both my fellow audience members (i.e., anyone who has ever, or will ever, be a member of any gathering that could be considered an audience) and those who have ever, or will ever, be in the direct sight of said audience: Standing Ovations are to be earned. They are NOT expected at the end of every show, and it is NOT rude, inconsiderate, or even a statement of displeasure to remain seated while applauding (do note that at any standing only event, it IS rude to sit down to applaud the end of a show).
A cycle emerges that harms all that are involved when a standing ovation is given out just for the entertainer having completed her job. If she receives a standing ovation every time, then she loses any feedback from when she truly does give an extraordinary performance. When the audience stands and applauds the end to every show, regardless of where on the scale of excellence the performance is ranked, then they become both Pavlovian in their actions and they no longer have any means to let a performer know how much they DO appreciate a special outing (air horns will continue to get you punched in the face, so do not attempt to incorporate them here).
So how about doing us all a favor and stop handing out trophies to every kid who shows up to every game, and stop giving standing ovations at every performance you attend.
Thanks,
MGMT
