A Rant About Front of House Staff

[RippedMan]

I went to a see a show today. The Front of House staff went through my bag. I had a bottle of soda - not opened - in my bag at the bottom under some books and a bag of kale. I went to the grocery store before I came to the theater, as I knew once I got out, that most things would be closed. They made me throw it all away. Now, I get that you aren't suppose to bring outside food or drink into the theater. But I've smuggled it in numerous times. I wasn't going to drink the drink in the theater. I asked if I could just coat check my bag instead of having to throw it away as that was just wasteful and the man said "I can't even allow it into the theater." It's not some threatening substance. It's diet soda and kale. WTF? So I had to throw it away. Wasteful.

[ljay889]

Random.

[Kad]

Because they've probably dealt with people who swore up and down they weren't going to eat whatever food they had in their bag, only to have them chow down and spill whatever they've dragged in.

Blame your fellow theatre goers for having to force the house staff to be more severe.

[Yero my Hero]

Food Emporium on 49th and 8th is open 24 hours. Go shopping after you see a show.

The security guards are usually at the front door of the theater. The coat check is inside. If he lets you in because you say you're going to check it, he has no way to make sure that you actually check it, and if you are found eating it during the performance, he is responsible for letting it inside.

You know that food and drink is not allowed in, you tried anyway, and the food was confiscated. Are we supposed to be on your side here?

[everythingtaboo]

Yeah the problem is, it's food, plain and simple. You know full well that they wouldn't let it in if they caught it, but you did it anyway. Sorry but not going to find to much support for your "rant."

[CapnHook]

For most theatres, FOH is usually told that patrons may not bring in outside food/drink with the exception of bottled water. That's policy.

You got caught, and they chose to do their job and enforce the rules. If you want to file a complaint on the policy, write to the Theatre Owners.

[WayTooBroadway]

Just an interruption - Food Emporium on 49th is open until midnight only.

Back to regular programming.

[RippedMan]

Eh. It's cool. Just a rant. I'm not looking to make a petition and march on Broadway. It's not that big of a deal. I was just annoyed. Just one of those things. I just feel like there are bigger things to worry about it. But whatever.

[LizzieCurry]

That's really weird. I've walked into Broadway theatres with a full giant bottle of Calpico with no trouble.

[threetwoone]

For what it's worth, RippedMan, I'm on your side here. I'd be pissed.

Is somebody turned away because they have a camera in their purse from sightseeing all day? Well, I should assume not. That would be ridiculous. But there is still the policy of no photography/recording equipment. Would it be acceptable to force them to coat-check the bag with the camera? Absolutely. I think security should be equally as lenient with food, and at least allow it to be coat checked.

And also, don't be ridiculous. If someone is caught with outside food or drink in the theatre, it won't fall on the security guard's back. If people want to sneak something in, they will find a way. Simple as that. A security guard isn't going to be penalized.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on anything..

[RippedMan]

That's how I feel. I mean, it's NYC. We're all out and about all day. I told them I was willing to coat check it. They could have called over an Usher to escort me, etc. But instead they were like "You can't come in with it." I was like "really? It's kale." It's not like I was bringing in bags of m&ms and a slurpy.

[emilyfaye48]

I once saw two tourists bring pink berry into a show. I want to say it was Shrek, could have been Sister Act, was definitely in the Broadway. Also at The Anarchist closing performance there was someone in the 4th or 5th row with a 2lt of soda and a couple behind them with a pizza. a full pizza in a box. It was the most terrifying time I've spent in the theatre...

[JBroadway]

a few months ago I went to see a show on Broadway and I had a lot of snacks in my bag because I was doing the Into the Woods line later,. they checked my bag and I said to the guy "there's food in there but it's all for later" and he's like "you can eat it, just don't make a mess." I guess different theatres have different food policies?

[RUkiddingme]

Here's my beef when they won't let you bring in unopened food that you may have no intention of eating ...

There is no smoking in theaters but they don't confiscate cigarettes. So if a customer can bring in a pack of Marlboros and not smoke in the theater, why can't they also bring in a Dr Pepper and not drink it?

Of course the answer to this is probably they sell soda inside and want to make money.

My bigger beef is when they DO allow you to bring in water but NOT soda or juice. Yankee Stadium for example will let ticket holders bring in one bottle of water but no other liquid. Maybe someone needs to file a discrimination suit! LOL

[dramamama611]

Naysayers, he should have been able to check it. Period.
(Although since they were both unopened, I AM suprised he was stopped over it at all.

[ahhrealmonsters]

As a front of house staff member, you'd be surprised how many times I end up cleaning up the sandwiches and soups left (and spilled) all over the floor. I personally wouldn't confiscate your closed food, but sodas spill and stain (and most houses are carpeted), so they're just following the rules.

That being said, I had fruit in my bag once to eat on my way home from a Broadway show, and the usher didn't confiscate it, but she gave me an evil eye.

[PalJoey]

Fruit is a bigger threat. People have been known to throw tomatoes.

[mikem]

The kale seems like an unlikely candidate for something to draw a hard line on. It doesn't seem like the most obvious theater snack.

I've never seen anyone be asked to throw away food. Was this a Broadway theater? Usually the doors are open for such a short period of time that they're kind of rushing people in. I can't imagine having a lengthy discussion with every person who has a mint in their bag.

I imagine the theaters don't want to be perceived as forcing people to buy water if they have to take a medication or something. USAirways tried charging people for water a few years back and the uproar was enormous. That experiment didn't last too long.

[ghostlight2]

"Naysayers, he should have been able to check it. Period."

Absolutely. That's completely absurd. I would have insisted on speaking to the house manager. Good kale should not be wasted. The diet soda, otoh...

Seriously, that's bad judgement on the part of the FOH staff. Will you name the theater for us?

"It was the most terrifying time I've spent in the theatre..."

Clearly, you never saw The Pillowman.

[Rainbowhigh23]

I snuck a cup of coffee into a theater in my bag because it was Schmackary's coffee and I didn't want to waste it, and the usher saw me pull it out at my seat and told me to put it away. I was able to finish it at intermission but I fully understood their concern; the theater is beautiful and clean and I could have spilled it.

A full pizza and a soda at The Anarchist...wow - imagine if they had been sitting front row!

[Kelly2]

I've seen people eat McDonalds pre-curtain and at intermission and at Legally Blonde once, a girl who had clearly just over-eaten at the Olive Garden projectile puked up her undigested pasta into the aisle from the 3rd row during "Ireland".

So, kale seems fairly inoffensive to me.

[Rainbowhigh23]

So much for the unlimited salad and breadsticks.

[little_sally]

I tried to sneak a coffee into Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson once. No dice. But I get it.

[ShbrtAlley44]

I was once ushering at the Broadhurst and I noticed something in the last row of the orchestra, illuminated by the light from the sound board. When I went over to investigate I discovered two men with personal pizzas on their laps. I rounded the corner to chastise them just in time to see one of them lift a slice of pizza high in the air over his head, allowing the cheese to drip slowly into his gaping mouth. I stared for a moment, then simply said to him, "Nope." Security took care of it.

[Mister Matt]

Now, I get that you aren't suppose to bring outside food or drink into the theater.

But you did intentionally, so why begrudge anyone for doing their job when you knew you were breaking the rules? Were you supposed to be treated differently than everyone else?

[whatever2]

Kale???

Good for you -- such a healthy boy!