Standing ovations

[Brovion]

I've noticed a trend in recent years for audiences to give standing ovations regardless of the performance. At first I thought this was just a Brighton thing; In the last few years I've seen several 'ok to good' events at the Dome where at the end people have leapt to their feet and clapped. Eventually the whole audience joins in and you do feel a bit of misery-guts just sitting in your seat, so we've reluctantly joined in as well. Discussing it my wife and I came to the slightly unkind conclusion that at heart Brighton audiences were just unsophisticated provincial hicks who are amazed by anything semi-decent. (Tongue in cheek comment before anyone takes offence).

However we went to see Les Miserables in the West End on Saturday. It was a sell out and yes it was good, but at the end the audience were all up on their feet. It never happened when we first saw it in 1988 (although the performance was just as good) because in those days a standing ovation was reserved for something really special. Now it's become like the receptions given to the speeches made by party leaders at political conferences - just the bog-standard response. What can you do now to show your appreciation if something is REALLY good?


(PS - I suppose I ought to be grateful that a load of stewards didn't turn up and throw us all out for 'standing in a seating area'!)

 

[keaton]

I know what you mean. I find it most annoying at the cinema or at the Albion when even the most average performance by a fans favourite get's everyone standing up

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Simply sitting and clapping isn't enough anymore. They even get standing ovations on the X Factor....FFS its just a bloody audition by an amateur!!!
Every aspect of social life is now more exaggerated, more over the top, more touchy feely and more emotional.
Floods of tears now accompany almost everything, good or bad.
When you greet a woman now, the single peck on the cheek is no longer enough. The double peck is now expected ( how long before its 3 )
Hand shaking is no longer enough when two blokes meet. It has to be a sort of macho hug with a bit of back-slapping thrown in.
The problem is that this over-reaction starts to devalue and the general public end up not knowing the boundaries between the ordinary and the outstanding.

 

[Garage_Doors]

Never got the standing and clapping at the cinema, the actors are not behind the screen FFS

 

[KneeOn]

Never got the standing and clapping at the cinema, the actors are not behind the screen FFS

Yes they are

 

[OzMike]

I got a standing ovation on Saturday, quite unexpected and humbling.
I do fund raising trivia nights now and again at the local club, this was my fourth and I seem to be getting the hang of it now, but was taken aback at the end when about 200 people all stood up and clapped.
I got a 'smoke in my eye' moment for a couple of mins, hope the band I play in get similar treatment at our gig next Sunday.

 

[Dave the OAP]

It also seems to be a North American thing. The shows we attended on board last year were okish, but nothing speacial and one in particular there was this bloke playing a piano, who was ok....at the end of the show, the whole place leapt to their feet ( I sat there until my wife elbowed my to stand up) The place was about 90% American and Canadian. This year on a predominantly UK audience there wasn't one and the entertainment was probably a bit better ,although these Canadians we befriended were leaping about when one of the acts a canadian singer/impersonator ( who actually was brilliant) finished.

 

[beorhthelm]

It also seems to be a North American thing.

this. they'll cheer the opening of a door.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Yes they are

Indeed they are if you go to Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris and watch the history of film show.

 

[Brovion]

Hmm. So it seems to be a combination of American influence and the X Factor mentality. (Do they really give standing ovations on the X Factor?)

Whatever happened to good old British reserve?

 

[Gwylan]

Whatever happened to good old British reserve?

He'll be playing against Switzerland if Rooney can't get his head together

 

[deckchair]

the value of a standing ovation is completely devalued by the south stand who stand at the drop of a hat( or any player who has had a mediocre game at best).they should be earned not be awarded to any player substituted.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I just got back from Santorini where people applauded the SUNSET

Take a bow, Sun...