Image generated by Al; for representational purposes only
For more than 10 minutes. Because at this point, I need to know whether the show is on stage or in the seats around me.
Not a quick “I’ll call you back”. I used to think the hardest part of watching a film was finding a good seat. These days, I’m more interested in what comes with the seat. I noticed it recently at a movie, sitting next to a mother and her teenage son. She spent a good part of the film on her phone and even answered a call, while her son kept talking beside her. I have no idea what they were discussing. I was too busy trying to follow the film. Then I remembered this wasn’t entirely new. A few months ago, at an evening comedy show, a man sitting right behind me took a work call and simply carried on. An actual conversation. he appeared to be having a perfectly ordinary workday While everyone around him was laughing. Nowadays, I am tempted to check the fine print before buying a ticket. I came for the show on stage. I don’t need the bonus performance from the row behind me.