Barbara Swier: When attending concerts, don’t act like hicks

Re “Got the house’s best seats? Show some respect” (Page E5, April 3): Thanks for Marijke Rowland’s article in Scene regarding showing respect at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Here’s our pet peeve when it comes to manners, or the lack thereof, by some audience members. During the last two concerts we attended at the Gallo (the last being the tribute to Louis Armstrong, which included the symphony and was one of the best concerts we’ve ever been to), some people in the first couple of rows decided, because of their close proximity, that they could just shout out comments (which have not been encouraged by the performers). It’s embarrassing. They are representing the valley, and they make us look like hicks.

We were really happy when the star, Byron Stripling, in a joke, spoke to one audience member saying the person in the story he was telling “wasn’t as sophisticated as you.” Laughter ensued, and no one else decided interrupting was a good idea. But should a performer need to do that? C’mon, Valley people, show some class. What about this venue makes you think it’s a football stadium?

This story was originally published April 6, 2015 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Barbara Swier: When attending concerts, don’t act like hicks."