iPhone Ringtone Stops NY Philharmonic Performance

[drokane99]

New android phone, thought best to switch off...which I thought I did but there was another check question before it shut down which I didn't see. Phone went off at event. I thought I could muffle it. It went on and on....I should have taken it out and swiched off. It was a simple mistake with a new phone. So have lots of sympathy for owner.

[joaosilva008]

okay, but leaving it in home? cellphone could be very usefull in emergences though

[whatuswattingat]

I agree. People really need to learn to leave the phone or turn it OFF (Or, if you're on call, have it on VIBRATE). And I really don't blame the conductor, because the ringtone just ruined a beautiful piece of music.

[godfreybold]

@darkguardian1314 if you read the NYT article, the culprit had just gotten switched to an iPhone by his company, didn't know there was an alarm set, had the phone on silent & didn't realize the noise was his for a really long time. It was an honest mistake. Yes, there are inconsiderate people out there--but this incident is really overblown. And I'm not saying that Vevokeith is wrong to be posting...just that it's amusing to use the internet to say people are too connected to their devices.

[darkguardian1314]

@godfreybold - I'm in San Diego so I don't read the NYT but thanks for the info. You can thank CNN for blowing it up if that's all that happened.

[godfreybold]

@darkguardian1314 no problem! And kudos to us for having a civilized youtube comments exchange. I like it :)

[darkguardian1314]

Agree. He wouldn't turn it off or at least put it on vibrate or silent. It took the outrage of the audience before he turned the iPhone off. I don't care if he's a billionaire and makes regular donations to the Philharmonic. Hearing the marimba ring tone ruined the piece for everybody. I hope Apple sees this and makes a donation to make up for it.

[zellagro]

Tha guy should be SUED bye all of the people who paid to enjoy and listen a concert of good mysic and WERE unconsiderately abused! Also the musicians and the conductor who obviously could not concentrate themselves because of it IT does have a name LACK of respect to others, lconsideration and plain arrogance and stupidity. IF the guy had forgotten to switch the phone off AT LEAST he could have stopped it immediately then closing it without speaking go out and do that life or death call.

[godfreybold]

I think it is hilarious that this dude says "I don't know what the world's coming to...people are getting to the point where they have to be connected 24/7, and they don't know how to detach"

...and he is saying this by speaking into his computer and then broadcasting it over the internet to thousands of people. Ha ha ha.

[darkguardian1314]

@godfreybold - Yeah---- but Vevokeith is doing it in the privacy of his home and not in a theater, bus, or public area that will disturb others or stop a show. There's a time and place for everything and Vevokeith is connecting responsibly.

[smarshall5555]

I'm with this guy - STAY AT HOME IF YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE!

[ninthhorizon]

I have heard cell phones go off in church. Put it the phone on vibrate.

[walleyrt69]

PUT THE M-F**KER IN FRONT OF A FIRING SQUAD -NOW !

[m0rz]

Lol u sound like u have really small problems if you "don't know what the world is coming to" because he didn't turn off his ringtone. Chill out may have been an accident, regardless of warnings it wasn't that big a deal no need for ppl to treat him like shit. Let me guess when u go to class u turn ur phone off? I'ma laugh if u say yes lol

[damanegi22]

@m0rz why would you laugh at someone who has common sense by turning their phones off before going to classes? i guess it is because of people like you this still happens at concerts and plays. they clearly tell you to turn off all mobile devices before the performance starts and there are people who don't bother to do that because it is not a big deal to them.

[damanegi22]

@m0rz it annoys me so much when people shows this kind of attitude when they should have some common sense and turn their phones off before they are told to do so. just sad. really.

[dhyrumvaughn]

I am a band director in SE Arkansas and I had to stop our winter concert just last month because of multiple cell phone conversations going on. I loudly announced that they needed to take their conversations outside and not return or turn off their phones and enjoy the concert.  PEOPLE LEFT!

[macrent2]

My friends dad is a funeral director and my dad is a pastor and people have their phones ring during funerals, weddings and church services all the time. Sometimes people even answer they and have full blown conversations...!

[gavose]

I turn my ringer off at the movies, at dinner on a date, when I sleep, and for damn sure would at a symphony! Maybe this deuchebag and many others should think about what is outside of thier "narrow" sphere of importance..

[CiOnize]

where's the video of that happening?

[feb2492]

they ruined the whole orchestra's performance for the night

[TheLaunchingPad]

Time for Siri to learn how to shut the fuck up!

[AHR1228]

Mahler would be ashamed...and rightfully pissed the hell off.

[thepower1802]

What kind of world are we living in?? Wars, famine, poverty, disease, prejudice... This asshole won't silence his cell phone??? WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?!??

[spikeman316]

IT WAS ME OK! IM SORRY OK?! IT WAS AN IMPORTANT OHONE CALL, OK!?

[FatalKaos]

@spikeman316 why didnt you turn ur phone off asshole

[minifluffy14]

REALLY HOW HARD IS IT TO JUST PUT IT ON VIBRATE, OR PUSH THE OFF BUTTON. DAMN YOU PEOPLE.

[damnfunny2001]

We are hitting a time where cell phone jammers have to be legalized in concert halls, schools etc

[damnfunny2001]

Use the stick maestro..beat the sh*t out of the offender like the Chinese kung fu movies

[JustinSepheren]

One of the hallmarks of this society is the high degree of idiocy which the majority must endure at the hands of an oblivious few. Deranged drivers, noisome neighbors, theatre thugs, internet trolls, parking lot dingbats, etc...reduce our lives into daily face-clawing. Usually we just give an exasperated sigh & soldier past the clueless but in this case, the Maestro was forced by the lengthy ringing to bring the concert to a screeching halt and spotlight the nimrod...who should've been fined.

[khalaq2]

An eyewitness posted this on MailOnline:

"Having been in the audience at Avery Fisher Hall during this bizarre episode, five rows from the ringing mobile phone, I still find it hard to understand what the owner of the offending phone was thinking. The phone had been ringing for at least 10 min before Mr Gilbert stopped the performance. ... It took another 8 to 10 minutes before they finally turned off their phone...."

- MCh Klausner, New York USA, 12/1/2012

Truth is stranger than fiction.

[starsbreakdown]

okay, so? the guy forgot to turn his iphone down? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PUNISH HIM FOR THAT>?! just a mistake, every human being makes one.. so be it!

[hugejoint]

@starsbreakdown sure,everyone does a mistake, but read the comment above me from khalaq2, it happened to me too, but it was in stupid cinema, once my phone started ringing, i switched him off in matter of seconds with no care about whos calling.i believe that 5 seconds of annoying sound would not stop whole performance.they are professionals and the know that many people did pay not small money to get there.i would kick him out and laugh about his stupidity,no jail,no beating.just embarrassedHIM

[mario54671]

@starsbreakdown Considering that they TELL you to turn it off at the beginning of every performance (Which, they shouldn't have to, it's common sense that you turn these things off), that's not a valid excuse. Besides, what important calls does he have to answer DURING such a performance? "What if he's a doctor with an emergency?" If that were the case, he shouldn't have gone to the concert. Once you're seated, you stay there until it's finished, so you can't just get up and leave.

[23tbob]

Check your cell phones at the entrance -- like guns used be checked when cowboys went into a bar......... will anybody post the actual thing on Youtube ??

[TheLostlonestar]

Technology has outpaced manners and common courtesy. How sad to live in a time where toys are more important than high art.

[AmazingWingedGirl]

Thank you SO much for posting this! I'll admit it; I like having my phone. But if I'm at an orchestral concert, or a theater production or hell, even just with some friends, it's off! It really is sad that some people can't even be away from their devices for an hour or two. You're right; what IS the world coming to?! It's one thing to stay connected through an iPhone or whatever, but it's completely ridiculous if you can't excercise the common courtesy of turning it off when appropriate.

[Stalicone]

It's an iphone! One little switch silences the damned thing....how about this, if you are too stupid to silence your phone, you must be too stupid to attend something as elevated as a Mahler Symphony.

[SteamgamingHD]

yeah he forgot to turn off the ringer oh well

[TheGoManGo63]

This dude is 100% right. We are our of control with the mobile devices.

[macross25]

I agree with you, I know some people who freakout with not having their Cell phones 24-7. Kinda creepy.