Look, we get it. You’re excited to be at a Broadway show. Maybe you’re new to the theater scene, maybe you’re tagging along with a date, or maybe you just scored killer tickets and want to make the most of it. But remember that everyone’s collective Broadway experience is contingent on every individual’s respect for Broadway etiquette.
Broadway is a communal experience. You’re not at home. You’re not in a sports bar. You’re sharing space with hundreds of people who all paid real money for the same thing: an unforgettable night of live performance.
So for fuck’s sake, don’t ruin it by acting like an asshole.
Here’s a no-bullsh*t guide to the most annoying, disrespectful, vibe-killing things you can do at a Broadway show. And if you recognize yourself in any of these, good. Do better. Theater deserves it. We all have room to grow.
1. Don’t Leave Your Phone On. (Serious Broadway Etiquette Offense)
There is a special place in hell reserved for people at a Broadway show who intentionally use their phones during a performance. No amount of hiding your iPhone between your legs or hunching over the screen in low-light mode turns you and your phone invisible. Other theater goers CAN see your phone; so, for god’s sake man up and turn it off. It’s especially bad for people in the balcony seats who suddenly get pulled out of a story because some entitled douchebag in the orchestrate section simply has to see if someone liked their social media post.
Also, your phone lighting up mid-show doesn’t just make you look like a clueless amateur—it distracts the actors. These people are professionals pouring their hearts out eight times a week. They don’t need your screen glowing like a Vegas billboard while they’re trying to emotionally break down onstage. Turn your phone off. Not on silent. Not on vibrate. Off.
And if it rings during a quiet moment? May God have mercy on your soul.
2. Don’t Be the Guy With the Apple Watch Disco
Your Apple Watch is not subtle. Every time it lights up, even to show a boring step count, it’s like a tiny rave on your wrist. Disable theater mode? Nope. TURN. IT. OFF. Trust us—no notification is more important than not being that guy in Row G with the flashing wrist.
Broadway is about people—performers and audiences members like you—who have agreed to a sacred pact: to be part of the story, part of the drama, and part of the communal experience. For me, personally, Broadway is a welcome escape from the technology addictions we all have on some level or another. Disconnecting from your phone and the digital world to share a meaningful and visceral couple of hours with your fellow human beings does wonders for your mind and soul. Don’t let your technology addiction detract from the joy and group chemistry that we all treasure about going to a Broadway show.
3. Don’t Eat Loud Snacks (or Any Snacks)
Broadway theaters are not AMC multiplexes. There’s no surround sound to drown out the crunchcrunchcrunch of your kettle chips or the slow-motion wrrraaaaappp of your candy bar. Crinkling wrappers are the worst. Want a snack? Eat before the show. Or wait until intermission.
I’m not sure what has happened to basic decency or consideration for other human beings, but seeing adults act with no self-awareness or respect for other people seems to be at an all time high. I’ve heard some people blame Covid for our lack of civilized behavior, but regardless, remember that a Broadway theater is not your personal living room. You are not at your kid’s baseball game. You are not in a picnic area of Central Park. The eating behaviors I’ve witnessed at Broadway shows are horrendous. I don’t blame people for sneaking in snacks after they’ve shelled out hundreds of dollars to see a show. I get it. But, damn, potato chips are loud and your Twizzlers stink up the rows around you.
And while we’re here: If you pull out a plastic water bottle and start crinkling it every few minutes like it’s bubble wrap for your anxiety, don’t be surprised if your neighbor gives you a death glare—and rightfully so.
4. Don’t Talk During the Show
This one should be obvious, but here we are. Do not whisper. Do not comment. Do not lean over and explain plot points to your friend. If they’re confused, they’ll survive. If you get lost in the plot or the character development, it’s a good idea to do some research before the show so you have an idea of what the show is about and can follow along. Even better, arrive early at the show and read the Playbill before everyone gets settled in. It’s a nice way to prepare you headspace to align with the storyline and be open to the incredible art you are about to experience.
Always remember that live theater isn’t a movie—it’s intimate. The actors can hear you. The audience can hear you. And every time you say something like, “Oh that’s the guy from earlier, remember?” you’re breaking the spell for everyone around you. Shut up and let the show do its job.
5. Don’t Get Hammered Before the Curtain
Yes, Broadway theaters sell booze. Yes, it can be fun to have a drink or two before the show. But if you’re slurring your words, stumbling over knees to get to your seat, or snoring by the second act, congrats—you’ve become theater’s least favorite stereotype.
The actors can see your drunken ass. The ushers can’t stand you. And your seat neighbors? They’re texting their group chat about the wasted guy who just burped during Sweeney Todd. Don’t be that guy. You’re not at a frat party. You’re at Broadway.
For tourists, we understand the temptation to let loose on your vacation, especially since you’re paying so much of your hard-earned money to visit New York City and purchase your very expensive Broadway tickets. But remember that just about everyone else is in the same boat (er, theater) as you. So have fun, but be considerate of others. If you’re a quiet drunk with good manners, you should be alright. Otherwise, there’s plenty of time to tie one on after the show. It’s New York City after all. Bars are everywhere!
6. Don’t Wear a Hat That Blocks Views
Wearing a tall cap or big-brimmed hat in a theater is like sitting in front of someone at a game with a foam finger on the whole time. It’s selfish. If someone behind you is shifting in their seat to see around your dome, take the hint. Better yet, take off the hat when the lights go down. Show some basic courtesy.
Entering a Broadway theater can be a chaotic experience at times, and as audience members surrender their bags for security inspection, dash around looking for the bathroom, or anxiously wait for the usher to show you where you’re sitting, it’s easy to forget that you’re wearing a hat. Don’t take offense if the person behind you kindly asks you to remove it. These are the easy things in life. Take it off and enjoy the show.
Pro tip: If you’re follicularly challenged and worried about glare, just own the shine, bro. Broadway is all about you doing you, and you have the full support of the community.
7. Don’t Take Photos or Video
We know, we know—it’s 2025 and you document everything. But in a Broadway theater, that glowing phone screen is a flashing sign that says “I have no respect for live performance.”
This is something I like to call the “But it’s me” syndrome, which is pretty self-explanatory. It’s the point where we rationalize that these rules are okay to break because they don’t appreciate your particular circumstances. Sure, there are no photos allowed, but the rule-makers don’t understand I came all the way from Ohio and my niece loves Wicked and if I don’t get a photo of Glinda then, well, this whole experience will be a failure. The rules, therefore, don’t apply to me. Not under these pressing circumstances.
Um, no. They do apply to you. Just like they apply to everyone else.
Even if you think you’re being slick, even if the scene is iconic, even if it’s just “one little shot”—DON’T. Not only is it rude, it’s often illegal. You want a memory? Buy the Playbill. Take a photo of the marquee. Let the moment live in your brain, not your camera roll.
8. Don’t Sing Along (Unless Invited)
Broadway performers train their entire lives to perfect their craft, which includes countless hours, days, and years taking singing lessons and training their vocal chords at all hours of the day and night. Your voice, while I’m sure it’s lovely, probably doesn’t belong in any unsolicited collaborations. You wouldn’t jump from the stands to suddenly play left tackle in an NFL game. The same principle applies here: leave it to the pros.
Yes, when caught up in the moment the temptation is difficult to resist, but sit this one out. We love that you know every word to “Wait For It” or “Defying Gravity,” but the audience came to hear the cast, not you. This isn’t karaoke night. Keep it internal. Lip-sync if you must. The only acceptable time to join in is when the show explicitly invites it—and even then, maybe gauge the room before belting.
9. Don’t Show Up Late
You know what’s worse than missing the opening number? Making everyone else miss it too while you crawl over their legs with your jacket, bag, and giant souvenir drink. Get to your seat before the lights dim. It’s not hard. Set an alarm. Use your GPS. Leave a little early. You’ll survive.
It’s important to understand how New York City works because the one giant unpredictable unknown that stands between you and arriving at your Broadway show is New York City—which has an unforgiving will of its own. You will never tell New York City what to do. The most successful people here learn how to bend to its will and use it in their favor—the same way surfers harness the energy of waves to have a good time instead of fighting their energy and drowning to death. Plan ahead. Give yourself plenty of time to get lost, run late, or wait for a check from an overworked server. You are not in control in New York City, but that doesn’t mean you’re not welcome.
Know where your theater is. Know how to get there. Grab dinner or drinks somewhere nearby to reduce any unexpected variables that could thwart your plans.
10. Don’t Forget You’re Not Alone
Broadway is magical, but only if everyone treats it with a little respect. This isn’t just about etiquette. It’s about letting the cast, crew, and audience fully immerse in the story. If you’re pulling focus—visually, aurally, aromatically—then you’re breaking that magic. And that makes you the villain of the evening.
And let’s face it: America is experiencing a loneliness epidemic where we need each other more than ever. Human beings crave company and connection, and that is exactly what Broadway provides. Revel in being part of a unique, live, and shared experience. Breath it all in, and take it with you when you leave, and tell everyone you know about it. Broadway is the Thanksgiving table of entertainment: everyone is welcome regardless of your status or station in life. Where else can you feel that connected to complete strangers? You are not alone at a Broadway show. And that means something to everyone there.
You’re Responsible for You
Broadway isn’t a temple, but it is sacred in its own way. It’s live art, performed by humans, powered by emotion, and shared in real time with a room full of human souls sharing the same story from different perspectives and life experiences. So if you’re lucky enough to score a ticket, be the bro who lifts the room—not the one who sinks it. You’re an adult and responsible for your behavior. Honestly, none of this is very hard to understand or to practice in real life. You just have to want to be a good audience member.
For fuck’s sake, don’t ruin Broadway.
