Wirewalkers vs Flasher

For the most part, I try to be invisible in the House once the show starts. However, if I see something that I feel endangers the safety and wellbeing of my performers, I will do what is necessary to protect them.

A couple nights ago at one of our shows in Richmond, RI, we had issues with one woman taking flash photos. After talking to her a couple times, she finally figured out how to turn off the flash. Unfortunately, it somehow got turned back on during intermission.

The first act of the 2nd half is the wirewalking act - one of the more dangerous of the show. They're working about 7 feet off the floor, without a net. This woman was sitting in the back section, next to the backstage entrance to the ring, on the front row. I was standing almost directly across the ring from her, in the main entrance. I saw the flash, turned to see where it came from, and the 2nd one told me it was her again.

As I said, usually I try to be somewhat invisible - normally I would go out and come back in the side entrance, but this woman was taking picture after picture, after picture in immediate succession - so I literally ran through the house at full tilt, possibly pushing a couple of the kids who were sitting on the floor out of my way (I tell them to keep the aisle clear!), and flew to where this woman was sitting. I remember saying "Flash off, flash off! Turn your flash off - you're going to make them fall!" - but I don't know if I yelled it or not. She gave me a confused look and said, "My flash is on?" "Yes!!!! Turn it off before you make them fall!" I replied. "Oh." She said, and turned it off.

I got back to my post, and saw she was still taking a million pictures - usually we don't mind a picture now and then, but the only ones we really let take that many are press. So I went back and asked her to stop taking photos. "My flash is off!" she protested, when I told her, "Yes, and thank you. However, you are taking so many pictures that you are missing the show - we don't mind a picture now and again, but we really prefer that our patrons relax and enjoy WATCHING the show." That finally stopped her.

Amusingly, I had one woman stop my on my way back to my post during the wirewalker act to say, "You poor thing - you have an impossible job - no one listens to you!" And after the show, a gentleman came up and said "You do an amazing job." I said "Thank you, they are amazing. I'm glad you enjoyed the show." He replied, "Yes, they do, but I meant YOU. It's a big deal to keep them all safe, and you do a really good job."

Nice to know, some days, that I do something right...





ps
As to the relationship - nothing bad, he just may have a job in another part of the country, and is preparing to leave. Good news for him, as it is more settled than he is now, and closer to his kids.