Tweet Seats. A hard-to-believe it exists new trend that is so surreal you want to pinch yourself to be sure you’re not asleep and dreaming.

As noted in the LA Times:

“Perhaps the most unexpected thing about “tweet seats” is that they exist. Perhaps the second-most-unexpected thing about them is that they appear to be a growing trend.” 

Clearly the brain child of some group’s communications department, these high tech seats are popping up in arts venues big and small. The concept is to use what they love and can’t seem to live without to attract otherwise nonconcert and theatre goes to fill a seat: social media.

The problem is, the majority of arts patrons are happy with the unplugged event. In fact they prefer it that way. It’s one of the many reasons the arts is so refreshing given our very plugged in lives. Attending an event is a completely unplugged experience. It allows us to be in the moment and just enjoy what’s occurring. For a couple hours, we allow ourselves to get swept to another time and place and forget the issues in our lives that can weigh us down.

We don’t need studies to inform us of the benefit of these experiences, although they exist, because we’ve had them! If we allow technology to impinge upon them, though, the downsides to us as individuals as well as a society will be profound. This won’t be about PR buzz anylonger but our collective need to be disconnected from time to time and understand the boundaries of technology within our lives.

This description from a symphony concert goer in USA Today drives this point home, written from a concert goer who had to sit next to a tweet seat section:

“Their texting thumbs were moving faster than the violinist’s fingers…They would occasionally nudge each other and read what the other person had up on his or her screen. They didn’t even look up to applaud at the end of each selection. The fact that they were watching their handheld devices, they missed out on what was happening on the stage.”

Given the concerts and shows I’ve attended, I could see that easily occurring. When tweeting, you’re focused on the tweet, not what’s around you. Tweet at the wrong time, you’ll miss the highlight of a symphony or a soloists finest moment. You may miss the best scene in the play or musical – the one that causes the audience to laugh hysterically or clap out of the blue. Those moments are what create the magic of a live performance…not what you are posting or reading on a twitter feed, no matter how cleaver.

While I’m not a fan of tweet seats, I do think there is a way that twitter can be used to help Gen Y feel more comfortable with venues that they may not actually see themselves at – yet. Since Gen Y does love a good social media buzz, using twitter before a performance, during intermissions, and after could have the same effect as well as helping this generation stay engaged with the performance unplugged. The feeds could offer give aways that rely on answer questions from what occurs during the show. Chats could occur with cast members, musicians and conductors during breaks from the Playbill can be discussed.

So, tweet away, fellow arts lovers…but please, not during the show.