Ten tips for 'cell phone courtesy month'

[Dr. Whiplash]

Author Jacqueline Whitmore founded National Cell Phone Courtesy Month in 2002 with the intent to encourage the increasingly unmindful corps of cell phone users to be more respectful of their surroundings by using some simple cell phone etiquette principles.

According to Whitmore, one of the nation’s foremost experts on etiquette and protocol, wireless phone users can take these steps to avoid offending others:

1. Be all there. When you’re in a meeting, performance, courtroom or other busy area, let calls go to voicemail to avoid a disruption. In some instances, turning your phone off may be the best solution.

2. Keep it private. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid discussing private or confidential information in public. You never know who may be in hearing range.

3. Keep your cool. Don’t display anger during a public call. Conversations that are likely to be emotional should be held where they will not embarrass or intrude on others.

4. Learn to vibe. Use your wireless phone’s silent or vibration settings in public places such as business meetings, religious services, schools, restaurants, theaters or sporting events so that you do not disrupt your surroundings.

5. Avoid “cell yell.” Remember to use your regular conversational tone when speaking on your wireless phone. People tend to speak more loudly than normal and often don’t recognize how distracting they can be to others.

6. Follow the rules. Some places, such as hospitals or airplanes, restrict or prohibit the use of mobile phones, so adhere to posted signs and instructions. Some jurisdictions may also restrict mobile phone use in public places.

7. Excuse yourself. If you are expecting a call that can’t be postponed, alert your companions ahead of time and excuse yourself when the call comes in; the people you are with should take precedence over calls you want to make or receive.

8. Send a message. Use Text Messaging to send and receive messages without saying a single word.

9. Watch and listen discreetly. New multimedia applications such as streaming video and music are great ways to stay informed and access the latest entertainment. However, adjust the volume based on your surroundings in much the same way that you would adjust your ringer volume. Earphones are a great way to avoid distracting others in public areas.

10. Alert silently. When using your phone’s walkie-talkie feature, send the person you’re trying to reach a Call Alert before starting to speak. If you’re around other people, turn off your phone’s external speaker and use the vibration setting to minimize any disturbance and to respect your contact’s privacy.

Actual Show Prep from cheesy PR website...

Jacqueline Whitmore has established herself as a prominent presence in the etiquette industry and is a frequent guest on television and radio talk shows. In addition to being the author of Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work (St. Martin’s Press, 2005), Jacqueline is the Founder of National Cell Phone Courtesy Month in July and the wireless phone etiquette spokesperson for Sprint. You can learn more about Jacqueline by visiting her website at http://www.etiquetteexpert.com or to schedule an interview with her, call (212) 500-5974 or (561) 586-9026.

[genlock]

11. If you are the owner of one of those bluetooth ear things, expect people to continue to
talk to you when you are taking a call and acting like a dork. Everybody has a cell phone. Throw the
bluetooth ear thing away and try to impress people some other way.

12.When driving a car and talking on the cellphone, watch where you are going and driving.
I don't care who you are, If I see that happening, I am going to put my junk pickup in front of you and pull the parking brake.
You will spill your cappuccino all over your suit and maybe even drop your call when you hit me from behind.
I will then sue your ass into the next decade.

[David Paleg]

13. Lock your cell phone keypad when on a belt clip or in a pocket. You shouldn't be calling your friends, relatives, or last number dialed when leaning against a piece of furniture or buckling a seat belt, especially at 3:00 am.

14. Turn down your radio when calling a contest or request line from your cell phone.

15. Remember to take your cell phone charger with you when leaving a hotel. Their lost and found closets are full of them.

[Uncle Shishkabob]

16. When going to Church...LEAVE YOUR CELL PHONE IN THE CAR! ( Nothing worse then hearing a cell phone ring in church during a prayer!)

[Arp2]

16. When going to Church...LEAVE YOUR CELL PHONE IN THE CAR!

Now, now, now, now.....cell phones are an extremely handy means of communication for those not on or away from the ClearCom system or the walkie-talkies! How else would a lighting operator, for example, talk with a tech up in the catwalk making a last-minute blown-bulb or dimmer change as the next service approaches and people have already come in?

[AmpedNow]

11. If you are the owner of one of those bluetooth ear things, expect people to continue to
talk to you when you are taking a call and acting like a dork. Everybody has a cell phone. Throw the
bluetooth ear thing away and try to impress people some other way.

That's a good one...



I have one but only use it when I'm driving or know I'm gonna be on the phone for a long time.

I've found that flashing blue LED on the side of one's head is distracting and does indeed make one a goober.

[Waveguide]

FUNNY


I'm taking these to work

#11 and above are the best

[Hoosier Daddy]

How else would a lighting operator, for example, talk with a tech up in the catwalk making a last-minute blown-bulb or dimmer change as the next service approaches and people have already come in?

Technicians on the catwalk? Dimmer controls? Multiple services?

This sounds like the studio set of 'FOX and Friends'.

Where ... do you ... go to church?

[cgarison]

11. If you are the owner of one of those bluetooth ear things, expect people to continue to
talk to you when you are taking a call and acting like a dork. Everybody has a cell phone. Throw the
bluetooth ear thing away and try to impress people some other way.

12.When driving a car and talking on the cellphone, watch where you are going and driving.
I don't care who you are, If I see that happening, I am going to put my junk pickup in front of you and pull the parking brake.
You will spill your cappuccino all over your suit and maybe even drop your call when you hit me from behind.
I will then sue your ass into the next decade.

HEY! That resembles me.

[Arp2]

How else would a lighting operator, for example, talk with a tech up in the catwalk making a last-minute blown-bulb or dimmer change as the next service approaches and people have already come in?

Technicians on the catwalk?

It's rare, but it happens.

First, (and I may be getting terms wrong here) someone designs the "scenes," writes the light cues, and maybe changes the aim, baffles, and color gels of the lights during the week; on the weekend, the lighting operator's main job is to hit "next" while maybe compensating for the natural light being allowed in, the attire and skin tone of a speaker, and/or the reality of a loaded band with its instruments with reflective surfaces versus the empty stage. Second, by maxing out at 80-85% of a 100% that's already fairly safely less than the real maximum of the lights, blown bulbs are very rare.

Someday, when we get to the point where replacement costs get high and/or an upgrade is needed, I imagine the costs will have continued to drop dramatically and we'll switch entirely to moving-light color LEDs, virtually eliminating the need to ever go "upstairs."

Dimmer controls?

Dimmer controls...dimmer packs....dimmers....Sure! How else would you change scenes and give different "looks" to all the various parts of a service?

Multiple services?

Sure! They provide choice and convenience and allow you to accomodate many more people without building a new worship center everytime you grow past your seating capacity.

This sounds like the studio set of 'FOX and Friends'.

Nah....being in NYC and having added FBN, that place is small and tight!

I know somebody who toured the place and spent most of a day there, and he's told me that each studio is really two studios (turn the cameras around, and they're pointing at "another" studio) with pieces that move in and out, resulting in a number of individual rooms that can give a big number of "looks" each.

Where ... do you ... go to church?

Just a normal place...by today's standards. Churches, now, are designed like theatres with a healthy amount of power and pro-level sound, lighting, and (often) video. As a matter of fact, touring bands could come in many places with just their instruments, unique staging, and unique lighting and do their shows while having the technical conditions of their riders met in-house.