I work in the theater, and have been on both
sides of a few standing ovations in the past.

The best rule I learned (in my opinion) was
that you shouldn't stand unless you think the
performance was great. I've stood fairly rairly
since hearing that.

Having recieved standing o's for some shows
that I thought were total junk, I think that I have
more respect for an audience that stands
because they want to, not because they think
it's the thing to do. Opening nights almost
always get standing ovations. You sort of learn
to discount those. What I think is the most
moving is when there are just a few people
standing, because I believe them more. When
about 1/2 of the audience gets up, most
people stand out of a sense of obligation, it
seems like. I'd rather have 8 people standing
because they were moved than the whole
house because they thought they were
supposed to.

But that's just me.

Luisa