Although our orchestra members wear "black tie," there is certainly no requirement of formal wear for audiences. We encourage a relaxed and informal atmosphere and smart casual or business casual attire are perfectly appropriate for attending our events.

If you're a supporter and lucky enough to get Early Admission to a show, please bear in mind that things are often quite hectic before a performance. We're always interested in speaking to our audiences and if there is a chance to do so before a show we will. However it's usually easiest when things are less hectic either after a show, during an intermission or at least after last minute pre-show preparations are complete.

Once the doors are open for general admission, members of the orchestra will begin to be seated and to tune their instruments and make any other last minute individual preparations. If there is a cash bar in the room, this is usually a good time to get a drink from the bar, or to chat with other people or artists if they are available.

In general we shun much of the usual symphony orchestra and concert hall protocol. Our Artistic Director believes in shining the spotlight equally on all members of the ensemble. Thus there are no separate entrances or bows and no repetitive trips off and on stage for himself nor any guest artists. Conversely, whenever it makes sense, he introduces each and every member of the ensemble. Applause is very appropriate and appreciated when each artist is introduced.

It goes without saying that we need quiet during a performance. Note that when there is a cash bar in the room, it is always closed during a performance and open before the show and during any intermission.

Occasionally, audience members at IJO concerts may be unsure whether they should applaud during or after a section of music. Such confusion is not surprising. After all, we play jazz, classical and everything in between and we often deliberately blur the lines between genres.

When listening to live jazz, in addition to applauding after a piece of music, audiences often applaud during the work's performance to show their appreciation for an improvised solo. On the other hand, classical music audiences never applaud during a piece of music and applaud only at the end of a complete work but not after individual movements. Interestingly, this "applause rule" for classical music is only a recent convention introduced in the twentieth century. In the days of Mozart, Beethoven and Mahler, it was in fact quite usual to applaud after movements.

Sometimes the music played by the IJO has shorter solos that are integrated into the ensemble writing. It can be hard to tell when the solo has ended (and in some cases it may not even have been improvised) and any applause may interfere with ensemble sections that immediately follow the solo. The multi-movement jazz suites seem to beg for applause after individual movements and the same is often true of many classical and neoclassical suites.

In a large jazz ensemble, soloists will usually stand when playing a solo of any significant length. When they sit down, it's a cue to briefly applaud if there is an opportunity to do so in the ensemble section immediately following the solo. Applauding after each movement of a jazz suite is quite usual and certainly appreciated by the artists.

In the end, we encourage audiences to applaud when they wish to as long as it is does not prove to be a major distraction or interruption to the flow of the performance. We appreciate all applause. If someone next to you makes a snooty face as if you are applauding when you shouldn't be, we recommend you just smile at them and applaud even louder!

One of the most exciting and fulfilling times for us is immediately after a performance when we get a chance to speak with audiences. We encourage you to come up and speak to our artists and volunteers. The only thing we ask is that you keep off the stage or performance area to ensure that the many precious and expensive musical instruments are not endangered in any way.

Above all we want you to enjoy yourself and to feel comfortable at our events. See you at the next show!