posttheater

In the entrance area of a theater or an opera there is a hybrid of a hotel’s reception desk and a architectural scale model of a hotel high riser. There is a receptionist, in a proper uniform operating this object. He - a professional performer - is the service staff to this interactive installation. His job is to explain the “Mobile Inn” to potential customers - the audience for the show that is about to start at the theater that’s next to this entrance area.

The hotel for cellular phones “Mobile Inn” invites the users of mobile phones, to check in their phones. The receptionist recommends to offer some rest to the phones, as well as to require some rest for the user due to the distance to his / her phone. The user will not be distracted by the phone in the course of the performance in the theater. He / she does not run danger to have it ring or to be tempted to check for new messages. In addition, the “Mobile Inn” offers to clean and charge the cell phone in the meantime - to have it perfectly ready for the time after the performance.

These benefits are communicated by the receptionist - to the potential customers. When a mobile phone owner is convinced, he / she has to fi ll in a check in form, including the number of the phone, and to switch off the phone. Now, the actual point of the “hotel” is a service that is not mentioned to the audience: after the theater or opera performance, the phone owner will fi nd out, that there is an appropriate text message (image, if possible) and a short song / monologue on the voice mail - fi tting to the performance of the evening.

The “Mobile Inn” pretends to be an aesthetic object with service function - but it actually is a new way of communication for artistic information - with regards to the cultural context / the performance in the main space of a theater. And it can convey messages individually tailored for each “custormer” - due to the information that is known about him / her from the check-in-form. This personal approach contributes to the surprising effect for the phone owner.

The ?Mobile Inn“ functions as a parasite intervention before, during and after a normal“ event. The receptionist interacts with the theater audience in the lobby at all times when they spend time there (including the intermission). So the performance is happening also in the case that people just talk to the receptionist - or listen to him - even without checking in their phone. In addition, the piece is a visual art-work, a sculpture, to be looked at by all visitors. And afterwards, the piece travels in its SMS and voice messages with the audience on their way home.