Good manners
How to behave at a tablao
What to do and not do at a small flamenco show: arriving early, staying quiet for the singer, phones and photos, and what jaleo means.
Book the flamenco show ↗Quick answer
At a small tablao, arrive early, keep still and quiet while the singer sings, switch your phone to silent and take no flash photos. Jaleo, the clapping and words of encouragement that support performers, belongs to flamenco, but in a small room leave it to those who know the moment. Applause at the end is always welcome.
Arrive early
The room is small and sightlines can be poor from some seats, so arriving early lets you pick a spot with a clear view. Check your confirmation for the meeting details. A small group means little slack: a late arrival is more noticeable in a room of this size than in a large hall, and the seats you get are the ones left.
Silence for the singer
The singer carries the weight of a flamenco piece. Wikipedia says the interpreter of flamenco singing is called a cantaor, and in a room this size every breath is audible. Stay still and quiet while the singing and guitar are going. Whispering across a table, rattling ice in a glass or unwrapping something all carry further than you expect when the stage is a few metres away.
Seats and sightlines
The booking page notes that sightlines can be poor in the small room. A good rule is to settle your seat before the show and not move during it. Moving mid-piece is a distraction for the dancers, who work close to the audience. If you are with a group, decide who sits where while you arrive, and leave a clear path for dancers to pass. Arriving early is the simplest fix, and it costs nothing.
Phones and photos
The booking page says no flash photography. In a small, dim room, a flash is a distraction for dancers who work close to the audience. Put your phone on silent and keep it down while the show is on. If you want a photograph, ask whether and when photos are allowed beyond the flash rule, and take one of the room before the show begins.
What jaleo is
Wikipedia defines jaleo as the clapping and calling-out that urge flamenco performers on, and notes that it often includes cries such as olé aimed at singers, guitarists or dancers. It counts jaleo as part of the art. In a small tablao full of visitors, listen first and let the performers and regulars set the tone before you join in.
If you are unsure
If you are unsure whether something is acceptable, copy what the regulars and the staff do. A small tablao is a place where concentration is part of the performance, and the audience's attention matters as much as the music. Ask before the show starts, not during it, and you will not go far wrong.
Your drink and the rest of the evening
One drink is included, and dinner is not. Order it before the show starts rather than during a song. If you plan to eat, do so before or after, in the old town around Plaza de los Naranjos, instead of expecting a meal in the room. The show lasts about an hour, so a late table works as well as an early one. A drink in hand before the music starts also gives you something to do with your hands once the room goes quiet.
Applause
Applause at the end is always welcome, and a performance that lands often draws it between pieces as well. If you are unsure, follow the room. The performers are improvising, so they respond to the audience's attention more than to its noise, and a still, attentive room is the best thanks you can give. In a small room, applause is also how the audience says it has been paying attention.
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