Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, and producer Jack White has been pretty vocal on a recent Conan appearance about cellphones at his concerts. Seems he doesn't want the audience recording, snapping, texting, or anything involving a screen during the live performances on his upcoming tour. I'm not exactly sure what the consequences are for not following the rules, but I'm of the camp that technology is here and it's not going anywhere. "Banning" it in something like a venue seems like a little much. While I'm not the type to experience the live shows I attend through my iPhone screen, I really only see it as an etiquette issue, which I think is a much more arguable stance, rather than trying to force the change upon the audience with the letters B, A, and N. Lastly, I feel like this is only something Jack White can get away with considering his audience doesn't typically consist of the youngest, most technology-dependent wing of the millennial generation. If Jack's audience had a sixty or seventy percent crossover with, let's say, the 1975, this ask would be a total pipe dream.
Those are my thoughts on it anyway. What's your take on cellphones at concerts? Do you take a lot of video and pictures at shows, or do you prefer to keep the experience tucked away in your brain? All thoughtful responses will be upvoted, and thanks for reading!
I'll snap a few clips and a few pictures for my own keeping at a show, but I definitely believe in keeping my phone in my pocket most of the time and just enjoying the experience. However, I think if you paid money to be there, it's your experience to do with as you please, and if that means holding your phone over your head and watching it through the screen the whole time so you can see it later, then so be it. I don't think anyone's phones should be taken away from them (emergencies and things happen), but I'm all for advising the crowd to keep their usage to a minimum. I'm sure it's awkward being up there and staring into a sea of phone cameras, but everyone with a cell phone has the opportunity to capture, immortalize, and relieve great experiences, and they're going to want to do it. Anyone can bootleg their own shows now, and as a Pearl Jam fan, I gotta say it's beautiful to have the luxury of listening to shows you've been to.
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Lol, can't blame him.
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it probably gets annoying, but what are you gonna do? have security escort ppl out? stop the show and get confrontational with the audience? it's a tough situation.
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I think that would actually make shows way more rockin'
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I don't know why people can't just enjoy the gig. Whatever pictures and video you take are likely to not be great. I got annoyed at a recent gig when a friend was trying to video it. I don't want phones in my eyeline. As for people who talk through gigs....
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I'm guilty!!! but I swear i only record the first 10 seconds of a song then jump back into rocking out!!
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like in class - put in in a box when entering and get it back when you leave. But no stealing bro - not cool xD
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I've never filmed a show because I know that someone 3 feet in front of me is going to record it and upload it to YouTube anyway, so I just have to search the show on YouTube and it's all there. I can't be bothered clearing space on my phone, either :'D
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This is the mindset I have now haha. I know someone else is recording it, and perhaps they're even better equipped than me to do it. I'll take a few pictures or somethin' for myself but I'd rather stay in the moment.
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I saw him when he was with the White Stripes and all I had was a flip phone... No video taking going on there. Seriously though is someone taking pictures or videos any more disrupting to the viewer than the drunk person next to you or behind you spilling their beer all over you? How about the group of people that are more interested in catching up with each other than watching the show? Cell phones don't really bug me at shows in the grand scheme of things... -@bozz
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I think it's more a distaste for social media in general than just phones at a concert. People take videos because they want to share the experience with their friends. It becomes a thin line however when people are only there for their phones and become detatched from the experience.
I saw a video recently of a travis scott concert where he invited two dudes up on stage and they pulled their phones out and tried to start recording him instead of interacting with him. I would be pissed off too.
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