They're going to ban Smartphone use at shows

Lost In Ohio

gotthebottle said:

Use your damn phone if you must, BUT KEEP IT OUT OF OUR LINE OF SIGHT!! You aren't so f'ing important making a shitty video from the seats that you can put on You Tube and "impress your friends"......So I think most of us agree ....keep phones down.

Bingo!

Between the people that forget they're filming and they start screaming or jumping up and down while holding their phone in portrait mode, you hit the nail right on the head.

"Why is my video so damn narrow? I didn't get the bassist to the side of the stage!"

tschav

Some background from Jack White on why he went the Yondr route:

"I don't care about the recording, I would think that actually is kind of cool, but what I don't like is the non-engagement. They're looking down and checking the sports scores and texting and stuff.

And then you can't clap, you can't clap back, and if you don't have a setlist, you need that, you need to engage with each other. I mean, it was just a period a few years ago where it was just starting to feel pointless to play live, there's just no engagement and no reaction."

More in the interview here:
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jack_white_explains_main_reason_why_he_banned_use_of_phones_at_his_shows.html

deadendp

Just got back from a show at The Agora in Cleveland. There was a woman in front of me who kept shooting video. Now, snap some pictures, get yourself a lil video but for the love of all that is good and right, put the phone down eventually.

She recorded (in large chunks) almost all of Dope's entire set. I was irritated. I believe that she and her partner may have heard me tell my husband, "I swear that if she thinks that she is going to record all of Static-X, we may need to have a chat. It's rude and I would like to watch the concert, but not through her phone screen." (I should add that I was on the somewhat elevated rail platform above her.)

They moved down. When she went to shoot video, she made sure she wasn't standing in front of me. 

Please put your phone down. Thank you. 

cutz

deadendp said:

Just got back from a show at The Agora in Cleveland. There was a woman in front of me who kept shooting video. Now, snap some pictures, get yourself a lil video but for the love of all that is good and right, put the phone down eventually.

She recorded (in large chunks) almost all of Dope's entire set. I was irritated. I believe that she and her partner may have heard me tell my husband, "I swear that if she thinks that she is going to record all of Static-X, we may need to have a chat. It's rude and I would like to watch the concert, but not through her phone screen." (I should add that I was on the somewhat elevated rail platform above her.)

They moved down. When she went to shoot video, she made sure she wasn't standing in front of me. 

Please put your phone down. Thank you. 

The bad thing is you could've asked her nicely to please not have her cellphone blocking your view, and probably still get a attitude.

deadendp

Here's the thing, I wasn't mad that she wanted to take some photos or video, but that is all she did. We have all taken pictures. We've caught moments on video, but it was all the time and rude. 

She was excited. She was into it and that is great. She even made herself a shirt. She kept headbanging and smacking me with her hair as it whirled around. Fine. But...all I wanted was for her to put the damn phone down. She didn't do that, but she basically adjusted what she did and that worked. 

4/5 bands were phone blocked, but most of Static-X was in view so it worked out in the end...and it was a hell of a show. Happy we went!

Cosmo

Instead of trying to figure out how to ban Smart Phones, I wish there was some way to ban Dumb People.

goldrush

Neil Young’s take on this...

JimmyV

Wise words from Neil Young. Good for him.

AmishGuy91

tschav said:

Some background from Jack White on why he went the Yondr route:

"I don't care about the recording, I would think that actually is kind of cool, but what I don't like is the non-engagement. They're looking down and checking the sports scores and texting and stuff.

And then you can't clap, you can't clap back, and if you don't have a setlist, you need that, you need to engage with each other. I mean, it was just a period a few years ago where it was just starting to feel pointless to play live, there's just no engagement and no reaction."

More in the interview here:
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jack_white_explains_main_reason_why_he_banned_use_of_phones_at_his_shows.html

Sounds like Jack White has a problem keeping his attendees engaged and wants to blame cell phones

Spiritual_Chaos

AmishGuy91 said:

tschav said:

Some background from Jack White on why he went the Yondr route:

"I don't care about the recording, I would think that actually is kind of cool, but what I don't like is the non-engagement. They're looking down and checking the sports scores and texting and stuff.

And then you can't clap, you can't clap back, and if you don't have a setlist, you need that, you need to engage with each other. I mean, it was just a period a few years ago where it was just starting to feel pointless to play live, there's just no engagement and no reaction."

More in the interview here:
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jack_white_explains_main_reason_why_he_banned_use_of_phones_at_his_shows.html

Sounds like Jack White has a problem keeping his attendees engaged and wants to blame cell phones

That's a Pearl Jam problem too then. Witnessed several unengaged attendees.

pjsteelerfan

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2A7qKTgccL/

Matts3221

I personally hate cell phones at shows , if you want to snap a quick picture of the band coming out on stage or during the first song fine but we all know this will never happen. I was at a show two weeks ago and there were so many cell phones out the band asked them to put it away.

I am not old by any means ( 40 ) but when I pay money to go to a show I don't want cell phones up everywhere , sorry I love that this is a thing artist are doing. Enjoy that moment , you will never watch that footage ( again unless it is a quick 10-20 seconds ) however we all know people do what ever they want , its why we cant have nice things.

My niece is 18 and follows this rule when going to shows , she just takes a few quick pics and then enjoys the show , you only live once watch live music please people.

PJ's two shows in Boston last year I took a total of  4 photos ( one of me and my wife ) , one of the band hitting the stage both nights and one when they asked everyone to turn on their cell phone lights when covering Tom Petty.

Alright maybe I am a grumpy old man.

Get off my lawn you damn kids! Take your cell phones with you.

demetrios

pjsteelerfan said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2A7qKTgccL/?igshid=w49t6rge4oz1

LOL

mace1229

Pearl Jam will have to abandon their latest method of handling tickets if they plan to do any sort of ban. They were essentially required to get into the shows last summer.
I find the 2 extremes a little amusing.

Sarava

I saw Jack White in Milwaukee last year. I was fine with not having access to my phone. I think it bummed my wife out a bit, who was mostly there to be with me, moreso than to see the show. But at the end of the day, I think Jack probably should just accept that cell phones are a part of today's society and forcing your audience to act how you want them to act probably isn't a longterm solution. I guess he can get away with it playing ballrooms. But I don't see it as feasible for a band like Pearl Jam who play ballparks that hold 40-50k people.

JimmyV

Sarava said:

I saw Jack White in Milwaukee last year. I was fine with not having access to my phone. I think it bummed my wife out a bit, who was mostly there to be with me, moreso than to see the show. But at the end of the day, I think Jack probably should just accept that cell phones are a part of today's society and forcing your audience to act how you want them to act probably isn't a longterm solution. I guess he can get away with it playing ballrooms. But I don't see it as feasible for a band like Pearl Jam who play ballparks that hold 40-50k people.

"But at the end of the day, I think Jack probably should just accept that cell phones are a part of today's society and forcing your audience to act how you want them to act probably isn't a longterm solution."

This is so well put and so spot. I rarely use my phone at shows and never record video, but I'm also not interested in being told how I am supposed to act by an artist I have paid money to see. 

Jason7192

mace1229 said:

Pearl Jam will have to abandon their latest method of handling tickets if they plan to do any sort of ban. They were essentially required to get into the shows last summer.
I find the 2 extremes a little amusing.

When I saw Jack White at Nashville last fall, the show was mobile-entry only. As soon as you scanned your ticket on your phone, it went in a pouch. It worked out pretty smooth & didn't cause much of a delay. By doing it that way, it helps to ensure that all phones get sealed up. It was nice to not have any distractions during the show & focus 100% on the artist.

JimmyV

Jason7192 said:

mace1229 said:

Pearl Jam will have to abandon their latest method of handling tickets if they plan to do any sort of ban. They were essentially required to get into the shows last summer.
I find the 2 extremes a little amusing.

When I saw Jack White at Nashville last fall, the show was mobile-entry only. As soon as you scanned your ticket on your phone, it went in a pouch. It worked out pretty smooth & didn't cause much of a delay. By doing it that way, it helps to ensure that all phones get sealed up. It was nice to not have any distractions during the show & focus 100% on the artist.

Was this an all GA show? This sounds like a nightmare for people trying to remember where there seats are. Or did you get something back once your phone was scanned with that info on it?

pjsteelerfan

Funny, I just bumped this to show the hilarious video Jack white posted on this Instagram. Millennial reactions to not having a cell phone for 2-3 hours  

CantKeepmedown

I guess I'm kinda torn.  I rarely use my phone to take pics or record videos. We all know they mostly sound like shit. I have, however, spent many a night watching these beautifully filmed, nearly pro-shot looking vids on youtube (when they are synced up with the bootleg).  I can see both sides of the argument.  

It is tough though when hubby and wife are at a show and possibly have young kids with a sitter. What if there is an emergency with the kids and you need to leave immediately?  There's a chance you won't know about it until 2, in some cases 3 hours later.  I think my wife would have a panic attack for that reason alone.  She isn't some 20 something that needs to be on her phone all night.  But she is a freak about our kids.