Now here’s a tricky subject to discuss – mobile phones at concerts!
I suspect that half of you will be in favour of this and the other half deadly against it.
Modern technology has moved so fast that a majority of people treat their mobile phones as an appendage and simply can’t live without continually referring to them.
Let’s face it, they are addictive but at the same time they are now essential. For instance, I rarely now leave the house without my mobile phone, especially if I am driving somewhere, as I don’t really want the car to breakdown and thus possibly get stranded. So that’s understandable.
However, when you go to an event such as a concert and you get tons of mobile phones all in the way, jostling for position to get that decent snapshot of your favourite artist or even record a snippet, then this can be a real pain for those that are endeavour to see properly.
On the other hand I have been to arena gigs and the band have specifically asked everyone in the crowd to get out their phones and switch to torch mode and wave them in the air.
Now that looks magical and enhances the overall experience of the night. So there are two sides to the story here.
You could also find it distracting when you are in a darkened room and endeavouring to enjoy the event but at the side of your eye you note a bright light and someone is on the text all the time. This takes your concentration away from what you should be enjoying.
There could possibly be a genuine reason for that person to be texting as it might be an emergency or, on the other hand, they could simply be bragging to their mates who aren’t at the gig. Tricky to know really.
Historically, some people use to take cameras and even tape recorders into gigs to grab that unique souvenir of their special night out.
But as mobile phones offer both of these options and you can make calls on them to find that lost mate at the gig, then there is arguably no need to bring the other items with you.
Technically speaking, people should not be taking recording equipment or cameras into gigs anyway under rules to prevent infringements of an artist’s copyright.
But you can now buy from record shops or various online/download options, re-released CD packages of official albums by artists that have now been expanded into a double CD set by including the addition of a live gig from that era. A live gig that no doubt was possibly not taken directly from the mixing desk but other sources.
So arguably the artist and label are clawing the possible lost earnings back via giving the fan something extra to purchase.
Tomorrow (Friday 25 May) tickets will go on sale for a Brighton Centre concert by the American White Stripes frontman Jack White and fans are being notified in advance that the artist (ie Jack) wants his concert to be a 100 per centhuman experience.
Q: So what exactly does that mean? A: A phone free show!
Obviously a large number of people will be anxious about this, so here is the official notification for you to digest:
“PLEASE NOTE: this is a PHONE-FREE show. No photos, video or audio recording devices allowed. We think you’ll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON. Upon arrival at the venue, all phones and other photo or video-capturing gizmos will be secured in a Yondr pouch that will be unlocked at the end of the show. You keep your pouch-secured phone on you during the show and, if needed, can unlock your phone at any time in a designated Yondr Phone Zone located in the lobby or concourse. For those looking to do some social media postings, let us help you with that. Our official tour photographer will be posting photos and videos after the show at jackwhiteiii.com and the new Jack White Live Instagram account @officialjackwhitelive. Repost our photos & videos as much as you want and enjoy a phone-free, 100% human experience”.
It is likely that you are wondering what exactly is a Yondr pouch and whether your phone will be safe within the pouch and how exactly do you get your phone back out of one.
The best advice that I can give you is to simply spend a few short minutes watching these three video clips prior to attending the show.
Watch video 1 HERE.
Watch video 2 HERE.
Here’s Jack White’s take on it HERE. 
I’m all in favour of phone free shows. So many shows are marred for the some members audience by a sea of phones held up by others to catch footage of performances. I have been to a few gigs where they have asked for audience members to refrain from using their phones in this way and they have been better. It’s very distracting from the performance to have phones held up in your field of vision.I would ban them from every performance.