Do Cellphones Dampen the Concert Experience?

Artists and fans may have differing views.

Last week I went to a concert I’d been looking forward to for some time. Two rock bands that peaked in popularity in the late 80s and early 90s — both of whom I was a fan of at the time — have been touring together. After their original Denver stop was mysteriously cancelled last year (literally just a couple hours before showtime), the rescheduled date had finally arrived.

I’m talking about Extreme (best known for their hit “More than Words”) and Living Colour (best known for their hit “Cult of Personality”). Both bands have produced lots of other great music, but those are the songs most people identify them with.

The sold-out show at the Ogden Theater was fantastic, with both bands sounding as good as they ever did… which was really quite surprising when you consider how much time has passed since their heyday. And like with just about every other concert I go to these days, I took a lot of pictures and video with my cellphone.

It’s become kind of a hobby of mine. I love seeing the bands I like live, and I enjoy taking away some images and sounds that capture the energy of the shows. I share a few of the pics and videos on social media, and the rest ends up in my cloud account where I can reflect back on them sometime in the future. For me, it’s just fun… and something I would have done as a young man if it had been possible.

I’m guessing most of you reading this are old enough to remember how recording concerts (in any way, shape, or form) used to be strictly prohibited by venues and record-labels alike… mostly for reasons explained in a very memorable episode of the 1970’s sitcom, What’s Happening! Times have changed, of course, and cellphones (with camera technology) are now considered a personal staple, like a wallet, a purse, or car keys. So, they’re allowed just about everywhere (including in concert venues).

A lot of musical artists, however, still aren’t keen on the practice of fans recording their shows. Some forbid the usage of cell-cameras during their concerts, including one of my favorite bands, Tool. They only allow pictures and video during the last song of the night. If you point your phone’s camera-lens at the stage prior to that, you’ll find a security guard’s flashlight in your face (along with a stern warning or even an actual removal) about two seconds later.

Others artists will allow it, but still frown on the practice… mostly for this reason:

That was a tweet from Living Colour’s social-media account (which is likely run by a band member) the day after the Denver concert, ironically just a minute or two after they retweeted a short video and some pictures I had taken at the show.

It’s not just artists who feel this way. A number of fans harbor the same sentiment, believing that cellphone recordings detract from the concert experience — not so much their own experience (because cellphones are pretty small and don’t typically get in others’ way), but the recorder’s experience.

“Just put down the phone and enjoy the show,” is a common suggestion — one I admit I’ve heard from my own wife a few times.

But personally, I don’t understand that take. I am enjoying the show. Thoroughly. My experience isn’t at all hindered by taking some pictures and video at different times throughout the concert. I suppose if I were doing it the “entire time” (and maybe there are people who actually do that) it would detract from my enjoyment (sore arms and whatnot), but I don’t think I’m short-changing myself (or anyone else) one bit in how I (and lots of others) go about it.

Again, if it were an imposition on other people, I wouldn’t do it. If I were at a play, or some other intimate presentation in which the audience is sitting quietly in the dark, and not actively participating in the show, the light from a cell display would indeed be a distraction. But at a rock show, where music is blaring, lights are flashing all over the place, and attendees are dancing and singing their hearts out? Nah.

In fact, in further defense of myself, I would contend that anyone standing around me at a concert is actually quite fortunate. I don’t do any of the things that actually do take away from others’ experience.

I don’t drink, so I don’t spill beer on people (or the floor), or need to steady myself against others. I’m definitely not going to belch in your face, or try to hug you.

I don’t dance (more than a little bob and some subtle air guitar), so I won’t invade your space, including smacking you upside the head with a flailing arm. Heck, I typically won’t even make eye-contact with you. I’m there for the act, not to make friends.

I don’t place-cut in front of others to try and get closer to the stage, and I don’t obnoxiously wave over arriving friends, out of some weird sense of territorial entitlement, to place-cut next to me. I’m an “early bird gets the worm” dude, who only moves forward when there’s an empty space in front of me.

These days, I even splash on a little cologne before I leave for the show, so I smell good.

Simply put, I’m a concert-goer’s dream.

As for the artist on stage, I’m not only supporting them with my (sometimes quite expensive) ticket purchase, but I’ll also usually buy some of their overpriced merch.

So, the way I see it, us gentle photo and video takers are a concert asset, not a liability.

You’re welcome, America. 😉

Do you have a concert pet-peeve? Tell me about it in an email or in the comment section below.

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Random Thought

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Obligatory Dog Shot

Easy like Sunday morning.

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