Last year, a long-term friend and I went to Wembley to see a major rock band we had both wanted to see for years.
I could not believe how many people, including my friend, watched pretty much the whole concert through their mobile phones while filming it.
I lived in the moment and saw the performance with my own eyes, in front of me.
Given the hassle, time and cost of travelling, hotel overnight stay and eating out, I did not particularly find looking at a sea of lit up mobile screens appealing when looking at the musicians.
I have just mentioned to this friend that I am off to see one of my favourite bands, very famous, but happen to be playing in a small venue in a small town.
I have a ticket already and he wants to come with me. That is absolutely fine.
How do I kindly ask him not to film the gig adding to the number of people doing it, given it is going to be held in quite an intimate venue?
Surely the performers must find it disrespectful also?
I went to see a well known comedian once. A lady sat next to me, on the balcony was drunk and kept interrupting the comedian, plus laughing and banging her clenched hands on the balcony. She clearly thought she was the star that night.
Security threw a man out during the performance, for heckling once. They looked several times at this lady next to me, plus the comedian commented how distracting he found her. Nothing was done.
The next day, I emailed the venue to ask why the lady next to me was not removed.
I got a reply saying security were aware of her, but did not feel removing her was appropriate.
I have been attending gigs for over 45 years and it really mystifies me why people would film them on their phones or tablets, yes tablets! Why would you not want to see it with your own eyes rather than through a tiny screen, plus when you get home the sound will be awful and tinny. I would rather watch and experience it in full, then maybe buy a professionally shot with multiple cameras and hi-def sound dvd/bluray if i want to re-live it later.
All of us oldies entering this conversation I always wondered why people would go and record the whole event without actually enjoying it, I didn’t know people uploaded it to stream on social media. These people are missing out of the experience while they are using their phones. Total ban of phones would be better.
I use to go to alot of outdoor events when I was younger and seeing people now at those kind events I think to myself I bet I had a better time dancing, they all look like zombies with their phones standing there.
Yeah part of a live gig is the atmosphere and stageshow, how you can enjoy it with your attention on your phone is beyond me. I would rather enjoy it with my phone in my pocket than brag about it on social media.
If people want to watch it through their phones, let them. It’s becoming habitual and youll never change it. Don’t let it bother you and enjoy the gig, and let him enjoy the gig how he does.
@MsSubExperimenter Have you ever been to a event without a phone? I’m wondering if it’s the younger age that must have their phones or if people have adapted to going and filming the whole lot.
If someone has never been to a event without whipping out their phone it’s something they should try doing without just once.
Same as the cinema, young people constantly playing with their phones whilst the film is on. Told some recently to STFU as nobody else had the guts to.
Went too Foo Fighters at Milton Keynes bowl back in 2015.. Ended up in the pit really close to the stage.. The thought of getting the phone out and filming was the last thing on my mind.., it would not have been much use anyway because holding it steady would have been impossible!!
Sadly its the way of the world today - upload to social media for the likes/hits on youtube etc.
I saw Maiden at the Co-op live this year, I took a pre gig and post gig selfie only for a bit of fun (was in the mosh pit so had to have proof of survival)
There was guy near us with a battery pack attached to his top filming the whole gig. He was reported numerous times to security but they didnt do anything.
I know certain bands get the venue to block the signal - so maybe thats an option for the future.
I love live music and are happy to get the DVD/CD of it later to remember it by (But I am an old rocker so dont understand the modern thinking of recording everything in life.)
I watched the England Ladies Euro football matches on TV. On two of the games, they showed a couple of kids in the crowd (same kids, both games) several times. Every time, both kids were playing with their tablets.
I remember returning from France on the ferry and a family sat next to me. The kids got their phones out and never said a word or interacted with their parents through the crossing?
Also, why do people take photos of their breakfast/lunch etc. and post it on social media?
I always wondered why people would go and record the whole event without actually enjoying it, I didn’t know people uploaded it to stream on social media. These people are missing out of the experience while they are using their phones. Total ban of phones would be better.
my first was in the early 90s. I used to have a disposable camera for some gigs and I probably found that more distracting.
