Mobile phones and recording at gigs

Kermit.de.frog

Why do so many people stand (and sit) at gigs like zombies with their phones in the air recording?

I don't get it because they are basically watching the act through their phones instead of just enjoying it and taking in the experience.

Just seen a clip on RTE of Ed Sheeran doing a small concert at 2fm. Not my cup of tea but they all seemed genuinely excited going in but when they got there they were all viewing it through their phones. They have to concentrate on the phone to make sure it's level and all the rest. Seems a waste of an experience.

No matter how good the video is it's not going to be the same as what you have missed in my opinion.

Be interested to hear others opinions on this.

Buzz Killington the third

Because they need to show EVERYONE on Facebook, d'uh!

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller

Some artists will stipulate to the management of clubs that they don't want recordings to take place and indeed often bring their own staff just to police people. Seen Whitney in the O2 and burly fcukers had laser pens and were pew pew'ing people with them whenever they attempted to record some of the gig.

At least it doesn't happen so much at comedy shows but I guess security is tight in that as if someone's material goes online at the start of their tour, that's it pretty much ruined. Whereas music not so much.

I don't mind it so much though tbh... people doing selfies with their back to the stage and hoping to somehow get the artist / band in the photo, now they're a different story. They deserve slapping, especially if they're bouncing around and chattering while they're doing it.

Kermit.de.frog

So they do it just to show people on Facebook?

Must tick off people at the back who might want to just watch the act and actually enjoy it.

I Voted For Kodos

Why do so many people stand (and sit) at gigs like zombies watching people with their phones in the air recording?

I don't get it because they are basically watching the act through someone elses phone instead of just enjoying it and taking in the experience.

obezyana

I spent over 10yrs working in an entertainment venue and the amount of people that would have their phone out during a gig is nuts, they pay money to look at a gig through their small screen instead of actually enjoying the gig..........stupid people.

darkpagandeath

Because idiots are idiots and think their life is so interesting people will want to watch a gig they attended from their viewpoint... :pac:

Hotfail.com

How people manage to do it whilst standing is beyond me...

Would they not just move around a bit!??? That's the fun of gigs:(

castletownman

I can live with that.

Poeple who feel the urge to record an accident/tragedy/drunken fight etc. happen in front of them are the real plebs.

blueser

If you see any large scale concert on the telly, and see a shot of the stage from somewhere in the middle of the crowd (preferably at night time), the amount of illuminated phone screens in the air is staggering. and bewildering.

harry Bailey esq

I've worked at a lot of gigs over the years an i can honestly say that artists don't give a fcuk. Only time i seen negative vibes was at the Soundcheck for The police concert in croker.Myself being a big fan and a few other security staff took a pic or two,not videos just quick snaps of the band on stage and the stage setup itself.They got stroppy about it.

obezyana

The worst is when we used to have comedy gigs and the likes and people would have their phones stuck in the air recording the gig it was a pain in the ass having to be discreet whilst telling them to stop then you would get a look off them as if you had 10 heads.

KungPao

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

I've worked at a lot of gigs over the years an i can honestly say that artists don't give a fcuk. Only time i seen negative vibes was at the Soundcheck for The police concert in croker.Myself being a big fan and a few other security staff took a pic or two,not videos just quick snaps of the band on stage and the stage setup itself.They got stroppy about it.

I've always got the vibe that "Sting" is a grade A ass.

wendell borton

The people who use ipad as a camera are the worst.

vicwatson

Don't know what's worse, using your phone or spending the duration of the concert chatting to your mates, this incessant talking through gigs is spreading like a disease.

Go to a fúcking pub if you wanna talk !!

Agricola

Wealth isnt gauged just by your clothes or car, or where you go on holiday anymore. Its gauged by your "experiences" - How do you flaunt your experiences? You record them on your phone to show everyone obviously!

strangel00p

As Ian Brown mentioned at a stone roses gig;
"If you put your cameras down you might be able to live in the moment. You have a memory there of something you’ve never lived.”

he had a point...

DEFTLEFTHAND

At least some of the indoor venues like the NCH have banned mobile phone use and enforce it through their ushers, a no nonsense approach, if you refuse to comply after a warning you're out the door.

obezyana

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

At least some of the indoor venues like the NCH have banned mobile phone use and enforce it through their ushers, a no nonsense approach, if you refuse to comply after a warning you're out the door.

Thats all well and good until you get an ignorant prick who gives grief and causes a scene in the middle of a gig. They then think they are the star attraction.

mdolly123

Don't get why people do this, might as well be there in the moment than filming a poor quality video to view or share later, peeps seem too involved with letting others know what fun they are having rather than having it

jimgoose

Do you remember the yutz in the early '90s, usually someone's asshole brother-in-law, with the new camcorder that cost more than a decent used car, filming away constantly no matter what the occasion, or what else was going on? Well, thanks to mobile phone technology we all of us are that soldier. There seems to be something in the human psyche that makes us want to experience at a distance, to observe more than participate, even when we're right in the middle of the thing. This is yet another reason why the insects will eventually win. To them there is no recording, no past, no future, only the imperative in the now. Oh well. :pac:

KungPao

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

At least some of the indoor venues like the NCH have banned mobile phone use and enforce it through their ushers, a no nonsense approach, if you refuse to comply after a warning you're out the door.

Glad to hear it. But will it work in a venue like The Point? Try taking an iPhone (not just a phone now, an iPhone don't you know) from Chantalle Byrne or Josh O' Murphy and there'll be a scene. The sad thing is, I feel some teens would feel it's pointless going to a gig without the possibility of taking "selfies" all over the place and taking blurry pieces of crap of a crap band, to put on their FB page.

I remember going to Blur as a teen (before everyone had phones) and I just lived the moment - listened to the music and took it all in. I have no photos at all of the event but great, vivid memories.

takamichinoku

I'm really weird with gigs, for most of them everyone seems to be having a **** time and trying to hide it. There's no bigger indication of it than pulling out your phone and recording away.

On the rare occasions where I consider going to gigs now, the kind of crowd I imagine are going to be there is a far bigger factor than the actual band/person playing.

Akrasia

If people want to ruin their own experience of a gig that's up to them, I don't care, but it's when they start to ruin my experience that it really bothers me.

I went to see Sigur Ros at the O2 earlier this year and the atmosphere was ruined by people talking, and having to look through a dozen pale glowing LCD screens to see what was happening on stage.

The band puts a lot of thought into stage design and lighting and mood, and a bunch of arseholes decide to illuminate the venue themselves with their 5.5 inch IPS screen glaring at me for the entire feckin gig.