Don’t you just hate it when you’re watching a concert and somebody breaks out Facebook Live and has their phone up right in your line of view? It’s already hard enough to play the “peeping between the heads” game – a well crafted art for people of my size… I barely break 5’4″ … and that’s with my most comfy walkin’ boots that actually have a slight heel on them. So, a bright phone in the way (with a tiny miniature version of the show that I’m trying to watch) can really make a good concert experience go sour.
There are a few artists on a growing list of acts who are requesting “phone-free” shows. Comedians were some of the first to start practicing the “no cell phone” policy, so their performances aren’t spoiled for audiences who have not yet seen the performance. Most recently Jack White has embraced this, and will be using the Yondr phone pouch (a device that stores and lock your phone from use) for attendees of upcoming shows. One of these shows will be The Raconteurs performance at the brand new Fillmore in New Orleans November 7th. The show description on their website even says “Enjoy a phone-free, 100% human experience.”
While many fans still complain there are some who don’t mind a “phone free experience.” According to a new survey, lots of people have missed something huge or important in their lives because they were trying to capture it on their phone for… yep, you guessed it… To post on social media. But why are people so obsessed with it? For likes of course. The survey found that more than one-third check for likes within a minute of making a post. Ironically, more than 90% of these people say “it’s important to live in the moment.” But you’re not really doing that if you’re staring at your phone during a concert.
The sad part is… people care so much about “likes” and being liked, it’s almost as “what other people like” is more important than what they themselves actually like or enjoy. I feel fortunate to have lived in a time before social media had deeply integrated itself into our lives as it has now. Like in my last blog, social media has enabled us to connect so easily, but has also led to a disconnect from (or lack of need for) real physical human experience. I try to practice a happy medium. Only take 1 photo or video while I’m there. That way I can make more memories with the time I’m spending at the concert, festival, or wherever life takes me!