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Feel - Live shows used to be about being present in the moment and experiencing the music, not about documenting it.
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Documentary - With the introduction of smartphones, taking photos and filming everything has become the norm.
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It’s a generational thing - More than ever before, people are documenting their lives, and a show is just another event that needs to be documented.
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But it affects our memory - According to internet psychologist Graham Jones, "when we take pictures at gigs we are less psychologically engaged with the live event."
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Freedom - Banning phones at concerts might seem like a viable solution for some artists and fans, but restricting people from having access to their phones can be tricky.
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Paradox - While many people find it annoying to have their sight blocked by a sea of arms holding phones, the very same people also do it at some point during the show, says Dr Lee Hadlington, Associate Professor in Cyberpsychology at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK.
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Research - Research commissioned by Eventbrite in 2018 on the use of smartphones by UK audiences, found that 49% of people (from a total of 1,031) used their phone at a live event in the last 12 months.
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Research - 70% of the respondents said that they were annoyed by people taking videos or photos all the time.
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A sea of phones - Key moments in the show, such as the artist stepping onto the stage, or the chorus of their greatest hit, are "must-capture" moments.
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Different types of shows - One might argue that phones can disturb some concerts more than others. Perhaps the impact on an intimate acoustic performance would be greater than in a stadium pop show.
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Torch on - For years, lighters were used to create an ambiance when certain songs were played. These have been replaced by phones, which is surely a safer option.
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Phone-free - While many artists might prefer their audiences to be fully immersed in the experience, the exposure they get via social media is essential.
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Solution - Despite this, an increasing number of artists have started using a company called Yondr, which provides locked pouches for phones.
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Jack White - The musician has used the phone-locking pouches during his 2018 US tour.
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Jack White - Talking about his audience, White told Rolling Stone that, "the way they react tells me what to do next, and if they’re not really there, I don’t know what to do next."
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Alicia Keys - The artist is also a fan of the phone-locking pouches provided by Yondr.
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Adele
- The singer once told an audience member to stop filming her and enjoy the moment in real life.
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Prince
- The late artist issued the "Purple Rules" where phone use was strictly forbidden.
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Bob Dylan
- The artist is known for telling his audiences to refrain from using their phones during his shows.
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Björk - The Icelandic artist has displayed a notice before her gigs, asking the audience not to film or take photos of the show.
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She and Him - The duo also adopted the same policy and kindly asked fans to enjoy the show in 3D, rather than through a screen.
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs - The band started to put notices up back in 2012 asking fans not to watch the show through their screens.
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Kevin Hart
- At a 2015 show, the comedian hired extra ushers to patrol phone usage at the venue.
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Kate Bush - The singer has told her audience why she doesn't want phones at her shows. She said "I very much want to have contact with you as an audience, not with iPhones, iPads, or cameras."
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Bonnie Raitt - Raitt asks her audience not to take photos or videos because it's distracting for her and makes it harder for her to connect emotionally.
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Chris Rock
- The comedian banned fans from using their phones in the UK.
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Dave Chappelle - A phone-free enthusiast, the stand-up comedian once told an audience; "You all need a break from that s**t."
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Maynard James Keenan
- Tool's front man dislikes phone users not for taking photos but "because they’re recording things and they’re annoying the f**k out of their neighbors."
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See also - They're not just annoying! Your smartphone could be the death of you—literally.
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Should artists ban phones at their shows?
Find out which artists have already done so
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Raise your hand if you've never used your phone to take a picture or make a video at a live show. Well you're in the minority, as most have done it at some point in our lives.
Some of us remember the days when going to a gig meant that we'd live the experience in the moment. Unless you were a photographer, you'd not be allowed in with a camera, so all you could do was to enjoy the show to its fullest.
It's easy to let nostalgic thoughts take over when we're constantly surrounded by smartphones at a show, but what if the freedom of using our phones was taken away from us?
Many artists have grown tired of asking their audiences to stop using their phones, as this approach doesn't seem to work, so some of them have come up with different solutions.
Browse through the gallery and get to know the artists and other performers who are banning phones from their shows and how they're doing it.
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