So Damon Albarn of Blur said in an article in the NME that he is against Bob Dylan’s decision to ban phones at gigs: “Where does it end?”
“People won’t want to be on their phone if you’re engaging with them correctly”
The BBC article on the same subject
I can only remember two gigs where I didn’t spend part of the night staring at the back of a mobile phone held up blocking my view, both had phone bans! Am I anti-phone or pro-phone?
Ok I’m not including the pros and cons list as it wasn’t easy. The cons for the audience in attendance equated to at times, there may be a phone held up for an image or a short recording. There wasn’t much to add from an audience point of view? Calls made during the gig? Never been an issue this isn’t a cinema it’s a loud environment! Cons from a bands perspective? Lack of Engagement? Is a paying fan who is taking a photo or recording a quick clip of their favourite song not engaged?
To put that into some sort of context I saw Noel Gallagher last year, yes I took a couple of photos and maybe a 30 second clip but I’d never taken less on my phone at a gig, ever, I just enjoyed it. An acquaintance saw him a month later, got front barrier and later shared about 35+ photos and videos including a full length recording of ‘Don’t look Back in Anger’. The last song where the entire crowd was arms in the air, swaying as one, pointing and singing their hearts out. He was recording the band! Was he engaged? Not as much as he should have been but I’d argue he’s the one missing out! The band couldn’t care, he’s paid to go and if he wants to ‘not’ live in the moment but instead favour social media validation, that’s his lookout!
That leads to the Pros! Those in attendance taking photos or videos have a takeaway, a ‘media memento’ to look back on. Yes is almost guaranteed to end on either Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), or Tik Tok but that’s ok. Yes there are reels and stories and likes and comments or shares but that’s part of life now. The pros for the band are as above, posts, reels, stories, likes and shares or to put another way, reach! It’s FREE Marketing and who doesn’t want that!
Does Bob Dylan come from a generation of mobiles users, the answer is No! Does Bob Dylan need free marketing, possibly but I doubt due to his demographic he will suffer much. Does Damon, Blur or Gorillaz need free marketing? Possibly not but they’d never say no as promotion is just that, and, they are engaged with modern technology.
The two gigs I referred to earlier which if you read my previous articles you’ll know are firstly Placebo at an outdoor Summer Session which had a phone ban for the entire concert. No bags and no clever system, just lots of eagle eyed security throwing themselves in front of phone cameras and gesturing a knife across the throat to kill the recording. I would argue this was far more distracting for the audience than phones recording. The other concert was Tool at Madison Square Garden. A blanket phone ban which was done on request and rewarded by announcing when asking for no phones that there would be a song towards the end of the night when phones were allowed. Fear of being outed in the audience may have been a factor but I saw no phones throughout, yet still came away with some footage to remember the night but and some images.
I do agree with Damon Albarn. I’m not sure if it adds to the experience on the night but certainly extends the event for those in attendance, comparing images and clips in the way home or the next day and beyond. It adds to the overall experience. I personally like the way Tool did it. I think offering a trade like that worked for all but there will always be those that flout it, it’s a trade of trust but not a law! Concert goers should be respectful of those around them. I was at a PIL gig a couple of years ago and the guy next to me held a small hand held video camera up the whole gig? Didn’t block my view but possibly those behind?
As I said above I ‘like’ the way Tool did it, but I like the freedom to do photograph when I want and grab a clip of my favourite song, not the one I am told to record. It comes down to gig etiquette, up there with thinking having a loud conversation while the support acts are on (don’t get me started on that!) But i certainly don’t think it’s lowers engagement and regarding;
“People won’t want to be on their phone if you’re engaging with them correctly”
I do find myself recording or photographing less the more I’m enjoying it so I’d agree with that as well!
