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US venue introduces phone locking system during live shows

#63
lz4005 said:
I switch the two of their names all the time as well. I just wanted to post pictures of their dumb faces.
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It shames me to admit I actually found Jack Black’s performance in the improbable School of Rock movie kinda cute in a no-brainer sort of way - although maybe that’s because I already had three drinks in me the one time I watched it. ;)
 
#64
40Hz said:
It shames me to admit I actually found Jack Black’s performance in the improbable School of Rock movie kinda cute in a no-brainer sort of way - although maybe that’s because I already had three drinks in me the one time I watched it. ;)
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School of Rock isn't bad.
The Tenacious D movie where Dave Grohl plays the devil is better.
Tropic Thunder is one of the funniest movies ever made. Moreso because of the other people in it, but he doesn't detract at all.
 
#65
#66
Skokiaan said:
A doctor is not getting into The Tonight Show or Saturday Night Live with a cell phone. Yet somehow we haven't all died.
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I understand what you're saying but those kinds of situations are vastly different than many musical events. As far as I know, they could even possibly make exceptions for certain people.
 
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#67
Skokiaan said:
Why? The venue has phones.
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I’m just playing devils advocate, but you can bet there will be litigation for exactly those reasone when it happens.

Skokiaan said:
I don't buy the "I need my phone for emergencies" argument for several reasons:

1. 20 years ago we all functioned just fine without cell phones. The babysitter knew what to do in an emergency.

2. The babysitter still knows what to do. If your house catches fire, the babysitter should not be calling you instead of 911. If they do, you need a better, smarter babysitter.

3. What emergency can you possibly respond to from a concert? It can take half an hour to get out of a venue and retrieve you car from a parking garage. Then the drive home, which could be an hour or more, depending on where you live. By the time you get home it will be way too late to save the day. The best you can do is react to bad news.

4. Like in pre-cell days, it's still possible to call the venue and have the staff retrieve you from the show. Just tell the babysitter where you're sitting before you leave home.

5. There are already places where you absolutely cannot use your phone. Broadway shows, for example, and all TV show tapings (talk shows, sitcoms, etc.). At some of these tapings they take your phone from you on the way in and give it back on the way out (practical because the audiences are small).
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1. People weren’t getting murdered by the dozens at concerts 20 years ago. Now it’s a thing.

2. You must not have children

3. You must not have children

4. Good luck with that one

5. I don’t need an artist or venue telling me how to behave. I know how to behave and if I have to just stop going to concerts because people with cell phones are ruining it to the point that such extremes have to be taken, then I think we’re well past the point of no return, and so be it. We’re not talking about special tapings. We’re talking about run of the mill concerts.
 
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#68
petrus61 said:
I don’t need an artist or venue telling me how to behave. I know how to behave and if I have to just stop going to concerts because people with cell phones are ruining it to the point that such extremes have to be taken, then I think we’re well past the point of no return, and so be it.
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Considering how the only place a band seems to be making any real money in the music industry today is by doing live shows, some “artists” might consider this bit of wisdom from Breaking Bad:

 
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#71
It's the tone of it that bothers me. As though the venue/artist, acting as a moral superior, is saying, "I asked you nicely to put your phone down, you still won't listen. You wanna act like a child? I'll treat you like one. Give me your phone. You can have it back after dinner."

I'll never understand why someone would pay good money to attend a performance then watch it through their phone as they film it. Or text or FB during a movie at a theater. But I'll support their right to do it.

Always liked Jack Black's performance in High Fidelity. Arrogant but hilarious.
 
#72
Went to a show last week with a friend. Of course there was an announcement that any recording is not allowed. Of course he recorded several songs. At the break, I said I felt sorry for him that he missed a great performance because he watched the whole song on his phone instead of absorbing the experience. BTW, I don't own a smart phone. I'm still using the same free flip phone for the last 11 years.
 
#73
Skokiaan said:
Why? The venue has phones.
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So a situation like France happens and nobody has a chance to text or call loved ones for final goodbyes as a group of nutjobs is wrecking the place with AK-47s? How about the amount of people that could be hiding and call out to the police to aid in them clearing the building with less casualties to guests and law enforcement?
One incident like that happens with the phone pouches and the lawsuits will reverberate through eternity.

If they, as a venue are going to demand that I forfeit my communication device... I expect armed security that is equipped enough to stop any sort of attack from entering the building. There's no way that 3 dude-bros and a couple scoops of creatine are enough to do anything.
 
#75
ptg said:
I find this interesting from a historical perspective.

I'm old enough to remember when The Dead used to encourage people to tape the shows and would even set up cordoned off areas for people with recording devices. (What better way to advertise your product?)

My, how times have changed...
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Reminds me of a concert film the Beastie Boys did in 2006 called I F---ING SHOT THAT! They gave 50 audience members camcorders to shoot whatever they wanted at their show in Madison Square Garden, then they edited the footage into a movie. What turned out was cool. Unpolished but endearing. Bands that encourage this fan behavior will fare far better than those that antagonize them.
 
#76
loveandbass said:
Imagine being so far up your own @$$ that you mandated attention by way of phone confiscation at a rock and roll concert. Typical jack white behavior
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Hmm, is this meant to be ironic?
Haven't even heard of Jack White for years, although I was playing Seven Nation Army just yesterday. Well, the transposed version of it I dreamed up anyway.
 
#77
Phone in a locked sock is just dumb.

What if the artist & venue said something like:

“Cell phone use is permitted and encouraged during the opening and closing numbers. But we very respectfully request no cell phone use during the rest of the show. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!”

I bet compliance would be high and peer pressure might help.
 
#78
Alkali Ike said:
Phone in a locked sock is just dumb.

What if the artist & venue said something like:

“Cell phone use is permitted and encouraged during the opening and closing numbers. But we very respectfully request no cell phone use during the rest of the show. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!”

I bet compliance would be high and peer pressure might help.
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I saw Mayhem a few months ago and before the show they had an audio clip play over the PA that they allowed but discouraged any phone use during the show and that all flash photography/videography was not allowed and would result in immediate ejection from the show.
The peer pressure thing worked just like you said. Twice during the show people were trying to get video and another person in the crowd nudged them and gestured to put it away... and they did.
One person used flash and was booted.
 
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#79
I don't know what the sock locking is intended to prevent. Is it the live-streaming of the event or is it the recording of it? To the prevent the former, build the event into a Faraday cage. Somehow I don't think that's the problem though. I don't know why people choose to record the show while listening to it. They never post it anywhere. People get excited at a show and they do all sorts of things rather than dance-in-place. The recorders are at every show we do, regardless of size.
 
#80
TV studios with live audiences use electronic “APPLAUD NOW” signs. And they sure as heck don’t permit cellphones.

The concert venue, in addition to the verbal preshow advisory, could put up green and red neon signs at the far sides of the stage saying something like

“CELLPHONES OK NOW! KNOCK YOURSELF OUT!”

“PLEASE, NO CELLPHONES DURING THIS PART OF THE PERFORMANCE”

Hey I’m just spitballing. Anything that gains voluntary compliance is better than chastity socks.
 
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