Mobile phones, are they slowly destroying the Live Music Industry?
Mobile Phones play a big part in all of our lives, we use them for everything from messaging your friends to ordering your last minute Christmas Presents, but why do music fans want to watch a live concert through a tiny screen when they are at a concert?
I will admit that I have been guilty of showing off that I am at a concert, maybe just the one picture and one short video that gets posted on my social media pages, but doing this makes me feel bad, I should be living in the moment and not behind social media posts and views, the best gigs I have attended my phone stayed in my pocket.
Having a gig stored on a phone is not as memorable as having it stored in your memory, for life. People do want to film the concert as then they can show off that they have been and seen they best artist in the world, and have probably spent the majority of their student loan to see them, yet I do not understand why I have to sit at home and watch the whole concert as if I’m there.
“Tonight, first time I’ve stopped a concert and asked very politely for the person filming with their smartphone to kindly STOP. Thank you,”(Thorpe, 2018). This is was not said by a pop sensation but an operatic countertenor Rupert Enticknap, during a performance of Hamlet. This problem isn’t just at concerts of commercial music but it is happening with a wide variety of genres.
“People can’t clap any more, because they’ve got a fucking texting thing in their fucking hand, and probably a drink, too!” (Warhurst, 2018). What he said is so true, there is nothing better than taking in a moment. In early 2018 Jack White said to his fans that their phones will be kept in a locked pouch and they would only be allowed their phones in certain areas. These pouches are only being used at some events and haven’t been reinforced to be used at every live music event, yet the more artists say, as then this problem will never get solved.
Johnny Marr has also spoken out about what he thinks about phones at gigs, and his view isn’t very pleasant, “To stand and just be looking at it through your phone is a completely wasted opportunity. You know, I don’t mean to be unkind but I think you should put your phone down because you’re just being a dick, really, just enjoy the gig because it’s a better … it’s a dick job, filming the show. Let someone else be the dick and watch it on YouTube,” (Levine, 2013). It is a strong view but he speaks the truth, you are wasting a once in a lifetime opportunity, which will stay with you forever which isn’t true about your phone, your phone is an object in your life, not a memory!
The J Word 