Should Mobile Phones Be Banned From Gigs?

[ApusApus]

Or for that matter any major event, be it musical, sporting or otherwise? Here's the latest celebrity to ban them http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42851434!

Does it constitute an infringement of copyright for the "star", or a restriction of personal liberty for the phone user, or is it just a damn nuisance for everyone else?


Shane

[LouiseCastricum]

It is a nuisance to everyone else!

[Dominic]

Definitely ban them.

For a start, they are a waste of time. The footage is always rubbish.
Secondly, they completely destroy the ambiance for anybody else nearby.
Thirdly, if you are standing behind somebody who is holding their phone up trying to see the event, you can't see the event. That is almost as annoying as the parent who gives their child a shoulder ride, or, even more annoying, the boyfriend who gives his girlfriend a shoulder ride*.
Fourthly, the concert is ruined for the person doing the filming too. They should be there to witness the spectacle, and enjoy it for what it is. Not spend half their time looking at the phone.



* Yes, you can call me sexist, but it is never the girlfriend giving the boyfriend a shoulder ride, is it?

[Dominic]

And I just read that article. I have a tricky programming task ahead this morning which I am trying to avoid for as long as possible, so that article became a must-read. People complaining because they were uncontactable by babysitters. Really? How did every other generation survive without mobile phones then, you doofuses?

[Alfie]

Yes most definitely.

[PaphosAL]

Dom, they used to send an urgent telegram, at quite high relative cost, delivered by a Post Office employee riding a BSA Bantam 125cc motorbike.

Inevitably, it was always bad news though...

[glang3000]

I do feel that as an artist or not you have the right to stop yourself being filmed, though individual people do not have this, only artist can enforce it.

I do think you should be free to take a mobile phone to a gig as long as you do not record and its on vibrate as you may be a parent with a babysitter looking after the children worse still have sick children or family members who may need you, you could have a partner who may be about to go into labour or perhaps you yourself are on call as a doctor etc.

So many people would be afraid to enjoy themselves if they did not have this security.

Gary.

[Kili01]

At many events which I have been to a simple announcement just before it starts asking everyone with mobiles to turn them off or switch them to silent should be enough to deal with this problem. If everyone complies. If you have your mobile with you it is much easier. At the intermission you can check to see if you have messages or a missed phone call.

Surely this is the best answer?

Dee

[Dominic]

I would imagine they already tried that approach and it didn't work. Al Murray had a nice way of dealing with the issue. He would ask people at the start not to use them, and at the end he would use a big selfie stick, and take photos of the audience with him at the front. He would then post these online so people could tag themselves on the photos.

You would still get the occasional berk trying to film him, but that's life.

Fundamentally though, I think people are just far too reliant on mobile phones these days. Just leave them at home and go out and enjoy yourself.

[ApusApus]

It doesn't work, unfortunately people are just too ignorant! I've been in many business meetings where we've been asked to switch off or silence our phones but there's always one muppet who doesn't!


Shane

[cyprusmax47]

Fundamentally though, I think people are just far too reliant on mobile phones these days. Just leave them at home and go out and enjoy yourself.

But not when your name is Dominic, and prefer to drive to the most remote areas in Paphos district on the other hand: in this places is no signal anyhow..

Max

[Kili01]

Yes, lack of a signal for a mobile phone can certainly be a problem in some of the more remote places, especially down in the ‘hidden valleys’ one finds when going off road.
I know that Dominic is happy to travel on his own, but actually it is better sometimes to travel with 2 or more vehicles. This could be very useful if for example one vehicle breaks down or gets bogged down, or god forbid has an accident. We try to do this and as we aren’t laying or looking for a geo cache, the camaraderie when you stop for a break or a drink at a handy taverna somewhere is very pleasant.
Dee