Mobile phones at gigs

[Lemon221]

Just got back from an amazing gig I’ve been looking forward to for so long. I haven’t been to a gig in probably 4 years now. Tonight I’ve come away feeling so annoyed at the amount of people filming the entire songs, they block the view behind them and I have to watch them through their screen! It was driving me nuts. The woman directly in front of me looked miserable, but filmed most of the first three songs, I moved closer after that. I understand getting a few pics and short videos, but I just kept thinking why can’t we just live in the moment without having to document everything!? What’s the likelihood these people will go back to these video clips again and again?

You don't like people who sing?
Surely you're supposed to, I love the crowd singing, one of the best bits

People who are singing really loudly next to you so you can hear only them bellowing in your ear? nope. I tell them to can it. And mostly they do, and if it starts to get handsy, usually other people will tell them to can it too and they go away.

I don't mind a few photos or clips, bit again, if someone is blocking my view of the stage? I'll tell them to stop it. Usually they do, and if not... see above.

People constantly chatting? same. We waited years to see someone who rarely tours and probably won't ever again due to age. Two young chaps behind us constantly yakking. After the 3rd time of asking that they stop, a huge guy in front of me stood up, went behind them and yanked one of them out of his seat and put him down again in the stairwell. They stopped. Fuckers.

And anyone who uses the term "making memories"? get in the sea.

I like your style! I had words with a group of very loud, drunk, cowboy hat-wearing, phone using women at a Dolly Parton concert and was told I didn't know how to enjoy myself. 🤬 I don't think I've ever had such a feeling of murderous rage in public before.

Exactly this. The phrase itself betrays the idiocy - you don't make a memory you have a memory, which is a unique record of the whole experience. What you saw, heard, felt in the moment. Per Baudrillard, people are living hyperreal lives.

Curious to know what the etiquette is with these people who insist on filming. Do you just stand there and watch a £100+ concert through someone else's phone? Or do you say something? We've got one coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm anxious about this.

At the killers someone was facing away from the stage and filming a selfie video!

Totally agree OP.

They’re not making a memory, they’re making a recording. Memories are in our brains and we get them by actually experiencing something. These people will need the recording because they weren’t really experiencing it properly at the time.

Similar to the women I saw recently on a city break who were wearing evening dresses and full make up in 32 degree heat, just for their Insta pics. Never mind that they were sweaty and uncomfortable while they were actually in Rome, as long as the pics look good. What a shame.

One tactic is to get really close to them and sing really loudly and badly so that's all they can hear on their film.

I'm in my 50s. I go to a LOT of gigs. I don't take any crap, and i don't take any prisoners. In fact at one point i had a t-shirt made that says on the back "I'm sorry is the band interrupting your conversation?"

I went to see The Killers last week and was behind a woman who spent the entire gig on her phone - taking constant selfies and videos and then re-looking at them and sending on WhatsApp. I swear she experienced the whole event through her phone. Plus she was forever waving her phone around and up high to get the best shots. We were seated so couldn't move, but I found it all really depressing and so annoying as it affected our view.

YANBU, every show that I have been to recently has been ruined by people sticking phones up in the air. It is just so selfish to not give a thought to the people behind you.

DLP was awful too, you think you have a good view of a parade/fireworks, and then some idiot in front of you sticks their phone in your face.

Whatever happened to just living in and enjoying the moment? How many of these clips actually get viewed?

YES

I absolutely hate it when people talk all the way through a gig, especially the slower/quieter songs.
Fuck off home and talk to each other there!!!

You’re 100% not being unreasonable. The occasional photo, fine. Videos of whole songs, not on.

Its selfish, irritating and completely pointless - who actually watches the videos back? It ruins the experience for them and others.

I can’t help thinking it’s so they can post it on social media, because actually being there isn’t as important as telling everyone you were there.

Went to see Ed, there were a good few filming everything. However, most surrounding us including myself only filmed 2-3. It was nice just to experience being part of the crowd participation, dancing to the songs etc.

My daughter did demand I filmed two songs that she absolutely loves, so she could watch it back without the feeling of anxiety she was feeling due to loudness in general and the crowds.

We also filmed the last 3 mins of his last song, as it was a song & style we hadn't heard before from Ed and we both were interested in looking back at that in our time.

I take videos. Not whole sets but my favourite songs.
I'm disabled. I have no idea how long i’ll be able to see my bands so yes i will continue to take videos. I’ve already had to limit which bands to see as i can manage to stand up for long periods.
i watch them frequently.

YES. I absolutely hate it when people talk all the way through a gig, especially the slower/quieter songs.Fuck off home and talk to each other there.

I'm actually surprised people can hear themselves speak. My daughter & I spoke through WhatsApp to decide to go toilet, checking they were OK, etc. Neither of us could hear a damn thing other than the music itself. Not complaining at all, but others that can hold conversations at concerts, must have exceptional hearing haha.

It's so annoying! I get recording a few minutes but some people act like they're making a movie and you do end up watching through their phone. I'm going to a comedy gig soon where they're going to lock phones away, you have them with you but they're in locked pouches. I see reckon will be happening more

Same, it happened to me when I finally managed to get up (fairly) close to a favourite DJ of mine doing a set, no one dancing either, just getting their phones up in his face 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Had this at Queen last week. Girl in front must have uploaded 200 video stories to her Insta in 2.5 hours. It was constant.

As a shortie my ort hate at school assemblies and nativity was usually the tallest parents in the front row holding up ipads to block everyone's view make memories. (Although obviously they might watch again or forward to GPS etc)
Also, if at home, when you want to watch something on YouTube you have to sometimes scroll past a shitty wobbly poor sound quality video thst someone took on their phone, to get to a decent one to watch of the artist/song!!

I'm sorry, that's still selfish. I can only very very rarely afford to gigs so I see no reason why my very rare and precious trip to one should be ruined by your filming in case some day you don't get to see those bands again live. When most people might only get to see their favourite bands once or twice in their lifetime. And the vast vast majority of people taking videos are not disabled and have no excuse, unless being a self absorbed twat counts as an excuse.

Nope, still selfish. And no excuse for it. Everyone who films songs or whole gigs have their reasons which make sense to them presumably. But they are still seriously comprimising the ability of others to really experience and enjoy the gig, you and your daughter (who MADE you film something?) included.

I'm disabled. I have no idea how long i’ll be able to see my bands so yes i will continue to take videos.

Meh. I'm getting on, my favourite bands seem to be all on actual farewell tours. And if you are obstructing my view? i will be repeatedly telling you to stop it, disabled or not, that is still hugely selfish. (having said that all the gigs i go to have a separate area for wheelchair users and those who need to have someone with them etc, so you'll only be obstructing the view of other disabled people. Nice.

I've literally just come out a gig, filmed a few bits, took a few photos, as did loads of people, and sang which was encouraged.
Maybe it's who I see that no one has a problem with it.

I went to a gig this week and had the same thought about filming. Probably a bit grumpier than necessary cos the woman next to me had her phone screen on so bright that I had to shield my eyes from it. I don’t think many people were recording the whole thing though.

Was the gig in Leeds? I was at one similar last night and we had the same issue!