To ask why people videoing, filming, photographing and texting with their phones on during performances in concerts and theatres is now acceptable?

[YourAmplePlumPoster]

Last night at the Proms there was a performance by Joe Hisaishi, composer of the film music to the Boy and The Heron who performed his piece. The second half was a more complex performance of American Miminalist Steve Reich. During the first half, in spite of the Royal Albert Halls announcement to switch phones off, as soon as he appeared on the podium, numerous people around us were videoing his performance and even texting on their phones. Eventually, I snapped and asked the guy sitting next to me to please turn his phone off. He refused. At the end of the first half, a woman in front of me said: you didn't have to be so mean to him and I might go home now because of you as you've upset me. I'm expecting a pile on saying it's his human rights to have his phone on and the substandard behaviour. Why pay a substantial sum for a ticket and sit on your phone the whole time? I don't get it.

It's not acceptable, they not only spoil their own enjoyment but that of other people. I know quite a few people going to see Bob Dylan when he comes to Swansea next year and it's been made abundantly clear that it's a mobile-free zone and people found to be using their phones in the way you have outlined will be kicked out. As they should.

It’s not acceptable.
I went to an opera house abroad, where if ushers noticed someone using a phone during the performance indicated them with a laser pointer. They were shamed into switching off the phone.

I think we need the laser point here. I hear things have got so bad in China that they confiscate cellphones at the entrance to theatres.

I was amazed at the people complaining because I'd asked him to switch his phone off.

Other theatres have a daft policy. It's generally acceptable to take photos at curtain call to put on social media but an Usher at the Barbican Theatre told me I wasn't allowed to take photos at The Fiddler on the Roof curtain call. The whole thing needs an overhaul.

Why can’t people do as they are told by the ushers

He had a cheek keeping it out when he’d been asked not to.

It’s not acceptable

Definitely not acceptable, saw the King and I a couple of years ago, phone of the woman next to us rang quite loudly in the scene where the king was dying, a lot of very annoyed people

I completely agree, mobile phones should be banned during live performances it’s so distracting and annoying when you have paid £££ for a ticket. I don’t understand why they feel the need to video it. So rude

YANBU
I was watching a comedian, and a pair of ladies in the front row were filming him. They also kept heckling him, and said it was "for the socials". He had enough in the end, said "fuck off" and the ushers came and escorted them out.
A waste of their own money.

Other people's phones all lit up is also incredibly distracting.

It's not. It's incredibly rude and always has been.

Totally unacceptable at a play or a formal concert. I think it's ok at a gig where it's really loud and flashing lights everywhere to take photos and maybe some short videos. Not acceptable at any performance to text or scroll through social media during any performance and phones should always be switched off when asked to by staff.

When you go to a gig - say Taylor Swift - it is normal. It has become normal. People want the memory. Not saying this is good or bad but it is normal now.

I guess people extrapolate from a loud and un-nuanced music gig to other forms of entertainment? I don't know. I have to admit I've not come across it at the Royal Albert Hall or at things like theatre performances or comedy shows. I suppose it will happen.

I did record bits of a concert I went to a couple of years ago. I usually don't but....
They're my favourite band
I've never before managed to see them play live
This was their farewell tour
They're all in their late 60s/early 70s and live on the other side of the world to me so I'll never be able to repeat seeing them

I've been to rock concerts where it's normal to film the groups and they encourage it. But a classical concert, play or musical is different. What amazed me was the bloke being aggrieved because I told him to turn his phone off and the woman in front of me saying I was "mean." This is a plague.

Shame the ushers didn’t escort him out

Personally I think every seat should be wired up so you get an electric shock every time you use your phone, talk, hum along (at a classical concert, I would be more tolerant at a loud rock concert) or eat anything.

I’m only partly joking.

Why is it different though?

I was just gobsmacked by the woman in front who turned on me angrily and said: "there's no need to shout at him. I'm going to leave this concert because you've been so mean to him." It was such a childish response. It makes me think that many adults are infants who simply cannot abide by rules. After all, this is the Proms where tickets cost 40 quid upwards, apart from the Prommer tickets.

Wow, did she leave though? Her reaction is a bit OTT, and she is only wasting her own money.

It's not always acceptable

Generally shows that allow that will encourage you to take photos at the curtain call - either the cast saying something about filming/photos or the announcement at the start of the show saying "please refrain from taking photos until the curtain calls"

Some shows don't want any part of the show online

Maybe she wanted an excuse for leaving the show 🤣

This guy had his phone in his hand and was not only filming the concert but also texting. His hand didn't let go of his phone the whole time. Most people at concerts put their phone in their pocket or handbag. This is obviously someone with an addiction.

Well I suspect she bit off more than she could chew with the second half of the programme which was a more complex piece of music. But she was also videoing during the concert.

I went to a gig a few months back, I was in the standing section (never again) and was right up front. Security came round before the gig started to tell everyone there was to be no recording on phones in the first 5 rows of people.

The amount of people who chose to move 5 rows back rather than not use their phones was astonishing.

I am a bit torn though, I don't record at gigs because I know I can find other people's recordings online and just download them if I want to, so I'm glad others do I suppose.