Janet Morrissey, writing for The New York Times:
The comedian Dave Chappelle used to hate when fans would pull out smartphones during his act, record the performance and then post it on YouTube and social media before the show had even ended. To him, the fans seemed more interested in getting the perfect shot than in appreciating his stand-up routine.
But in late 2015, Mr. Chappelle discovered a technology called Yondr. Fans are required to place their cellphones into Yondr’s form-fitting lockable pouch when entering the show, and a disk mechanism unlocks it on the way out. Fans keep the pouch with them, but it is impossible for them to snap pictures, shoot videos or send text messages during the performance while the pouch is locked.
Read the article. A phone-free show is old school, in the best possible way.
I saw Amy Schumer’s show recently in Boston. The Garden was full to the rafters. Giant screens said NO CAMERA’S and informed us that “The artist will let you know when it is ok to take a picture.” Towards the end Amy said it was ok. The place lit up for like 5 minutes – then the show went on. Awesome crowd control and low tech solution.
Works for me. There’s almost always some entitled fool in the crowd who thinks they’re exercising some sort of right by posting a comedian’s new material.
I love this. And I love the Amy Schumer approach. What I don’t
like is the nonstop barrage of Youtube videos from a venue where someone is performing. These have common traits, badly shot, lousy audio, and a destruction of the experience for all.
Not to mention stealing someone’s primary livelihood.
I get some artists’ position on this, but I would be offended if I paid the huge ticket prices to go to a show, and then be told I have to lock up my phone? I have little kids at home. If one gets stung by a bee (allergy) and has to go to the hospital I sure as hell need to know. Locking my phone up is not an option in this day and age. The Amy Schumer option was much more reasonable.
There are phone free zones. You step outside the zone to remove the phone from the case. You will still feel if the phone vibrates, so you can go somewhere to check it and see if it was an incoming call about your little kids.
(This is, of course, assuming the music/event isn’t so loud you wouldn’t hear or feel the phone anyway.)
http://overyondr.com/