Phones taking Videos/pics at concerts

[BIGVICLBI]

I know alot of you here post videos from concerts and pics. But I gotta admit it annoys the sh*t out of me when people next to me are taking hundreds of pics and their flash is going off, and their phones are up above their head blocking the view. I also will admit to watching the same videos here and on youtube. I was just wondering what everyone's opinion on this was. I think they should do a no cell phone section, similiar to the no smoking section back in the day.

[johnnYYac]

I suppose a video and flash-free pit makes sense.  I'd like to snag a pic or two for my trouble but don't care enough about a video to deal with it while I'm into the show.  That said, I watch tons of other people's videos, so I'm not actually complaining.  I hate to see all the phones, though.  You won't be blocked by my phone at any show. 

Here's an interesting article.

http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/is-social-media-the-ultimate-buzz-kill/

[joey_rogo]

my phone so old that when i told it to act its age, it died.

[mahg33ta]

I think we should find one person who doesn't care about the show- pay him/her $100 and a free ticket to come watch the show and record on HD video camera.   Everyone else at the show pitches in $0.10 and promises to put away their phones.   In return they get a full video recording of the show.

[rincon]

Well, if my video of New Multitudes at Amoeba spurred your comment, check out the Amoeba video of that show. I am dead center front, and the camera never went above eye level, and I am not 8 feet tall. I understand your point, but the video phones are clearly here to stay. I used a DLSR with a monopod. As far as flash goes, only rank amateurs would do that. The ISO sensitivity is so high these days, and flash coverage on a cell phone is no more than 10 feet, so they don't know what they are doing.

[Fully]

I think we should find one person who doesn't care about the show- pay him/her $100 and a free ticket to come watch the show and record on HD video camera.   Everyone else at the show pitches in $0.10 and promises to put away their phones.   In return they get a full video recording of the show.

That actually is the best solution to the problem. Instead of being a designated driver, this person could be the designated videographer. I get the point the article is making. I can imagine that it must be weird to be a performer and instead of having an audience in the moment, they are all documenting the concert.

Having said that, Rincon, you're videos from Amoeba are great. They are the closest I'll get to seeing these guys on tour. So, thank you for taping. There isn't an easy answer unless we find a way to make magh33ta's suggestion happen.

[el_chode]

I love them when they're not in my line of sight, or in the alternative, when the girl isn't demanding a 10' radius for a friend to do a new FB photoshoot as it so happened at MSG

[zanjam]

Sadly it's a fact of life right now and I am guilty as charged.  I like to believe that I am courteous, non-flashed, eye-level and not blocking anyone's view.  I would never hold the phone above my head and I get annoyed when others don't show the same respect that I do.

A few years ago I was at a Cake show and they freaked out and gave a whole sermon about how you needed to put down your fucking phone and watch the concert.  Phish has (in a much more joking manner) made the same types of statements.  I get it, it's annoying.  But, this is the world we live in now and this is just a byproduct.  You should just try to be respectful but in reality there are just a bunch of yahoos out there.  Who are going to flash up the place and put the phone in front of your face.  Boo to them.

[Dillsnufus]

I think we should find one person who doesn't care about the show- pay him/her $100 and a free ticket to come watch the show and record on HD video camera.   Everyone else at the show pitches in $0.10 and promises to put away their phones.   In return they get a full video recording of the show.

i'd do it. as you can see with my videos i take quality videos. as for the new multitudes boston show i will be filming some of their songs (prob the jim prominent ones). i usually ask the people around me if i'm annoying them. if  you see me recording and i'm in the way politely tap me on the shoulder and i'll adjust accordingly.

[oistheone]

i'd do it. as you can see with my videos i take quality videos. as for the new multitudes boston show i will be filming some of their songs (prob the jim prominent ones). i usually ask the people around me if i'm annoying them. if  you see me recording and i'm in the way politely tap me on the shoulder and i'll adjust accordingly.

Sadly it's a fact of life right now and I am guilty as charged.  I like to believe that I am courteous, non-flashed, eye-level and not blocking anyone's view.  I would never hold the phone above my head and I get annoyed when others don't show the same respect that I do.

I'm totally on the same wavelength as both of you. Keep it courteous, keep it at eye-level and take some sweet-ass videos. I watch my MMJ videos over and over and over again. When I come home from a show, ain't nothin' sweeter than more MMJ theatre.

[MrWhippy]

i'd do it. as you can see with my videos i take quality videos. as for the new multitudes boston show i will be filming some of their songs (prob the jim prominent ones). i usually ask the people around me if i'm annoying them. if  you see me recording and i'm in the way politely tap me on the shoulder and i'll adjust accordingly.

If everyone was as courteous about it (and took as awesome videos) as you, then it wouldn't bother me.  The fact is, though, most people are so oblivious to how their actions might affect others. 

I do watch videos sometime, but given how the vast majority of people doing it are incredibly incosiderate about it, I would trade the ability to watch videos for knowing that I would no longer be bothered at shows by inconsiderate videographers.

[Darkstarflashes]

I recorded Jim's whole set at the KFTC show back in December, and I was very aware of others around me. I was also told not to record the show by one of the ushers there, so I held the camera at about chest level and only looked down once in a while to make sure I was still pointing the camera at Jim. That is why the footage I got is so shakey. I could still enjoy the show and only a few people seated right next to me even knew I was recording. I sure don't want to annoy my fellow MMJ fans or the band in any way.

[aMillionDreams]

I think we should find one person who doesn't care about the show- pay him/her $100 and a free ticket to come watch the show and record on HD video camera.   Everyone else at the show pitches in $0.10 and promises to put away their phones.   In return they get a full video recording of the show.

I don't think that would work.  The dude with the video would have to also share it on a thousand under-30s facebook walls.  At the Palace show I was in the pit a few rows back from the professional photographers and the professional film crew and there were still people with their phones out.  It doesn't bother me too much I just don't get it.  Did you come to the show to enjoy it or simply to tell all your friends and acquaintances on facebook that you were there?

[coldnebraskablue]

This is a really interesting phenomenon - I too am guilty as charged, in recent times I've gotten more into photography and have taken a point-and-shoot along to gigs with me and yes, I think it does stop you from getting into the whole groove of the show. So, I'm somewhat in a dilemma, too busy trying to get a decent shot to enjoy the blast (I don't use flash BTW, totally pointless).

I think a lot of people (myself included) just want a document of a great event, and nowadays it's much easier to do (with technology advances). Sometimes the phones/cameras bother me too, but not as much as golfing umbrellas (!!) as *almost* happened at Somerset House last year. Or massive great flags at Glastonbury festival.

BTW, some of my pictures are upon this very site (Somerset House and Roundhouse) And I truly apologise if I got in anyones way when taking them, but at least I didn't take a golf umbrella w/ me  :)

[willsfc]

I love to take pictures at concerts.. anybody who wants to take decent pictures should know a flash is a big no no..

I got this in Nashville (among others)


I also try to get decent videos to sync up to the audio I'm taping with good mics.
My Morning Jacket - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (w/ Neko Case) live in Tuscaloosa

[Non Sin Breaux]

this is a good topic, but if you are not with a photo pass ,3 pictures max should be enough

[wonderfulman]

I just got back from SXSW. When I went to see Jack White there were two signs at the entrance of the venue. One said "Please Do not Take Pictures or Videos. Violators Will Be Terminated" and the other said "Want to see pictures from the show. We have you covered. Go to www.ThirdmanRecords.com after the show for pictures." Those signs were no joke. People actually got kicked out of the venue for taking pictures with their phones.

[el_chode]

I just got back from SXSW. When I went to see Jack White there were two signs at the entrance of the venue. One said "Please Do not Take Pictures or Videos. Violators Will Be Terminated" and the other said "Want to see pictures from the show. We have you covered. Go to www.ThirdmanRecords.com after the show for pictures." Those signs were no joke. People actually got kicked out of the venue for taking pictures with their phones.

I think this may become more common as artists move away from "whatever they paying customer wants" to "this is my show, goddamnit, enjoy it for what it is"

[zanjam]

From the folks at Terrapin Crossroads.  Peeps are getting serious!!

More than a bit odd coming from the band that "once they put it out there, it's for the fans"...

We're excited to welcome everyone to the new Terrapin Crossroads! It's been a real trip getting everything ready for the official opening, and the journey's just beginning. The concert space is extremely small and intimate, just the way we all like it. And as much as we'd prefer not to have too many rules, with such a small space we do need to request that you follow a few very basic guidelines:

No babes in arms (hey, it's going to be loud in here!)
No backpacks (we don't want to have to do any heavy searches and there is no room, so it's best to just implement this rule)
No cameras (we don't want to constantly look out to flashes, plus they tend to distract other concert-goers)
No recording (video or audio, let's all be in the moment)
No lasers (as obvious as this is, we thought we should include it in case...)
No phones (we don't want recordings of any form, so please don't pull out your phones and record audio, video or photos again it is a small venue and a sea of recording devices is distracting )
No dogs.
We don't want to spend too much time, if any, implementing these rules, so please follow from the start. And if we do need to implement them, don't tell us we didn't warn you...

Thanks for understanding, and with this bureaucratic bit out of the way, let's get on with the task we're all here for: to enjoy some music in a great setting!

[bluesky]

👆haha no dogs. Would never think this would come into question but I was at sold out war on drugs/sharon van ettan the other night and there was a dog sitting by me.