I came across this article on the wire from The Dalls Morning News that asks if cellphones are ruining the concert experience. Apparently, several artists have spoken out about cellphones becoming an evil tool that seems to be taking attention away from their performances. Here’s an excerpt:
As more and more concertgoers fiddle with cell phone cameras and fidget with BlackBerries, some people say mobile technology is ruining the concert experience.
“It’s extraordinarily irritating,” says Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame. “All these people holding up these horrid little squares of bright light.”
“It’s like they’re not even there,” says jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. “It’s like, ‘Why don’t you put that away and listen to the music?’”
The article goes on to explore both sides of the issue as well as the history of concert-going. Read the full article here.
My question is, do these artists realize that we have paid often more than a hundred dollars to see their
show? Is it wrong for us to want to capture an event in our lives that might be the most spectacular experience we’ve ever had? Performers should be flattered that we’re not only giving them free promotion by being fans but by also spreading their image all across the Internet to our friends and people who probably never even knew they existed in the first place. We are the only reason you probably exist in the music world. We’re taking pictures, calling friends, and taking video of your shows not to make you uncomfortable, no sir, we’re there because we frikkin’ love you! So stop being a bunch of whiney pre-madonnas and accept the world for what it is. Your music, your performance, that very emotional acoustic version of that song we listened to as a child is something we want to remember for the rest of our lives. So when I call my mom up so she can listen to a few seconds of your song, I’m not worrying about being rude, I’m thinking to myself, ‘Oh lord! This is amazing!’ Believe me, we’re paying attention. Would we really go to not? I think you should be more worried about seeing no cellphones in the air, because chances are, it means no one gives a crap.
