Put the Phone Down and Watch the Performance

Yesterday in the local newspaper there was an article about a national problem.  Heck, we might as well call it an international issue.  The pop music/culture critic wrote about the epidemic that is fans going to concerts and recording video of the show with their smartphone.

I say that it’s about time that someone tries to find a way to put a stop to this (madness) and that we are also past due on drawing this type of attention to the issue.

I start with this question: Have you ever complained about ticket prices for a particular concert, yet purchased such and attended the show anyway?  The point being, you paid good money to be there, so why divide your attention between what’s happening on stage, and being a videographer?  Some people take the latter to extremes, zooming in and out, panning around the seating area, trying out different filters.  Yeesh.

This all reminds me of the opening scene in the movie “Tootsie” when Dustin Hoffman is on stage auditioning for a play, while those he’s doing the reading for are sitting down in the auditorium chairs talking and talking and talking.  Finally he stops the audition and asks them, “Pardon me, but, is my acting up here interfering with your talking down there?!”  Indeed.

Performers who aren’t headliners in the arena sense might argue, “I don’t mind the videoing – it’s a compliment.  Besides, I’ll take all the added exposure I can get.”  But is it?  Isn’t it a bigger compliment if an audience member comes up afterwards and gives you a heartfelt explanation of how/why your song(s) touched them, and then they purchase your CD?  Wouldn’t you rather look out into the audience from the stage and see people who are emotionally dialed in to what you’re doing, rather than fiddling with their phone?

While it should be obvious when they’re taking your picture or recording your performance, I can’t help but think of what it might lead to.  Do they then text the photo to someone?  Or are they posting the video immediately onto Facebook?  These are now diversions from your show.  What started with them paying attention to you has now become a focused stare into their smartphone.  Now they’re in the trap, with notifications pleading for their time and attention “while they’re in there.”  It harkens back to Marc-Alan Barnette talking on the most listened to episode of Now Hear This Entertainment about “glow songs” (when audience members take their focus off of you and put it into their phones).

I remember being at “Rock the Universe” 13 months ago in Orlando at Universal Studios, and lead singer Mark Hall from Casting Crowns having to remind fans to (put down their phones and) take time to enjoy the moment.  (In his defense, it was not a self-serving comment.  He was referring to the opportunity to be in community and worship during that time rather than worrying about getting it on video.)

As yesterday’s article pointed out, others, such as Adam Levine and Darius Rucker, are doing the same.  Comedian Kevin Hart took it to a real extreme.  The technology that the article says Apple is developing is an important step too.

As a performer, you’re there to entertain and move people, not to pose for pictures or provide fodder for them to post on social media where they are.  That puts you on the same level as the dog park, a fast food restaurant, or a nail salon.  Not really ideal company, huh?