Apps, Mobile & SMS

More Eye to Eye. Less Eye to iPhone. A Call to Change Concert Culture.

IMG_3727

I know I'm walking on thin ice when I take a swing at technology my third day on the job, but I've never been one to tread lightly, so why start now? In my off time, I fancy myself an aspiring photographer. I am constantly seeking unique opportunities to take my camera off the shelf. Recently, I shot two concerts in Northern California back to back – a local concert with Rising Appalachia at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass as Emmylou Harris closed the main stage in Golden Gate Park. The two environments couldn't have been more opposing, but one thing was alarmingly the same: the number of smart phones plaguing the audience horizon.  

I have no qualms about admitting that my iPhone is the first thing I reach for in the morning and the last thing I look at before I go to sleep. I have become quite dependent on the luxuries having an iPhone affords me on both a personal and professional level and I'm reasonably confident I'm not the only one in that boat. There is absolutely no question that having a smart phone has revolutionized my day to day existence, but when I'm standing spitting distance from incredible artists who are pouring their hearts and souls into their performance only to have it obstructed by hundreds or thousands or hundreds of thousands of mobile devices, I wonder at what cost? 

Are we so hopelessly devoted to capturing the best fifteen seconds of a performance for our Instagram feeds that we miss what’s happening outside of the 5.5 inch screen in front of our faces? All of a sudden the iPhone 6 doesn’t seem quite as big, does it? 

IMG_3101I felt for the musicians on the stage in a way I haven't quite experienced before. Maybe that's because I too have been too buried in screens to notice just how much disconnection my "connectedness" was causing. Somewhere along the road to "likes" over love, instant gratification over patience, and live tweeting being the status quo we forgot how to live in the moment instead of inside our phones. 

After one of the concerts a fan approached one of the artists and asked to take a selfie, took the selfie, and walked away. Walked out of the venue. Clearly, all they had wanted was a celebrity shot. That was a turning point for me. 

I strongly believe we owe better than the status quo to ourselves and to the musicians who work tirelessly to provide us with incredible live performance experiences. Sure, take selfies with your friends, snap a few photos throughout the night, check in to the venues on your social media platforms prior to the concert, and rave on social media at the end of the night – just don't forget to exist in the moment as its happening – otherwise you may find yourself with a whole lot of photos and not a lot of memories. 

What do you think we can do to change concert culture for both artists and their fans? Please join the conversation below. 

Share on: