An analysis of why people need to put their phones away during concerts and live. in. the. moment.
A new culture is emerging around live music. You win the Ticketmaster war for your favorite artist, cancel everything else for the rest of the day and wait hours in line to get a spot on the barricade. Then, when the lights dim and the introduction begins, you instinctively pull out your phone. You can’t miss them walking on stage for the first time and the crowd erupting in excitement. Besides, you are convinced you can watch the entire concert back if you film enough of it.
But the reality? You often leave feeling like you weren’t even there. At least, that’s how I used to feel. This new concert culture doesn’t just take away from your experience. It also affects the fans behind you, who are watching a sea of phone screens.
I can’t say I was never part of the problem. After the COVID-19 lockdowns, I went to see Harry Styles and Rex Orange County. I kid you not, I filmed almost every second of both concerts. I had so many videos that I deleted because I never had enough storage. Now I have neither the videos nor the vivid memories I thought I was preserving. Sometimes I even forget I went to those concerts at all. That realization makes me genuinely upset. These are two of my favorite artists, and I would give anything to relive those nights with the memories I wish I had made.
Since then, I have proudly grown out of feeling the need to experience everything through a screen. More recently, I’ve made amazing memories at concerts, and the difference has been undeniable.
When I’m not constantly checking my screen to make sure I got the perfect video, I actually get to enjoy what’s happening in front of me. I can sing along to my favorite songs, dance with my friends and look around at thousands of other people who are just as excited to be there as I am. I get to experience the little moments that make every concert different. And honestly, those are the things I remember most.
I also can’t help but wonder how many of those videos we actually go back and watch. We spend an entire concert recording song after song, only to post one clip on our Instagram stories and let the rest sit in our camera rolls until we eventually delete them. I know because I did exactly that. I was so focused on making sure I had something to look back on that I didn’t realize I wasn’t really taking anything in while it was happening.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you can never take your phone out at a concert. Of course you’re going to want a picture or a video of your favorite song. I still do it, too. If I go see one of my favorite artists, you better believe you will see it on my Instagram story the next day. But there is a difference between taking a few videos and recording practically the whole concert. Filming the whole show also ruins the experience for the people around you, too. A couple of weeks ago I went to a concert, and it was all general admission, and a man about 6 feet 5 inches tall was standing directly in front of me. That was not the problem; the problem was that he was his girlfriend’s personal videographer. So not only was he blocking my view, he was holding his phone in front of the artist’s head the entire time. It probably took away from his experience, and it definitely took away from mine.
I think we’ve gotten so caught up in capturing our lives that we sometimes forget to live them. We want the pictures, the videos and the Instagram stories because we want to remember what happened. But we also want other people to see that we were there. And while there’s nothing wrong with sharing those experiences, I don’t think every moment needs to be documented to matter.
The next time you go to a concert, try putting your phone away for a little while. Take a picture, record your favorite song if you want and then let yourself enjoy the rest. Sing as loud as you can, dance with your friends and take in the atmosphere around you. Live music is one of the most magical experiences, and living it to the fullest with the community around you will only make it better. Put your phone down. You, the artist and the people around you want to experience the beauty of live production together.