Jack White Bans Cellphones At Concerts For '100% Human Experience' (nme.com)

Singer and guitarist Jack White has banned the use of mobile phones at upcoming live shows. NME reports that the policy will be strictly enforced, requiring concert-goers to lock up their smartphones in pouches." From the report: White embarks on a tour of the U.S. from April, with a statement announcing that shows would be "phone-free," confirming: "No photos, video or audio recording devices allowed." "We think you'll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON," the statement adds. "Upon arrival at the venue, all phones and other photo or video-capturing gizmos will be secured in a Yondr pouch that will be unlocked at the end of the show. You keep your pouch-secured phone on you during the show and, if needed, can unlock your phone at any time in a designated Yondr Phone Zone located in the lobby or concourse." "For those looking to do some social media postings, let us help you with that. Our official tour photographer will be posting photos and videos after the show... Repost our photos & videos as much as you want and enjoy a phone-free, 100% human experience."

Comments

is this from the artist himself

[desdinova 216]

or is this from some record label person?

Re:is this from the artist himself

[Luthair]

I would be shocked if it wasn't Jack White making the decision. The record labels don't give a shit since from their perspective touring is just marketing for album sales / streaming.

Re:is this from the artist himself

[The Evil Atheist]

If people valued their "hard-earned" money, they wouldn't be wasting it on a live show that they're watching on their phone. This is about people getting their actual money's worth: seeing a skilled musician performing live, not through a screen.

Re:is this from the artist himself

[Nidi62]

Jack Black? Are we talking about Tenacious-D or the White Stripes?

They need a battle of the bands type battle between Jack Black and Jack White. Maybe do it for charity or something. They can call it the Jack Off.

In before...

[Known Nutter]

In before all the posts crying "what if there's a disaster and the Yondr system goes down and all the lights go out and I need to call home and I can't be without my phone because reasons and disaster and my rights and oh noes and I need an Uber car and my kids must be able to reach me and did I mention active shooter and what do I do if there's a disaster?"

This is a good precedent!

[Templer421]

Hope this becomes the rule.

Re:This is a good precedent!

[Anonymous Coward]

Excuse me if I read into your comment more than I should have, when I read it I got the impression that you dislike this policy and believe that it should not be allowed for them to confiscate / disable / make otherwise unusable your phone. If that's not what you meant, then ignore me.

Now for my response based on how I interpreted yours:
What you said is fine. You should understand the position you're in, and that there are certain times and places that don't make any sense for you. A concert, movie theater, Broadway show and any other such venue where it is completely and utterly inappropriate for someone to be a distraction to others are examples of things you simply should not attending with such demands placed on you. I would also hope that your children would be left in capable hands when you aren't around them, and that you stop worrying so darn much as it's not good for them or you! Maybe that's why you think they are so prone to "other crisis", because your definition of crisis needs to be reevaluated and adjusted. The thing is, the last part of your statement says it all... If you can't answer your phone on the first ring, it's someplace you cannot and do not wish to be. Simple, don't go there. Don't expect others to lessen their experience just so you can live your unnecessarily over-stressed lifestyle.

And shit like this

[Chas]

Is why I don't bother with live venues anymore.

Between the assholes in the audience and the assholes on stage...

Not sure what happened to "just come in, be a decent person and enjoy the scene".

So fuck them all. NONE of them get a cent of my money.

Re:And shit like this

[Pahroza]

Well, you pretty much said it, most people can't be decent people anymore. I'm not a fan of the artist mentioned here, but I do think an artist should be able to perform under conditions they'd like to perform. Siouxsie Sioux for example has -- in the past -- been a stickler for venue temperature when she performs because her vocal chords could be damaged otherwise. While that could suck if you didn't know you should dress warmer or colder to what you're used to, that's her livelihood.

I wouldn't expect people at an opera to be holding up their phones and carrying on with random conversations either. Don't like the rules, don't go.

So I guess I both agree and disagree with you. It's your money, you do what you want with it, but you could miss out on some great performances just because you don't want to give up your "right" to something.

bye!

[markdavis]

>"Singer and guitarist Jack White has banned the use of mobile phones at upcoming live shows. NME reports that the policy will be strictly enforced, requiring concert-goers to lock up their smartphones in pouches." "

I have no interest in interacting with my cell phone during a concert (or movie or any other type of paid entertainment). But tell me I have to lock up my phone in a "pouch" and you can shove your concert where the sun doesn't shine. I am so tired of the lowest-common-denominator ruining everything for everyone. Either they ruin it directly by being rude, annoying, and/or irresponsible, or ruin it indirectly due to places creating draconian rules/procedures to try and combat it.

Re:Don't tell me what to do

[Anonymous Coward]

You're exactly the kind of asshole that has made other assholes create rules and procedures like this.

If you hadn't been such an asshole then maybe the rest of us could have enjoyed our concerts without all this BS about shoving phones in puches?

Let's watch

[JThundley]

"Let's watch my recording of the concert I went to!"
-Nobody ever

Re:Who?

[DeathElk]

He's not black like Barry White is, he's white like Frank Black is.

Re:Who?

[No Longer an AC]

Rather than mod you as a troll I'd like to take this opportunity to say that anyone who completely avoids the subject of the article in favor of making fun of an artist who they'd like to belittle by insinuating that nobody ever heard of them or in particular you're too good to have ever heard of them is being childish.

(I think I've done it too regarding some pop-tart so I can't claim much moral superiority or anything).

I'm not a fan of Jack White. I've heard the name, but I have no idea what kind of music he even plays, but I do know that I can type "Jack White" into Google and find out in as long as it would take me to listen to some of his music.....which I will do now....after I get another beer.

....a few songs and a beer later....

I can now honestly say that I'm still not a Jack White fan, but at least his music isn't terrible. That's just a subjective opinion of course....the first song even reminded me of David Bowie just a little bit. And I even liked one of his other songs.

God forbid I might get so bored during a show that I would need to pull out my phone. Can I still bring a camera? Maybe I should just go home.

I've recorded shows before, both audio and video and it really does get in the way of enjoying a concert.

Even just recording one or two songs with your phone takes a lot away from your enjoyment of the moment.

Not only that but when you're in an audience and the stage is obscured by dozens of people holding up their cell phones above their heads that takes a lot away from the experience as well.

So I support this move by this White guy. I mean it's his show and if his fans don't like it they can stay home. His other fans might just appreciate the lack of phones in their faces.