Everything in moderation. I've taken some photos at shows, but I do agree that holding a phone or camera for the entire show is just plain inconsiderate!

What we need here is education. Just because I have a phone with a camera on it, doesn't mean I'll be shooting bootlegged videos or photos all night long. And don't suggest banning phones, if you're going out chances are you may need your phone.

I don't go to a whole lot of shows, but I do like to get a couple discreet shots. I'm super-considerate of my neighbors and keep it quick.

At one small Matt & Kim show years ago, the guy in front of me blocked my view with this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenadactyl/2544870855/

Who writes a goddamn poem at a rock show?!

I have seen Natalie Merchant live MANY MANY times and she really hates cameras/camera phones pointing at her. I dont blame her. I met her after a show where there were a bunch of people waiting to meet her. 4 people got right up to her and just pointed their phones in front of her face and recorded her talking to fans and when she walked away they continued to record her! RUDE!!!!!! She usually tells her fans to "Be in the moment." Then she will tell people to take thier phones/cameras out and they have 30 seconds to take her picture/record her, while she waves/poses/smiles and that is it for the rest of the night.

I actually work as a professional to photograph a lot of these concerts and not only do they deaden the experience of the person who is literally staring at their 3" screen instead of watching the show but it usually fucks up the actual professional quality photographs that come out of it. I have had thousands of amazing images ruined by some goddamn arm shooting up in the middle of the front row.

And how many people have you blocked the view of when you push your way up flashing your press pass to take photos? Boo-f-ing-hoo.

The problem is not so much the cell phones and cameras as it is just people being inconsiderate. So many of the issues we have with each other would be resolved if people were just more considerate towards each other. If you wouldn't want something done to you just don't do it to others, it's simple. But how can we teach or train people to be considerate? That's the problem.

I fully support this measure. Getting stuck behind the tall guy at concerts sucks, but it's life. Standing behind someone I'm 5" taller than, only to have their arms in my face once the concert starts is bullshit.

99% of the time, the crappy photo or video you are taking will not be as good as the ones on the blogs. In NYC, this is what BrooklynVegan is for, and everyone else should put their devices back in their pockets and enjoy the F'ing show.

In related news, The Black Crowes are still alive.

And one would have to be "too high to operate a machine" to come close to enjoying them perform.

This is more or less why I stopped going to shows. Too many people there looking to catch up with friends and snap pictures for twitpic.

Lame.

Awww. Poor people. So focused on those with camera phones instead of on the show itself. It's a crying shame. I like Natalie Merchant, but her comment is stupid. I'm sure she's made plenty of money on concert videos. The people using their phones know it's live. They paid the $50+ for the ticket to get in to be that close to her so they could enjoy her music in that setting.

And for the record, Chris Robinson is a complete jerk. So is his brother. The artists need to STFU. They get paid ridiculous sums of money to entertain people and get pissed when those people want a picture or video of someone they idolize. Get over it!

And those of you who get pissed at someone recording or taking pics, you should get over it too. If it bothers you as much as you're saying it does, then we should also ban tall people from concerts. They totally block my view every time. Also, guess what, if you're there for the music, you don't necessarily have to see the people playing it. Just LISTEN! Quit being such drama queens over technology that has enriched your life beyond your grandparents' wildest dreams.

Two of the best things about live theater is most people know how to behave and understand you must live in the moment.

You won't find generous portions of these things in most concerts nor movie theaters.

Not sure if artists like Natalie Merchant are making that much bank with videos to replace the lost cd income. If you or you band can fill stadiums world-wide, then everything is perfect, but people like Natalie Merchant aren't in that category.

per my comment below, you know what you're getting with tall people. They are tall and get in your way, and it really sucks when they push their way ahead of you when you thought you had a good spot.

People on their phones and cameras have taken the problem of tall people and multiplied it by 10. There should be a limit to the annoyances of a concert, and my limit is anything beyond the tall people already there.

Just be tactful and don't record to long or block someone's view. I'd rather take a :20 second video as a souvenir than pay $50 for a t-shirt.

Unfortunately, most aren't tactful and feel since they paid for the ticket it's their right to do whatever they want at the concert.

Yeah, this is the new norm. People want to blog about it later and show their friends, which I can understand, but at some point you've got to put it away and actually pay attention.

I agree with Eric620 that TALKING over the music is the worst. People seem to not understand that it's audible to others around you. During an opening act, they often just don't care - they aren't there to hear that band so they decide that you shouldn't be able to listen to it either.

Ultimately the problem is that rock shows attract a lot of people who aren't really that into music and don't know how to actually focus on it. It's one reason why artsy-fartsy concerts are better.

don't they usually turn out bad, sound quality wise?

The last concert I went to (Flaming Lips), I couldn't see the stage because 6 people in front of me were holding up their camera phones. I fantasized about leaping on them and smashing their phones into pieces, but didn't actually do it.

That being said, what good would it do to ban them? Do you really want everyone's phones being confiscated before a concert? Because most phones these days do have cameras on them. And I really doubt people will remember to not bring their phones with them.

Yea confiscate then returned after the show. Yea, I know it's a complete fantasy but I think if you let everyone know they can record the audio but forbid video ahead of time and before the show start most will comply. If not then you definitely need bouncers to confiscate the phone or throw the ahole out.