News

Remember a time when you went to gigs to actually watch a band live? Jack White does.

According to an article in the Guardian UK, signs had been posted outside Jack White gigs expressing that Twitter and Facebook is “strictly prohibited” and to “please leave your phones in your pockets/purses and enjoy the show live and in person,”

Jack White’s record label Third Man Records (On Twitter as @thirdmanrecords – Jack White doesn’t have his own account) defended this accusation on their website:

“Let us just say that there has never been a sign posted by our touring crew or team at one of Jack’s shows telling people to not use Facebook or Twitter during the performance… We really encourage fans to talk about the show however they please, but just ask that they be respectful to the other concert attendees.

“The only thing that we’ve ever asked of the audience is to not take pictures or videos while holding up their cameras, phones, etc that block other people's view or otherwise hinder other fans concert experiences,”

“Along with that, the bigger idea is for people to experience the event with their own eyes and not watch an entire show through a tiny screen in their hand.”

I admit I did this very thing recently at Splendour in the Grass, only to have my arm reefed down (although the guy who did it was potentially using me for stability by the look of him). Here's is Love Interuppted... literally.

Personally, I am not a fan of recording footage at gigs; the fleeting nature of live music or performance of any nature is part of what makes it so personal and special. 

Caught up in the emotion of it all (much to my bosses anguish) I’ll often just plain forget to pull the “tiny screen” out to begin with! But it’s part of my job, and admittedly, even if it wasn’t, I do find myself searching on youtube the following day to relive any small lo-fi part of what had been the night before (c'mon, I'm not alone here am I).

It’s the old consumer Vs creator argument all over again!

There’s a part of me which hates the serial iphone “cinematographers” who need youtube/facebook likes, instragram hearts, retweets to affirm their place in the social world…. And then there’s the other part of me that creates (amazing!) stories directly from said providers, which is then consumed by you.

SO what's your take on the whole situation, should there be restrictions or limitations on phone use at gigs? Commissioned cameramen are only allowed to shoot the first three songs - should the rule apply to every punter?

If you missed it, here's Triple M's Higgo's exclusive chat with the man himself when he was here for Splendour in July... after hearing him speak and seeing him live, Jack I'll do whatever you want to see it all again!