London Palladium - Phone Free (apparently...)

[Booster]

For those going to the Redux event in London next month, just had an email from Ticketmaster to advise...

Hi there, Important information about your event! The event organisers have been in touch and have asked us to pass on the following important information: "This event will be a phone-free experience. Use of mobile phones, smart watches, smart accessories, cameras or recording devices will not be permitted in the performance space. Upon arrival at the venue, all phones, smart watches, and accessories will be secured in Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event. Guests maintain possession of their phones at all times, and can access their phones throughout the event at designated Phone Use Areas in the venue. All phones will be re-secured in Yondr pouches before returning to the event space. Anyone seen using a mobile phone during the performance will be escorted out of the venue. Guests are encouraged to bring a credit or debit card for purchases inside the venue. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience." We hope you enjoy the event! Ticketmaster Fan Support

Whilst the security around phones and recording etc is not new of course... my putting it in whatever a "Yondr pouch" is will be a first for me had to Google that one... https://www.overyondr.com/howitworks.... wonder if this is being filmed then? it would seem likely wouldn't it if their going to such lengths...

First observation.... hope they got a pouch big enough to accomodate my Samsung S23 Ultra Gangster Omega Supreme Galactus with an Otterbox around it...

[MrFender]

Easily defeated with a strong magnet. Plenty of YT videos on it.

[surfling]

I used to do a few jobs for Yondr. It works really well, mostly comedians use their service because they don't want all their jokes out on youtube.
It certainly makes for a very relaxed show experience as people focus more on the actual show than their silly feeds.

[gotta_be_crazy]

lol. I won't give any of my belongings to anyone, that's not art, that's just being stupid. Where is that RW that yelled at people 'this is 1974!'? He became that guy shouting 1967 from the audience. Anyway.

[aybesea]

I'm not going to this show, but I wonder... if you don't want to do that, will they give you a full refund? This seems like BS to me.

[ammoj2]

I've been to a show that used this before. It was really refreshing not having a sea of people constantly with their phones out. Definitely made the gig feel more intimate. It also relieved a bit of pressure I always feel to take pictures and forced me to just be in the moment with the artist.

Also, they don't take your phone away from you. They just put it in a pouch that you then carry around.

[surfling]

Also, they don't take your phone away from you. They just put it in a pouch that you then carry around.

Exactly. No need to worry, you can keep your phones as close to your heart as you want.
And you can go out to the lobby anytime to have your pouched opened and check your feeds if you really need to
The shows I worked at I actually had quite a few people telling me afterwards how much they enjoyed the show without phones around. Even ones that before the show were reluctant to give up their uninterrupted access to it.
You should try it

[A Prick Like You]

Saw Bob Dylan at the Palladium last year and they had this in place.

Improved the experience many times over. Not only was I not distracted, but neither was anyone else.

If you're enough of a piece of shit that you can't survive an evening without holding your phone up to take some photos or footage you'll never look at again, you shouldn't be going to gigs.

[Demamo]

I was there too and I agree. I didn't like it at first but made for a better show.

[NuffM]

I agree with you but only until the "photos or footage you'll never look at again" — I most certainly do look at these when I take them. I even put them on YouTube for others to enjoy as well. I'm very sentimental and it's good to have those personal memories. I'm totally for no-phone events, but in the time where they ARE allowed, I like having memories I can print out to physicals and keep for myself.

[YASHA]

If you're enough of a piece of shit that you can't survive an evening without holding your phone up to take some photos or footage you'll never look at again, you shouldn't be going to gigs.

Golden words! =)

[DaveTheRave]

I saw Dave Chapelle do standup comedy a few years ago and we had to use a Yondr pouch. It was fine. You get to keep your phone with you.

[MrFender]

Golden words! =)

When I'm taping, I like to get a couple of shots of the performer(s) to include as a visual record to go along with the audio. But yeah, it's out of hand these days.

[aybesea]

For years I have kept written notes of every show that I attend, written on the fly while watching the show. About 10 years ago I started keeping all of these on my phone. It eliminated all of the headache with hand-written pieces of paper everywhere. I'm not thrilled with this development.

[YASHA]

When I'm taping, I like to get a couple of shots of the performer(s) to include as a visual record to go along with the audio. But yeah, it's out of hand these days.

As far as I understood, it was the agiotage of using digital technology and cameras in particular that was meant.

So yes, the artist's photo for the recording of the concert is a very good addition. A few years ago, Neon include a photos of the restoration of the cassette in his torrent. I kept waiting for someone to use these photos as an artwork for this show, but alas...

I mean, any artifacts associated with a favorite performer have their own irresistible magic, they are time capsules.

[MrFender]

One of the theaters in town arms their ushers with little flashlights to shine on people if they take out their phones to record for too long. Then it gets funny when certain people ignore them and the staff angrily wave around the light.

[YASHA]

Funny situation =)