Concert Goers Are Debating How Much Phone Use At A Show Is Too Much
To film or not to film? When you go to a concert it's not at all unusual to see an array of phone screens blocking your view of the stage. Some people spend more time recording than they do actually watching. How much phone use at a concert is too much? This debate hit a new high when recording artist Mitski asked her fans to curb their phone usage, not eliminate completely, but maybe try to spend more time in the moment and not staring at a screen. Like all things on twitter, this kicked off a contentious debate that will probably never be settled. Heck some people probably tweeted while at a show. Here's how it all went down.
The Thread That Sparked A Debate
A note from Mitski:
— mitski (@mitskileaks) February 24, 2022
Hello! I wanted to speak with you about phones at shows. They’re part of our reality, I have mine on me all the time, and I’m not against taking photos at shows (Though please no flash lol)But sometimes when I see people filming entire songs or whole sets, it makes me feel as though we are not here together. This goes for both when I’m on stage, and when I’m an audience member at shows
— mitski (@mitskileaks) February 24, 2022I love shows for the feeling of connection, of sharing a dream, and remembering that we have a brief miraculous moment of being alive at the same time, before we part ways. I feel I’m part of something bigger
— mitski (@mitskileaks) February 24, 2022When I’m on stage and look to you but you are gazing into a screen, it makes me feel as though those of us on stage are being taken from and consumed as content, instead of getting to share a moment with you
— mitski (@mitskileaks) February 24, 2022Ultimately it’s your night, and I want you to enjoy it as you like. I don’t want to be greedy, I’m fortunate to get to play! Just putting out there that sometimes, if we’re lucky, we can experience magic at a show. But only if we’re there to catch it
— mitski (@mitskileaks) February 24, 2022Thank you for reading my woo-woo thoughts about shows lol - I just love and believe in them so much, and I want to share them fully with you! Thanks
— mitski (@mitskileaks) February 24, 2022Not Everyone Was Thrilled With The Request
Wow, this is a take that makes me INCREDIBLY sad, as you’re an artist my heart connects with a lot…
— Baby Bat (@BabyBatModeling) February 25, 2022
Mitski. You’re a famous artist that plays shows all the time. Tons of people at your shows see shows not even once per year… Let them keep the memory of their fave song 🙄A Plea For Height Sections
mitski pls may i ask: can u have a 5’4” and under section at yr shows? still feeling sad when i saw u in detroit years ago bc there was a 6 ft guy wearing a cowboy hat and vest that said “I AM THE COWBOY” and i saw none of the show… ty for ur consideration ♪(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑)♪ #short
— fka suburbanennui (@brbimlost) February 25, 2022People Shared Bad Behavior They've Seen At Shows
Saw a guy FaceTime his friend for two different songs at a concert the other week. It was the worst.
— Chris (@BigMunny48) February 24, 2022Why Record At All?
Yeah I never understood people that record shows, like you’re not even experiencing it at that point and the video isn’t even gonna turn out good so you’re hardly gonna look back on it. I just record some of my favorite song from the artist if they perform it and that’s it
— Verde (@Verde_SSB) February 25, 2022it's never really a black and white situation- i often record chunks of shows because i experience frequent memory loss. that being said, i do still want to feel present in the moment so i just press record and hold my phone to my chest so i can still watch and participate.
— wistfully yee-haw (@ohmisslyss) February 25, 2022What Happens To Those Videos?
any time in my life i’ve ever recorded a band playing a song, ive never actually gone back and watched them lol and once i finally figured that out i stopped doing it and being present in the moment is pretty cool
— Hit Like a Girl (stream Heart Racer) ❤️🏁 (@hitlikeagirlnj) February 25, 2022