Roger Waters talks cellphones at concerts

[Don]

I was thinking of something I read earlier where Rip's Friend Fabs said people were throwing things at her from behind and telling her to sit down while she was recording the clips at Journey's show.

A Note from Roger.
Feb 25 2011

I’ve been at the editing suite today looking at some of the footage of the North American shows that we shot as an aid to making a proper film of the show later for Theatrical and Blu-ray release.

I am struck by the number of cell phones held aloft to film bits of the show and also by the amount of flash photography and the number of people texting and twittering.

This is a minority of the audience but a significant minority. What do we all think of this?

For my part I would never turn on a cell phone at any musical event, whether it’s at The Met, The Garden or anywhere else. It would seem to me to show a lack of respect to and care for fellow concert goers or for that matter for the artist. Apart from anything else, how could I possibly truly experience the thing I’d paid to see and hear, if I was fiddling with an iPhone, filming or twittering or chatting or whatever?

Anyway, this is a question not a general admonition, I am genuinely interested to know what you think.

Roger

[Don]

While we do enjoy watching the clips and what not, if it where you at a show, behind a person who was filming and blocking your view, would you just blow it off as part of the things that happen at concerts or take manners into your own hands?

[superreverb]

Hmm.. good point Don. Love the clips, and the fact we get to see opening night show, 1/2 way across the continent. BUT I admit, if I were there, and distracted by someone's Cell Phone filming the show, I'd tell them to knock it off.

Double standards I suppose... but I admit it.

[sniper16]

as one who takes photos at shows, i am mindful of people behind me and try to take shots and then watch the show, as for flash photography, those flashes only work for about 10 feet, so turn them off

[Melissa]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

[StevePerryHair]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

Yeah, but Rick Springfeild stopped to pose for me twice!

[S2M]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

Yeah, but Rick Springfeild stopped to pose for me twice!

Did he have a donut?

[Melissa]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

Yeah, but Rick Springfeild stopped to pose for me twice!

Yeah that was great! I think he did for Debbie too!

[RedWingFan]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

Yeah, but Rick Springfeild stopped to pose for me twice!

Dude's great in concert!

[StevePerryHair]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

Yeah, but Rick Springfeild stopped to pose for me twice!

Dude's great in concert!

He is! He is very fan oriented and puts on a great show. Very fun! He still sounds great to me too!

[S2M]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

Yeah, but Rick Springfeild stopped to pose for me twice!

Dude's great in concert!

He is! He is very fan oriented and puts on a great show. Very fun! He still sounds great to me too!

You want his fried pickle....don't fib, meanie....

[StevePerryHair]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

Yeah, but Rick Springfeild stopped to pose for me twice!

Dude's great in concert!

He is! He is very fan oriented and puts on a great show. Very fun! He still sounds great to me too!

You want his fried pickle....don't fib, meanie....

Though he has aged incredibly well, and he's easy on the eyes, yes, that is not what I enjoy most. He's old enough to be my father

[DrFU]

I think Rog is missing a major point. All those cell phones are connected to other people not at the shows, and the pics and vids will show up on social media sites-- all networked communication about HIS band.

ILAA guy Jeff said the other night in Vegas that the Night Ranger folks will prob show for the ILAA meet and greets because Jack Blades understands how new fans are made ... one at a time.

[StevePerryHair]

I think Rog is missing a major point. All those cell phones are connected to other people not at the shows, and the pics and vids will show up on social media sites-- all networked communication about HIS band.

ILAA guy Jeff said the other night in Vegas that the Night Ranger folks will prob show for the ILAA meet and greets because Jack Blades understands how new fans are made ... one at a time.

Yeah, I was thinking maybe Roger is just too old minded to get it?

[Rip Rokken]

I like to watch the show and don't even bring my camera anymore, I can snap some on my phone if I want, but pictures and video aren't important for ME to HAVE to get them because others always do, lol, so I just enjoy the show.

Yeah, but Rick Springfeild stopped to pose for me twice!

Dude's great in concert!

He is! He is very fan oriented and puts on a great show. Very fun! He still sounds great to me too!

I'll see Rick Springfield any day of the week and twice on Tuesday. Been to 3 of his shows, and he never fails to deliver. I actually have some dried rose petals from the roses he smashes during "Affair of the Heart" in my bookcase from the last concert.

I've had to find a balance between taking pics/filming and enjoying the show. A couple of the Journey shows I went to in 2008, I found myself texting constantly -- the first time I'd really found a use for texting at all. First, it's trying to find out where everyone is sitting. Next, it's texting the set list as it occurs, plus answering the conversations that start from the other texts. Then come the Facebook status updates, concert calls, pics, and maybe videos. A lot of that stuff (especially the texting) got old quick, because I realized I was spending too much time being a reporter, and not enjoying the show.

I've cut way back on most of that. I'll still give an occasional concert call, because they are easy. Texting, not so much. Status updating -- on rare occasion, and this past week was one of those special occasions where it really made a difference. I do take a good amount of photos but try to get them out of the way early, and I try to grab a couple of good vids if I can. It's harder to pay attention to the show when you're taking pics than vids, but then I get to capture it for later review. Videos are especially cool... so I'm maybe paying 60-70% attention to the song as it happens, but then I get to watch it on my big screen at home and pick up all sorts of stuff I would have forgotten about or failed to notice otherwise even if I'd been fully attentive. I do try to keep it to as much of a minimum as possible though -- no desire to try to capture a whole show.

I do try not to block someone else's view though. Poor Fabbest -- she not only got razzed by the staff there for recording, but had some things thrown at her for standing up, lol! Having to suffer those fools must have been tough for her. Next time we'll have her down front, where it's a crime to be sitting down.

[Rip Rokken]

While we do enjoy watching the clips and what not, if it where you at a show, behind a person who was filming and blocking your view, would you just blow it off as part of the things that happen at concerts or take manners into your own hands?

I think there are ways to film without getting in anyone's way, especially if the venue has staggered seating. The TSO video I took back in December was shot completely with a camera sitting in my lap. I had the view screen rotated up so I could see what I was capturing.

I'm much more concerned about people wearing big hats, being 7 feet tall and right in my view, or being drunk and obnoxious than anyone with a camera, though. I can always look around the camera.

There are times I wish everyone would just sit down, because the reason many stand up is out of necessity -- the guy in front stands up and blocks their view. If everyone stayed seated, they could all see just as well. But that's just the nature of it I guess.

[FamilyMan]

As Keith Moon would have said, "have a little respect. It's a fucking opera!"

[WalrusOct9]

There's some moderation. I occasionally post to twitter when something really, really amazing happens at a show I'm at, like Alison Krauss coming on to sing with Heart or U2/Springsteen/etc playing some song they haven't played in decades, since I have a lot of friends/readers on there who would be interested in such details. I try to do it between songs or at a downtime when I have a second...as someone who likes to take pictures at shows and whatnot, there's a middle ground. Take a few shots and then just enjoy the show.