I went to a Styx concert last night with my wife, Amy.
The venue was Hoyt Sherman Theater in Des Moines, IA. It's a FANTASTIC venue -every seat has a fantastic view! The show was sold-out! Everything was rocking until I noticed that despite the "no photographs or video" notices posted at every entrance, there were multiple people that still had the audacity to take their phones out and take videos of full songs.
I could rant for pages about the conundrum of people paying top dollar for concert tickets and then choosing to watch the show through the screen of their smart phone... but I won't.
Here's what I'm getting at, though. Even with notices posted about not taking photos or video, people are still going to do it. I watched an usher in the front acknowledge to a concert attendee on the floor that he isn't supposed to be taking video. The patron nodded smiled and kept taking the video. The usher stepped back to his post and that was the end of it. Granted, there were 20 other people around him taking video... which added to ridiculousness of him being singled out -but that's not the point. The point is, people don't care.
It's not right.
I wish they did. (Idealist)
...but they don't. (Realist)
If you're an artist that's doing something new or interesting, people will prefer to watch your show through a little screen while they record it. It'll be flattering at first -and great publicity because chances are they will post it somewhere... but it does get old pretty fast.
Knowledge is power!
Practice your show material with a camera running. Just like people get weird when they know a mic is running, people get suddenly weird when a camera is running, too. If you are aware you are being recorded and haven't prepared for that, you're gonna have a bad time.
A tangent:
I like to imagine how a crowd would respond if the musician spent the entire show addressing the audience like this (Cynic):
Do you think they'd even notice?
The performer could have a little harness that goes around your shoulders that keeps the phone propped up at an arm's length... The performer can see the audience through the screen, and the audience can see the performer through their screens... Everybody's happy?
...
...
... or not... don't be that guy!
Back to the point:
Anyways... Be prepared! Practice in front a camera. Take videos of your rehearsals. It's good to know that cameras are running and in the room. You'll get used to it! Once you feel comfortable, consider running a Periscope or FB Live vid during your rehearsals -then your audience can WATCH you through your camera! DOUBLE REHEARSAL TOOL!!!
ProTip: Use your phone to rehearse and to practice, but do NOT actually bring your phone onstage with you. If you have separation anxiety, turn it off and put it in your pocket -but one of the tackiest things you can do onstage is check your messages (or be thinking about checking your messages). There's a time and a place... Just sayin'!
What's the most awkward concert you've been to where you witnessed more people viewing the show through their phone screens than not -comment below!
Until next time,
-T.