Currently, more and more fans set their phones to cameras and hold them aloft to film gigs. Therefore people hold two different opinions on this problem. Opponents who are audiences think it is infuriating to be behind the phone-wielders at gigs. And some artists also consider it is infuriating to stand on the stage surveying hundreds of people staring intently at their screens. However, others including fans, bands and record labels are passionate about filming gigs.
2. The Issues
1) Gig Etiquette
For fans, many of them longed for the shows when the only thing illuminating the crowd at a packed gig would be a sea of cigarette lighters, not the screen. "put your phone down we can't see', fans need perfect sightline at gigs. However, other fans like to video gigs on their phones.They file footage on YouTube and see it, and relive it, and see all the people in the comments talking about it - they can make more friends with that.
For artists, they prefer their audience to focus on being in the moment, and not distract others out of that moment. And many artists do not like fans to film gigs. It seems like showing a lack of respect to and care for fellow concert goers, or for that matter the artist.
2) Poor Audio Quality of Footage - Weak and Distorted
The problem lies in the person taking the extensive filmed footage-clips are often blurry, dark and with poor audio quality. Smartphone's microphones only capable of capturing anything and everything immediately around it. So some artists think it is only wasting time for fans to take jerky and unwatchable footage.
3. The Solutions
1) it's a growing concern among live artists. As opponents, when the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (an American indie rock band) played at Webster Hall in New York, they posted notices with a request for concertgoers, "Please do not watch the show through a screen on your smart device/camera. Put that shit away as a courtesy to the person behind you and to Nick, Karen and Brian." And Roger Waters (former bassist and vocalist for Pink Floyd) has admitted on Facebook, "I would never turn on a cell phone ar any musical event."
(Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
2)New Technologies
45 Sound is a new service which makes live music videos sound better. It basically replaces the original sound of fans' video footage (which is usually fairly poor) with a high-quality recording of the exact same part of the concert. And in cases where there's more than one recording of the same moment, fans watching the gig on 45 Sound can switch camera angles.
Apps such as Vyclone have been used by the likes of Ed Sheeran to “crowdsource” gig footage, with fans being encouraged to upload their recordings of Ed for it then to be edited together for the official music video.
Another start-up, Outlisten, gathers fan videos and, if there's sufficient interest, will go to record labels after a big show and request the professionally recorded audio.
45 Sound's audio-matching software is considered all completely automated. 45 Sound has the ear of several companies - including Sony Music-owned RCA Records. Bring Me The Horizon (a British metalcore band) has trialed 45 Sound on their latest tour - prompting fans to record their show and upload it after the gig. Carefully shot online footage with decent sound might be welcomed by people who could not make it to the event. It is helping to push the band.
4. My Reaction
Honestly, before I read this article I've never thought about filming gigs as a potential problem. Recalling my few gig experiences, I didn't be bothered by filming footage. And then I interviewed some of my friends who often watch gigs, they have the same feeling as mine. And in Chica, sometimes vocalists promote fans to hold aloft their phones as light sticks. My friends and I often take few pictures of gigs for sharing on social media, but we almost didn't record shows by our phones for we know our equipments are not good at filming gigs. I also read a lot of comments on the internet, many fans agree with that they have the right to film and photography gigs and it is unfair to ban photos, but they also think that waving phones in front of someone's face is rude. And from this article I know the new audio and visual technologiew such as 45 Sound, Vyclone, and OutListen, which could improve fans' footage.
Therefore "sea of cameras" is not only existing at gigs but also appear in our general life. Recording and sharing has been becoming a life habit of our generation. Completely eliminating it is not realistic, but we should respect particular manners to avoid it occasionally. When artists don't like fans film and photography at gigs, we should respect them and follow their requests. And we could try 45 Second to improve our footage and then file on the internet.
I think filming gigs for opponents is like a bad behaviour such as ringing of phones at the cinema, talking loudly at the art gallery or jumping the queue. However, in my consideration, the difference between filming gigs and above dad manners is that filming gigs is not only referring to gig etiquette but also a part of changes of way life.
Therefore "sea of cameras" is not only existing at gigs but also appear in our general life. Recording and sharing has been becoming a life habit of our generation. Completely eliminating it is not realistic, but we should respect particular manners to avoid it occasionally. When artists don't like fans film and photography at gigs, we should respect them and follow their requests. And we could try 45 Second to improve our footage and then file on the internet.
I think filming gigs for opponents is like a bad behaviour such as ringing of phones at the cinema, talking loudly at the art gallery or jumping the queue. However, in my consideration, the difference between filming gigs and above dad manners is that filming gigs is not only referring to gig etiquette but also a part of changes of way life.
Thanks Jessica~
ReplyDeleteI rarely take part in a live pop or rock live concert. But your article does recall my memory of the Chingay (Annual parade in Singapore) which I watched last year. The young couple in front of us took picture during the whole performance, both the shoe and selfie. I believe there were must over 100 pictures and I felt really annoyed because I was afraid that I was some photo shoots.
In addition I have read an online article which list down top 10 annoying Behaviors during a rack show :( Rolling Stone Website)
1. Taking picture the entire freaking show (You can take 5 as you want, but don’t take 77!)
2. Checking e-mail, Facebook and Twitter every couple of minutes
3. Incessantly talking to your friend
4. Yelling out requests
5. Yelling out ‘Free bird’
6. Pushing your way to the front
7. Getting so drunk you puke
8. Loudly complaining after the show because the band didn’t play your favorite song
9. Filming the entire sow on your iPhone (The next day morning, you can find the crappy cellphone video on the YouTube of every song!)
10. Yelling ‘Sit down’ at people who are standing up
Smart phones are ruining the concert-going experience said by Andy Greene, an Associate Editor at Rolling Stone Magazine.
However, fans want to share the cool experience with their friend on the YouTube, Facebook or other social website. And businessman also tries to seize the opportunities and make profits on it.
Moreover, some of musicians also embrace audience use of smart phone as a way to market their shows. According to Mark Katz, the author of ‘capturing Sound: how Technology Has Change Music.’
“Someone records what a truly amazing performance was and posts it on YouTube and it starts to get attention, that could help the performer who might not have any other way of reaching out to such a broad audience,” Katz notes.(Voice of America Website)
To sum up, this is not only a change of audience behavior based on the development of technology but also has already become some commercial interests. Although some fans and artist feel annoyed, businessman won’t miss the chance!
Thanks Jessica~~
ReplyDeleteTo be honest , I like taking pictures , my camera has already became part of my life and I think the inner camera is the most important function for smart phone, it help us record the memorable moment and share it with friends through social media. My iphone has stored over 4000 pictures, some of them are taken in gigs, however before I read the news and your comments, I ever think it would become a problem which shows less respect to the artists and bothers other audience as well.
I don’t like filming gigs, one of the reasons is technical problem, as the news claimed that smart phone’s camera has poor quality to film a concert or gig, it would be dark, noisy and indistinct, another reason is that it would make me hard to concentrate on the vocalist, so that I cannot enjoy all the part of the gig and concert. Regardless of these two reasons, I still think this kind of behaviours are not polite, because you may influence other audience when you raise up your hands and shake your phone behind one’s face to take pictures.
To talk about sharing, I think it also related to copyright and broadcast legally, isn’t it? When we filming live shows, I think we should not upload it on social media unless the artist allowing you to do so. We need to concern about the law and profits which artists have rights to earn.
To sum up, although I think taking few pictures at gig and concert is a reasonable behaviour, it also occurs some negative consequence, filming the live show leads more serious issues, we all need to consider it more and take advantage of our cameras with less harm action and tort.