You’re at a concert for your favorite singer. You’re standing in the pit, sweaty, standing arm to arm with the person next to you. 

Suddenly, the singer skips over near where you are standing, you look up at them. You can see the details of their outfit, what expression they’re making. 

You smile, happy to be able to be this close to the performer when all of the sudden, a phone shoots up in front of your face, blocking your view. 

Now, you can only see the performer from the tiny screen on the phone. 

Not only is this annoying for you, but the people on stage also have to deal with that every single night they perform. 

There have been many artists who have claimed they don’t enjoy seeing phones during their concerts. Some have outright banned them during their performances. Prince is an example of this, as in 2013, he advertised “purple rules,” which effectively banned cell phones and other forms of visual capture. 

Bob Dylan is another artist who has banned photos during his shows. Dylan is known to keep his policy of no photos very strict, and anyone found taking pictures is removed. 

There could be a number of reasons why phones aren’t allowed at a concert, but a lot of the time, it’s because the artists prefer not to have phones pointed at their faces. Other times it could distract the band members. Or sometimes the band might be recording a movie. 

Lead singer of Ghost, Tobias Forge, said in an interview after his movie released that, “They were the best shows I’ve ever done with Ghost, just because I didn’t have to see those f–ing mobile phones.” 

Ghost goes on tour again in 2025— this time with a phone ban. 

Are fans missing out when they use their phones during a concert?

Yes, they are. 

Being on your phone while at a concert, can distract you from the performance. It’s understandable, wanting a picture or a video of your favorite artist to immortalize the moment. To have something to look back on fondly. However, it not only distracts from the experience, as you now have to unlock your phone, open the camera, and get the settings just right so that the exposure isn’t too high. Those moments take away from the performance you are watching. 

Not only that, but the performers on stage would rather see you engaging with them than through a screen. 

The concerts that implement this no phone policy give out Yonder pouches, which hold your phone during the performance. You can take your phone out of the pouch in designated areas, or of course if there is an emergency. 

The point of a no phone concert can be to get you to engage more. To experience the concert without being on your mobile device, which can not only distract you, but also the people around you and the band members.

While some artists might encourage recording them and taking photos, others might not and feel that it takes away from the experience. Recording a concert through a screen feels ingenuine. 

Put down your phone and just feel the music with your  your body and soul and sing your heart out for a night to remember.