In the recent BLACKPINK concert held in Singapore, Jennie famously mentioned “I’m seeing more cellphones than faces, I’m not sure if I like that”. With a string of exciting performances from the likes of Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Sam Smith and more, us as Singaporeans should be more considerate not just to other audience members but also to the artistes who pour their heart and soul on stage.
Instead of suspending your phone in the air throughout the entire duration of a live performance, here’s what you can do to improve the experience for yourself, as well as those around you.
Understand what is a moment worth capturing
We know you have spent a lot of money and time to get these concert tickets but is it really worth capturing every second of the event? To be frank, the video you’ve captured is not going to be featured on a Netflix special during this lifetime and “hey! I’d like to watch the entire concert on your phone!” is something none of your friends or acquaintances will ever say. So stop assuming you are the sole broadcaster of the event and put your phone down!
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t record entirely, some songs have sentimental value to the listener and should be remembered as a special moment. Take the opportunity to record a special part of the song but don’t end up recording non-stop and putting your focus on keeping your hands steady instead of revelling in the moment.
Lose your phone and lose yourself
Due to the ever decreasing attention span of society, our hands are in constant need to do something. So… record lo… but instead of being so basic, seize the moment and take in the music, singalong and dance, the time you share with your loved ones is better than any TikTok views you’ll be getting. Who cares if the people around you are glued to their phones? Be the change you want to see in the world (tour).
Show love and not the back of your phone
Artistes often feed off their audience, inspiring them to sing their hearts out and put on a show. Having an entire stadium of people who are just holding up their phones to you isn’t very inspiring. Instead of your phone, create special signs. As proven by Hirzi and his birthday shoutout by Beyonce, performers do notice these signages. Just be aware of the other concert goers around you and try not to block their view.
Silence your phone
Any audio interruption is definitely not welcome at a concert. Imagine Sam Smith serenading to the audience with a soulful rendition of “Stay with me”, when your phone suddenly starts to ring. Not only is this a mood killer for those around you, it ruins your experience as well. The best thing to do is to set your phone on Do Not Disturb or even airplane mode.
Minimise the need to communicate
Your mum, your boss or pet hamster may be looking for you during the span of the concert so it’s best to anticipate their messages by letting some of them know beforehand. You can even set your WhatsApp status to inform your loved ones on your whereabouts. Remember to put the date so that they don’t assume it’s sarcasm. If you have other friends who are also at the concert, designate a time and place to meet before and/or after the concert. This eliminates the constant “where r u?”.
Conclusion
As more international artists are including Singapore as part of their tour destinations, we should ensure a hospitable environment, encouraging their return. Phones may be essential to our lives but we should never get so caught up with it to the point where it robs us from our approach to living.
If you anyhow need a phone, you can always get an awesome one from us at compasia.sg!
