Using a cell phone during a concert is considered bad manners for the audience, until now. A new Hall near Seattle is encouraging patrons to send texts and they have installed an antennae inside the hall to improve reception. Sometime in the future, you might be able to request running commentary about the performance to appear right on your phone? (this could eventually be something like the “editor’s commentary” track on a typical DVD.
click here for the article.
I don’t know about anyone else, but this sounds like the worst news I’ve heard in some time. Not only will this produce unwanted sound effects, both coming from the speakers and the constant clicking and movement of the phones, but the idea of all of those screens being in my peripheral view while trying to enjoy a piece of music is terrifying. They are incredibly distracting, not only to those using them, but also to those who are having the screens forced into their line of vision. One thing I think the Opera did so well was that the translation screens were not only optional, but they were made in such a way that you can’t see anyone else’s screen. I really hope this doesn’t become a mainstream thing.
The idea of getting “commentary” sent to your phone definitely isn’t a bad one. It reminds me of when we went to see the Cone Sisters exhibition at the Jewish Museum and those of us with iPhones downloaded the free app that acted as an audio guide for the paintings. Giving this option to cell phone-wielding audience members would definitely be useful for those who are interested in finding out more about the show that they are seeing, but the problem is, that likely isn’t all that they will be doing with their phones for as long as they have them out: texting will be inevitable. Maybe they are trying to use reverse psychology so people see how annoying it is to have cell phones used during performances, that way they voluntarily don’t do it…
I don’t think this is totally shocking, or terrible. It is the natural process of an art form that has lost value in American culture attempting to increase revenue. The reason they are doing this, most likely, is because they desperately need money. While I do not think that this is necessarily a good thing, it’s not the end of the world. Let’s face it: cell phones have become part of our bodies. We need them–and no, i don’t mean to text my best friend with. I mean to respond to the text that a boss sends me, or my professor, or to navigate my way in the city if I get lost. As a counter-argument, people will say “well how did we live without them in the past?” Good question: probably because they weren’t invented yet. That’s like saying to somebody “why do you eat spaghetti? I only eat raw meat, just like the cavemen. After all, the lived without fine dining.” Technology changes our society, in literally every way, and this is just one of those manifestations.
On the other hand, the hall where the New York Philharmonic normally perhaps (next to the Metropolitan Opera House) has cell phone blocking insulation put into the walls, so that nobody can receive cell phone signal. So, all hope is not lost for those of use who like the only light and sound in a concert hall, to be coming from the stage.