Deb,

I love the concept of the "No Glow Zone." That such a small proportion of the audience can spoil the mood/experience with electronic gizmos is a sad example of how the popular culture attitudes of entitlement ("if *I* do it it must be OK") seep into the folk world.

I've been at shows where I've found the glow of people's phone recording it very distracting. That distraction became teeth grinding anger as it went on and on. It definitely cut into my ability to enjoy what was, for me a high price ticket concert. (Bela Fleck & the Flecktones with Howard Levy). In this instance, one of the worst offenders was a volunteer usher who felt entitled to go up to the front of the aisle to record.

I've also wondered what could be done to prevent this, and my fancy turned to a performe sayingr:
"Ok, our first number is an audience participation event. Will everyone hold up their cellphones? Great.. look at all that light, wow... now all together, everyone hit the OFF button, and let's see whose phone takes the longest to shut down..."

I've heard grand stories of performers in smaller venues making off with audience members' cell phones in mid-transgression. But mostly, if there are no consequences for those who ignore a policy of no electronic devices, it's not likely to stop. Ejection, confiscation of cellphone until the end of the concert, harsh but these are the years when we create new customs and mores for how we behave with gizmos as a near constant presence. Strong action now is needed.


Joanne in Cleveland