Smartphones at sessions

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 08:51 PM

But texting or reading a document rather than paying attention to what's going on musically and not showing respect for the people who are performing is inexcusable

Yebbut what if they suddenly start playing Breton or French-Canadian or bluegrass crap instead of Irish! Surely a bit of texting is excusable in such dire circumstances!

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 08:33 PM

That's what shandy pots are for, baptising smartphones in. Waste of good beer otherwise.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Stringsinger
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 07:19 PM

If, with consideration, a smart phone is used to record a session, I can see how that would be useful to increase repertoire. But texting or reading a document rather than paying attention to what's going on musically and not showing respect for the people who are performing is inexcusable, a practice which is not only rude but socially detrimental and disrespectful of
folk music in general.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 03:58 PM

Oy!

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 03:38 PM

I

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 03:20 PM

Dear Advice Columnist,

Every time I hear the word smartphone I think proctology. Is this something I should be ashamed of?

Confused in Des Moines


Dear Confused,

Only insofar as it's simpler to say would you please shove that phone up your!

Advice

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 03:19 PM

l go to a lot of music only sessions and l've never seen this situation arise because all the musicians are involved with what is going on, however sing arounds tend to showcase one person at a time (apart from the odd chorus)and unless they're worth listening to it's all too easy to become distracted.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 03:19 PM

l go to a lot of music only sessions and l've never seen this situation arise because all the musicians are involved with what is going on, however sing arounds tend to showcase one person at a time (apart from the odd chorus)and unless they're worth listening to it's all too easy to become distracted.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 02:22 PM

Am I alone in finding this extremely rude?

No, that's the me generation/millenials for ya though. Nobody matters but themselves.

All 'bad behaviours' are acceptable in moderation.

Nonsense. Being a little obnoxious is still being abnoxious.

I don't think there's anything that can be done about it...

Nonsense. Call them on it & Tell them to knock it off as loudly as necessary.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 02:20 PM

Not only are our local Town Council Meetings recorded and made available as a podcast on local internet radio - as if anyone is really interested!! Worse still, certain people tweet constantly from local Town Council Meetings like obsessed demons!

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 02:09 PM

At some sessions, I have mine on the table set to the bus information app so I can tell how long I've got before I have to pack up and go. Anybody offended by that can get stuffed.

I don't feel any need to check on other media but I'm not bothered if other people do it.

I don't mind being filmed either, but NO VIDEO LIGHTS.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 02:07 PM

The volume was off during the match, by the way.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 02:06 PM

I once kept half an eye on the whole second half of an England match on my iPhone. A goal precipitated a quick blast of Match Of The Day. :-) I need to be able to keep in touch when I'm in the pub as we live in a very remote area and we're not spring chickens. There is no phone signal so I rely on the pub's free wifi to pick up messages. No-one objects. Why would they (Well, the footie maybe, as they're all rugby nuts in Cornwall!). Stuff like this isn't going away, so let's live with it.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: Crowhugger
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 01:51 PM

I find smartphones bothersome if the room is generally dark. As long as there is no offending sound (please set keying beeps to "off") and the glow isn't in noticeable contrast to the ambient lighting, no problem. For rooms kept darker during performances, it would indeed be lovely if the venue would reserve a few seats or tables at the back for e-fidgeters where the jiggling thumbs and lights won't be a distraction but to each other. I include phone-videorecording as a form of e- fidgeting.

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 01:30 PM

All 'bad behaviours' are acceptable in moderation. Chatting, texting, drumming a bit out of time or whatever. I think it only becomes a real issue when whatever it is genuinely - and consistently - impinges on the enjoyment of other participants.

As for smartphones in particular, I'm not sure why people who feel compelled to continually study their Facebook updates, even bother attending other forms of entertainment at all? At the cinema it's such a drag to have your eyes pulled away from the action by a brightly lit screen sat in front of you. Ugh!

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: alex s
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 01:17 PM

I couldn't agree more - I had to tell someone to stop using his phone as he was sitting texting right next to....Jez Lowe!

Subject: RE: Smartphones at sessions
From: GUEST,twerp
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 01:15 PM

Spot on Marje

Subject: Smartphones at sessions
From: Marje
Date: 04 Apr 14 - 01:00 PM

Reading through the thread about the use of song books and electronic devices reminded me of a somewhat different issue that is now arising. Some people who attend music and song sessions have their smartphones on, and while others are playing or singing, they sit there twiddling at their phones, reading e-mails, texting or Facebooking.

Amd I alone in finding this extremely rude? I'm not talking about people who just happen to be in the pub or sitting in the background, I'm talking about musicians and singers who are at times active participants in the session.

If someone needs to make or receive a text or check for an urgent e-mail, I'd prefer it if they left the gathering and took themselves off into a corner to deal with whatever the matter is. Then they should switch off their gadget and engage properly with the shared experience of the session and with the people around them.

I don't think there's anything that can be done about it except to say here that I HATE this behaviour. Does anyone think it's acceptable?

Marje