After a fan struck Bebe Rexha within the face with a cellphone throughout a June 18 present in New York, ought to the music business think about banning cellular units at concert events? For years, touring stars akin to Bob Dylan, Jack White and Dave Chappelle have stated video-recording on telephones detracts from the stay expertise — and that was earlier than the airborne cellphone assault went viral on social media. However, consultants say, change received’t occur instantly.
Whereas celebrities and musicians together with Demi Lovato, John Stamos, Hayley Kiyoko and Lauren Jauregui all expressed concern for Rexha after she was rushed to a hospital and shared a photograph of a black eye after the incident, Steven Adelman, vp of the Occasion Security Alliance, says, “This isn’t going to alter something — but.”
“However,” he provides, “it’s the primary crack in a wall that finally goes to fall.”
Whether or not cellphones take away from the concert-going expertise just isn’t a brand new debate — however Rexha’s assault is the primary main case of the units getting used for a violent act. Simply final yr, Silk Sonic‘s Bruno Mars griped, “With the cameras, you’re like, ‘I don’t know if I wish to check out this dance transfer tonight.’”
“I’ve at all times thought, in some unspecified time in the future, there could be a ban on cellphones as a result of it violates an necessary piece of mental property for the artist — their stay efficiency,” Adelman says. The problem, he continues, is followers carry cellular tickets on telephones and pay for merch and concessions by way of online-billing apps akin to Apple Pay: “There are clearly very sturdy competing pursuits right here.”
The Rexha live performance incident at The Rooftop at Pier 17 is unlikely to unfold, although: The alleged assailant, Nicolas Malvagna, stated in a felony grievance that he thought “it could be humorous” to throw the telephone. He was arraigned June 19 on harassment and assault expenses, each misdemeanors. “The important thing right here is that individual was arrested and shall be prosecuted, and that sends an amazing message: ‘You possibly can’t do that,’” says David Yorio, who co-owns Citadel Safety Company, which works with concert events and festivals in New York. “There’s no impunity from this.” (The person who slapped Ava Max throughout a live performance Tuesday night time in Los Angeles, in distinction, was hauled away however has not been criminally charged.)
Promoters can proceed to ban telephones at sure occasions, “simply one other layer” of safety and logistics, Yorio provides, however for bigger occasions, like festivals, “Logistically, it’s a nightmare.”
Sure artists’ anti-phone sentiment is so sturdy {that a} startup, Yondr, has spent the final 9 years offering pouches for followers to retailer their telephones earlier than attending concert events. Adelman is sympathetic to this strategy as a result of artists make most of their cash off touring today, and unique live performance footage shouldn’t have to show into free social media content material in opposition to their will. “Individuals who can simply elevate their cellphone and hit document are primarily violating a contract with the artist, which is [to] be a part of the show-going expertise,” he says.
However he provides: “Folks shouldn’t throw telephones. And you’ll quote me on that.”
