I guarantee that you clicked through some terms and conditions while buying that ticket, and it almost certainly said that phones weren't allowed. This is quite common at comedy shows because comedians develop their material over time. They don't want clips of jokes failing to land or being taken out of context, as that could hurt their career. Recording also emboldens hecklers, as one friend can record (or even livestream) while another insults the performer.

This has been a long time ago, it's possible, I know the show description at the time of purchase didn't mention it, the ticket didn't mention it and the venue policy didn't mention anything about this. Ticketmaster after the fact didn't state there were any additional T&Cs attached to the ticket.

Back in 2017 it wasn't that common yet. I think Yondr is a great solution for comedians, but can also totally see that it wouldn't have made it into terms and conditions yet. I don't think you can guarantee anything in this case unless you have the actual T&C from that particular show.

I disagree with your statement about the comedians, unless you're talking about a full length recording that is being sold on. But for those people, you go after them in the courts for piracy after the fact.

Most of the bits captured are/will be out of context and useless. My personal desire to "record" is short "i'm here" clips or pictures. (Music productions, clips, photo for the show) TM claimed "there was nothing extra" on the ticket. (I contacted them but did not try to pull a refund as that I know that TM is going to pull the "well this is the venues' issue")

> Most of the bits captured are/will be out of context and useless.

Actual history shows the opposite. The entire reason for Yondr is precisely because people were posting bits that comedians were trying out, and then people were jumping on "so-and-so told an offensive joke!" on Twitter and it becomes a whole thing. Comedians are terrified of getting "cancelled" because they tried wording their joke a different way to see what the audience reaction would be.

If people were just recording "I'm here" clips then Yondr would never have existed.

How does Yondr prevent recording? Why is my phone not recording inside the pouch?

I’ve gone to several comedy shows (5 or so?) that use the Yondr bags, and honestly I think they’re a pretty good solution. I think it’s fair for artists and comedians to want to prevent filming, and the phone jail thing is quite clever, actually. The bags are not indestructible, it seems like a sharp pair of scissors or a knife would get you in. And I think the magnet lock is actually bypassable otherwise. It’s just inconvenient enough that everyone pretty much just complies, while retaining physical possession of their phone. I kinda like the experience as an audience member, I think the phone thing does keep the audience more engaged with the show. I’m open to arguments against, but as it stands I find the phone jail charming

I fully respect your preference there. I'm also glad we can have a civil agreement/disagreement about this.

> it seems like a sharp pair of scissors or a knife would get you in

You have neither of those during the time of an emergency. They've already taken those things away at the door with the metal detector.

They do "have an area where you can unlock it" however it's a restricted area.. and not much of a use during an emergency.

> It’s just inconvenient enough that everyone pretty much just complies

I feel like that's why it's gotten so far as it has.

Yeesh. This whole thing sounds like some gross commercialization of a problem blown out of proportion, that doesn’t really work, hurts honest customers, and only gets enforced due to some sunk cost fallacy going on in the minds of the venues/entertainers that were duped into using this “product” by the IP attorneys that are throwing bad ideas out there to justify the size of their salaries. I have no doubt the same sort of thing is going on with the linked article, only it’s a different branch of the legal team involved this time.

> ushers who can't get people to stop filming.

Not only is it a numbers game (too many people to police), it is also very annoying for other patrons when people are constantly told to stop.

So banning the phones is a great solution that solves a number of problems.

> Think they're going to know how to call the cops/handle an emergergcy? lol.

Of course they do.

I really don’t think you rationale for refusing to hand over your phone holds up.

While I am fine with bans on phones for performances, I too would absolutely bristle and feel strongly inclined to complain if that was not made clear at the time I bought a ticket.

If they actually kicked people out, not just say "please put your phone away" people would learn it's not okay. The only reason people do it is because they don't think they'll get in trouble.

Credit card chargeback.

That would have invalidated my other tickets held by Ticketmaster. I think I held a Metallica ticket at the time. (Metallica let me into solder field with a Lecia Lumix LX10)

Funny about Metallica. They went from being one of the lead crusaders that brought Napster down, to now releasing their new music with no restrictions, and allowing filming at their concerts, because they have realized that on balance they are gaining more from the publicity than they lose on music sales.

Plus you'd probably never be able to go to any show that Ticketmaster sells tickets to for the rest of your life.

Then charge those back as well and bad mouth all those bands.

What was the phone requirement that you refused? Did they want to confiscate your phone, lock it in a bag you physically couldn’t open, seal it in an envelope you got to keep but could open in an emergency, just demand you keep it in your pocket…?

The yondr bags are sealed faraday cages to keep you from recording the show or being on your phone.

If the pouches had a tamper evident tool-less ripcord to open it in the event of an emergency, I think that would resolve the concerns about a Bataclan scenario.

I'd never thought of that. I would have accepted that situation if it had a rip cord and not had been happy about the requirement. However, I'm very confident that it'll never happen as that people will pull the rip cord to record. (Heck I would probably obey the rules and pull the ripcord right before handing back the case to remove the phone)

Reading about those... They basically lock away your phone and they don't give you the key.

Not quite as bad as chaining people in their apartment buildings to keep COVID-19 quarantines, but it certainly would be reason enough for me to avoid a venue.

They don't quite lock it away. They give you a special pouch that locks, you put your phone in that pouch, lock it, and then they unlock it for you at the end of the show. Your phone doesn't leave you at any point.

Not trying to argue for or against that policy. But comparing it even remotely to the COVID situation you are describing (that is currently happening in a certain country) is about as self-aggrandizing and out of touch as it can get.

My guess would be "no phone allowed."

(Specifically, no video recording allowed, but most enforcement is too stupid so they have a blanket restriction.)

There's also a 'I as the artist don't like to see the audience on their phone' component a lot of the time as well.

There are a lot of claims here. Their offical statements are:

1. They don't want their show recorded.

2. They don't want their show "leaking" on the internet ("loss of ticket sells")

3. People using their phones "ruin the experience"

Realistically it's due to:

1. They say libalious things. (Aka Hanable Burris talking about Cosby before formal conversations were had) Also, they say things that upset groups of people who try to "boycott." Aka Louie and the Parkland shooting joke./"Cancelled"

2. They are pissy about bad recordings going up on the internet and being caught behaving badly. (https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/dave-chappelle-fan...)

3. It's there to protect notorious joke stealers from being caught in the act.

Nearly all of the shows I've been to have "no recording requests"/rules etc.

Most of the time who gets caught are the ones that bring a full video camera. (Poor Rammstein requests no filming but people have their phones out the whole time.. comes with a big show)

This is an extra enforcement deal I'm referring to.

Yeah. I've never heard of this and "phoneless/phone encasing" isn't returning much.

GP - what?

Look up "phone free" and you'll find the references. What it is: It's a strong fabric case that locks you out of your phone with a very strong magnet.(defaces the object you have) This prevents you from answering the phone, making calls, using the camera etc. Have a medical/police/medical-staff being called back emergency? Good luck buddy, no one cares about this.

The company who is doing this is Yondr. They've been doing this for years. They've been doing this with musicians, comedians, courtrooms, and even at schools. I'm amazed that they have been getting away with this for so long.

Yondr has had a lot of astroturfing over the years so it's harder to find the people who have had a bad experience over the years. You'll see non-normally participating people pop up in every comment section that mentions the phone ban: "well i like that everyone isn't on their phone" etc. Also, you'll see near promo news pieces on this. Additionally there has been no public comment with this that I know of, which is super auspicious from the US or Europe. (Just did the research Placebo and Bono have enforced this in Paris.. a bit brave considering the bataclan)

EDIT: Dang, yes I said the a word (ends with turfing), this is not a statement thats happening here.

If a venue insists on treating me like guilty-until-proven-innocent cattle, I will not go. I can't be alone in this sentiment.

A friend of mine uses their phone to run an insulin pump. Are there suitable exceptions? How about doctors which may have obligations to their patient's calls?

Not OP but there are a few performers who like to either confescate phones or place them in locked baggies to stop the people who hold their phone in the air filming a video nobody will ever watch.

In theory I like the idea but in practice I agree with OP.

> to stop the people who hold their phone in the air filming a video nobody will ever watch.

This is the statement that I want to go up to you in person physically grab you, shake you and tell you I love you for making that statement. It's frustrating to be gaslit by artist claiming that a youtube reproduction of their concert/show is going to cause a justifiable loss of future revenue. Looking back at the Rammstein stiched concerts only makes me want to go more.

Never seen it happen at concerts, but it happens more often than not at standup comedy shows.

This sort of thing, everywhere, is exactly what to expect from "deregulation".

I'm unclear on how this is a regulation or deregulation thing. There could be a regulation that specifically allows for or denies smartphones at such events. It's hypothetical at this point, so why is deregulation to blame in this case now?

It’s only a big deal because regulators allowed companies like MSGE and Live Nation to buy up all the independent venues. No one would care if a single fascist club owner was terrorizing customers because the free market would punish him.

You can make the claim that ADA/disability rights were denied by the venue. (See the bluetooth gluclose monitors and people are extremely fragile or blind with the use of aids)

With regulation this a slam dunk.

With deregulation- they're getting away with "per venue's discretion" - But I have heard of medical staff being rejected because they were oncall or parents who had a baby sitter.

Presumably you could have a law saying what kinds of things are or aren't sufficient grounds to ban people from places.

Yes and if enough people actually thought about it and cared then they wouldnt participate and the market would change. But instead just like with regulation they don't care. It's just one is forced and one is a choice.

An artistic show tend to have weirdly inelastic demand. If someone is a committed fan, they will typically pay any amount of money to "worship their idol" (not in a negative way, ritualized communal, artist performances are some of the earliest human traditions we have).

To see a society in which very few limits were placed on who could see a concert, look up Metallica playing when the USSR fell, absolutely massive.

A venue can dictate how you dress and behave, but can't dictate that you not carry in a cellphone?

Not clearly telling someone with anxiety that their (very common) safety blanket isn't allowed in the venue before they buy the ticket it a problem, but it's a problem with how we treat Terms-of-Service and EULAs that are too long and legalistic as binding. It's good that people can't have their cellphones at comedy shows.

Banning phones at large events is dangerous, and should be illegal for the same reason that jamming is. If there's an emergency, neither you nor anyone around you will be able to call 911.

The yondr device looks like it could be defeated with a magnet or a sharp knife.

Places that use Yondr also make you go through airport-like security and won't allow either of those things in.

A magnet can be attached to your keys so it looks like a prox pass. No security guard is going to argue about the contents of your keyring.

I've had success with keeping (small) pocket knives on me. Those metal detectors are almost always badly tuned since false alarms are disruptive. I used to consider getting some kind of fancy thermoplastic pocket knife but frankly any cheap small knife works.

> Ultimately I lost that 80$

Why didn't you chargeback for services not received?