When you walk into a concert today, what do you immediately see? A sea of phones held up high trying to capture the artist on stage. Fans are spending the majority of the show recording minute long videos all while watching the artist through a 6-inch screen instead of looking right in front of them.
Not only is this frustrating for the fans standing behind the sea of phones who now can’t see, but it is also frustrating for the artist. What’s the point of a show if the artist cannot connect with the audience? Some artists have had enough, Phoebe Bridgers is one of many artists who have now implemented phone free concerts by locking everyone’s phones up in pouches like Yondr. It’s slowly becoming a movement in the industry. But for venue operators and promoters, taking away phones is not just about artist preference, it changes the room’s energy, crowd behaviour and bar spend.
Pros and cons of going phone free
Implementing a phone free policy requires a shift in how you run your event. Before making the switch, you must look at the pros and cons.
Pros:
- Overall energy of the crowd: When people can’t text, scroll, or record videos, they are actively engaged with the performance. Fans dance more, cheer louder, and connect with the artist on a deeper level.
- Protection of material: Keeping the setlist and show production a secret is nearly impossible in today’ s world. With phone free concerts, this prevents leaks that ruin the element of surprise.
Cons:
- Entry and Exit Bottlenecks: Having to lock up and unlock phones as fans enter and leave the venue is an extra step that was not necessary before implementing a no phone rule. This can cause delays and frustrates fans trying to get in, buy merchandise, or grab a drink before the show.
- Less appealing to some fans: Some fans may demand access to their phones and could push back on the rule or refuse to buy tickets altogether.
Hidden Perks: Higher spend in venue
When fans aren’t distracted by their phones, they notice more things around them. They spend more time at the bar before the show and buy more merchandise to have a physical memory of the show since they can’t capture it on video. With no phone distractions during intermissions, your bars and concession stands will be packed, increasing overall beverage spend. This extra revenue will easily offset the cost of the extra staff needed to handle the pouches at the front door.
How to prevent door bottlenecks
The biggest fear surrounding phone free events is the entry and exit process. If it’s slow, lines will wrap around the block and fans get frustrated if they aren’t let in quickly.
To keep your entry running smoothly:
- Set up dedicated pouch stations near the exits: Having fans scan their tickets first, go through security, then lock up their phones at pouch stations makes the most sense. Set the pouch stations in a wide area and staff them heavily to ensure a quick flow where staff can lock and unlock pouches within seconds.
- Create designated phone areas: For emergency situations where fans need access to their phones, set up a lounge area where they can unlock their pouch, use their phone, and lock it back up before returning to the show.
- Communicate Early: Send ticket holders a clear email and let them know what to expect before getting to the venue. If fans know where to go and what to do, the process of getting into and leaving the venue becomes super fast.
How to ensure fast entry
If your box office staff is struggling with slow ticket scanning, bad Wi-Fi, or bad ticketing software, adding pouches to lock up phones on top of that will turn door entry into total chaos.
You need to ensure that you are scanning tickets as quickly as possible so staff can focus on guiding fans through the pouching process. AdmitONE provides reliable scanning hardware and digital check-ins that process fans in seconds. Now your staff isn’t stuck fixing software glitches at the door and can focus entirely on delivering a wonderful, phone free experience for fans the second they walk through the door.
