CNET covers cameras at U2 concerts
One area where U2 has been “ahead of the curve” is its decision to allow fans to bring cameras into concerts. It’s pretty much common these days for artists and venues to allow cameras, but U2’s been that way since the Elevation Tour in 2001.
CNET News posted an article yesterday about the growing trend of allowing fans to take photos during concerts, which points out how silly it is to try to keep cameras out:
Nearly every person at any show these days is going to have some form of camera with them, be it a point-and-shoot, an iPhone or some other camera phone, and it seems that there is almost no way to imagine keeping all those devices out.
That new reality is forcing an increasing number of bands to come to grips with the fact that they can’t really control the images from their shows, and that, for the most part, they’re better off letting fans cram Facebook and Flickr with such pictures anyway.
This is one of the things I talked about in my presentation at the U2 conference last month in Raleigh: Today, we are all media. We’re all able to “report” from concerts by posting photos online, by sending messages to Twitter and Facebook, and so forth.
I’m glad U2 has been so good for so many years about allowing cameras, and I hope they stay good in the future as technology gets better … and easier to bring into a concert.
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5 Responses to “CNET covers cameras at U2 concerts”
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Matt,
U2 allowed cameras during Popmart as well. I was able to bring my SLR camera to both the San Diego and Los Angeles without any hassle. It’s funny, even though the Popmart tix say “no cameras” is was easy, and that was still a time when I would have to bring a backpack to carry the film around.
Andy
Hey Andy – I also got cameras in to a couple PopMart shows, but there wasn’t a specific announcement from the band allowing cameras back then. That’s what I’m referring to above about the Elevation Tour.
Matt,
True, although I did have a heck of a time with my SLR at the Anaheim Elevation show, but they eventually let me bring it in to the heart! Got some great shots at the LA show a few weeks ago too. Glad they’re cool with cameras, or at least not frisking their fans.
I know it’s early, but are you planning on doing a party or anything before the Seattle show 6/20? I’ll be flying up for that show!
Andy
I attended a Zooropa show in London in 1993 where they also allowed cameras in.
I don’t remember if it was a hassle or not, but I was able to take a 35mm point-and-shoot camera with me and took about three rolls of film @ the ZooTV Outdoor – Chicago 1 U2 concert in 1993.