Just about every concert moment is captured for posterity on someone’s cell phone camera or digital video recorder. YouTube is filled with video clips shot by amateurs, many of which contain bad sound, lousy angles and shaky camera work.

But what fans shooting the videos and photos may not realize is that the object of their digital affections may not be all that crazy about the amateur productions. For some, it’s a control thing as they want to stay on top of how they’re portrayed in public. For others it’s a distraction to see the front rows filled with people paying more attention to the viewfinders than what’s going on onstage.

In an article published by the Wall Street Journal, many artists and bands commented on the issue, with several musicians expressing negative views on the entire matter and at least one saying he and his band tend to play it safer onstage these days because they don’t want to see a less than stellar performance end up on the ‘Net.

“We’re grateful that people care enough to pay attention, but we want to be at our best,” Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene told the Journal. He detailed how the band used to test new material at their shows but have since refrained from doing so, choosing instead to wait until they’ve perfected the songs before performing them live.

The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson is also opposed to audience members shooting concert videos, although the band has permitted audio taping at its shows for years. But Robinson’s complaint was more about fans paying more attention to their gadgets than to the band onstage.

“As a band we’ve been trying to string together these moments, the kind of moments I’ve had as a music fan that have blown my mind,” Robinson said. “That’s not happening when you’re texting or checking your f—ing fantasy league stats. I personally think you should be too high to operate a machine at our concerts.”

One thing the Journal points out is that not everyone shooting amateur video is a fan of the evening’s main attraction and cites one person – a 41-year-old eye surgeon – who became more interested in making concert vids after his work started to attract eyeballs on YouTube. Now he even goes to performances by bands and artists he’s not particularly fond so he can post more YouTube footage.

But what about you? Do you shoot videos at concerts? Do you mind if the person next to you does? Considering today’s ticket prices, do you think it’s your God-given right to leave the venue with a DIY video souvenir? Please take the time to answer our poll and feel free to drop a few comments in the thread below.


Click here to read the complete Wall Street Journal article (subscription may be required).