Am I being paranoid, is it OK to take a mobile phone with you to the gigs? They won't confiscate it as a 'recording device' will they?

They don't allow these, and won't hold them for you either. Anyone with them are sent back to their cars or hotels--which is a pain in the buttocks.

You really should view the whole concert page on the npgmc site before going, it's got a lot of info about where to be, what you can bring, dates and times, etc.

Technically you could call someone and have them record the concert and it wouldn't sound very good---but it's just a precaution they take at every concert regardless.

Seriously though, everyone in the bloody developed world has a mobile phone now. They aren't gonna turn you away, they'll ask you to turn the phone off.

ian said:

Ah, but does UK come into "the bloody developed world".
Living here - I have to say, NO

ian said:

No, they really won't. If its Prince's security, you'll be asked to bring it back to your car or whatever. Obviously if they let you turn it off, you could turn it back on without them knowing. Either way, they won't let you have it.

Just checked the "Concerts" section and no mention of mobiles. I thought like Ian, that we all have them these days and can remember taking phones to the London gigs in 1998 without problems. Do you know of peeps being turned away with them MrChristian? Is it the actual NPGMC security who are strict?

There is no mention of mobiles at NPGMC.

The only concert venue I have ever been to where you couldn't take in a mobile was Paisley Park. And that's because it's his house and he makes the rules.

It won't happen at a normal venue. They would have to send 95% of the audience home! It won't even occur to people going to this concert that they might need to leave their mobiles at home. If they wanted to enforce such a ridiculous policy it would have to be printed on the tickets.

I think someone on this thread is just scare mongering.

mrchristian said:

This is the rule at Paisley, but is not the rule at regular concert facilities that Prince plays at. They didn't turn away phones at the Northrup or the Xcel or at any of the ONA Gigs.

I was called by one of my friends immediately after the NYC soundcheck and I also remember a thread commenting on how virtually everyone called their friends after the soundcheck to let them know what they had just missed. The person who posted this was very bemused.

So basically cell or "molile" phones are allowed.

lovemachine said:

Now that i think about it, you're right...it's only out at Paisley that he does that--which, beside the Xcel, is the only place i've seen him this past couple of yrs.
Sorry to Ian and SunMoonStars...i am corrected. (note to self: do drugs after work, not before)

No worries. They really couldn't get away with it here in Europe - if they turned away people with mobile phones, there would be no one at the gig!

ian said:

That's why i dig the Europeans: when it comes down to it, if you don't get what you want, rather than leave quietly, you start a riot and burn the fuckin' place down. "There you go, see if you catch the irony of playing Purple Rain in a fire, ya wanker!"

I'm rushing out to buy that boot that's recorded down a mobile phone. Cant wait

bkw said:

Where can i get a copy of that?

hello,
i work at the Empire in Shepherds Bush and i can tell you that at our venue we don't ask ppl to turn off mobiles becuz, duh...at a concert, it's probably very loud. i have often held up my phone in the air while someone on the other side listens. the only time a mobile is a problem at a concert is if an artist requests that punters turn off their phones like we did for Turin Brakes on the weekend. but then again that was a seated show too.
hope that helps.

Well I do hope people turn their mobiles off, I would be well pissed if during the piano medley I hear that damned Haribo tune or someones text alerts (this always seems to happen in cinemas as well).

ian said:

Objection. I'd be there. I never owned one, never will. I hate these bloody things, talk about a hype.

JeePee said:

"Hate" is a bit strong don't you think!? That's a peculiar anti-technology stance you have there... I don't remember any "hype" about mobile phones

Fact is mobile phones are just a part of modern living and they are here to stay. Little kids ask for Nokia handsets from Santa nowadays instead of Lego... there's a scary thought.

ian

JeePee said:

i'd love to be in your positiion, however many jobs REQUIRE you to carry a mobile phone - mine included