A small part of the main concert on Saturday night was spoiled for me by a person in front of me taking photos. The fact that they were taking photos on their mobile phone didn't bother me. What bothered me was that just as Prince started to sing "Sometimes It Snows In April" (one of my favourites), an 02 bouncer made his way along the row in front of me and argued with the guy taking the pics on his phone.

Now, I don't blame the 02 guy for this as he's just doing his job. It is made quite clear that pictures are not to be taken during the show so why do people continue doing it.

Please think again before taking pics. It's up to you if you want to take the risk but please think of the consequences if you're caught, not just for yourself, but others around you trying to enjoy the show. Thank you!

I totally agree. On the 28th I had to watch the keyboard section through a small mobile phone screen thanks to the plank in front of me who wanted to record it.

evilsheep said:

There were a number of people around me on Saturday night using mobile phones to either record or take photos. That in itself doesn't bother me too much be honest. It's the consequences of what takes place when they do get caught. As a result of the guy getting caught in front of me the 02 bouncer made his way along the row in front of me (no doubt disturbing every single person in that row until he got to the "culprit"), and then had a stand-up argument with the guy about it. Totally unacceptable. And as I said, I do not blame 02 for this. I blame "the plank" who was selfish enough to decide to take pics for himself and not consider the consequences of doing so for either himself or others around him.

Well, I tend to agree when it comes to the idiots who do it so blatently....but for me I have take a few mobile phone snaps at the shows and have managed to do it very discretly. I found that these little gems, although a little grainy, have served the purpose of capturing some of the greatest moments in my life forever, and you can also share those with other people. I just don't want those of us who are actually trying to give something back to the other orgers at those shows to be lumped into the category of 'planks' that you have referred to. The shots we got from the 1st Sep aftershow are now priceless for the memory of such a great nite, even though I nearly got kicked out for doing it! Obviously people need to be considerate and thoughtful, as well as aware of the consequences of their actions. The o2 staff in the main have been good about it, but someday one person WILL get ejected and will miss the night of their lives. It was a risk I was willing to take, but no more. It was just too close on Saturday, but fellow Prince fans have a little souvenir to share now which is a nice reward for the efforts.
[Edited 9/3/07 4:33am]

midasG said:

Hear you. But the consequences of getting caught taking sneaky pics have a massive impact on other people around you. I witnessed this on Saturday night and an important (to me) segment of the concert was spoiled. Why should others who respectfully don't take photos (as requested) have to witness this as a result of others who insist on doing so knowing that it's against the rules and knowing what will happen if they do get caught. If you want to take the chance of being ejected then that's up to you but please think about how this affects others around you whilst this is taking place.

DoMeBaby69 said:

Well so far nobody has been affected by me, except me as far as I am aware. And I repeat - you can do this discretly without affecting others. Your experience may be extreme, as I have seen countless people at all the shows I have attended get asked to put their phone cameras away without a commotion as you experienced. Maybe I am wrong, but so far I've not seen the experience of others affected. Maybe Prince and the o2 should lighten up a little and accept that this is just a part of the world we live in. Why should people be punished for taking a little snapshot keepsake - I mean, jeez, it's not like we can sell the bloody things or use them for anything other than to commemorate our own great night out.

midasG said:

Don't get me wrong - I agree that we should all be able to take photos and providing it doesn't affect anybody else then why shouldn't we. The point I am trying to make is what happens when people DO get caught. It's made quite clear that taking pictures is prohibited and the 02 are certainly displaying a zero tolerance attitude to those caught taking pictures. The incident which I witnessed on Saturday night as a result of a gentleman taking snaps in front of me resulted in the 02 guy making his way along half a row of seats, thereby disturbing every single person on those seats and then standing in front of them (and me) having a shouting match with the guy taking photos in front of me. All during Sometimes It Snows In April. Not pleasant. Also another orger mailed me saying that a similar incident occurred over in his block also on Saturday night and the photograph taker was forcibly ejected from the arena. Not pleasant either. Is it really worth taking the risk?

I wish the O2 staff would eject these people, on Saturday there were laser lights all over the place even on the screen when Prince was sat at the piano. I wondered if that was why he asked for the house lights to be off when he started!
It would only take a few people getting chucked out to make an impact on the rest of the shows.

There is nothing more irratating than that little square glowing next to or in front of you

HotPaisleyGirl said:

The photo policy is quite clear. Don't do it. I was even scared to get my phone out of my bag on Saturday to text my brother as I didn't want to look like I might be taking a pic and get thrown out!

HotPaisleyGirl said:

Here here! Zero tolerance, get caught & you're out, that'll oon stop them. I find it particularly annoying at the aftershows. I had 1 person stick their hand over my shoulder & held their phone in front of my face to take a bloody photo. The bloody cheek!

Man I feel really bad now that I took some

I never knew it caused so much hassle....probably because I had not been affected by them. I do see some idiots all over the arena just doing it without consideration, but I've yet to see them get ejected. If I did I certainly would not have taken the risk myself. After nearly being ejected from the Indigo for doing it I certainly would not try it again I can tell you, but in the end I knew the security guard from a previous night and he was nice about it. He was less accomodating with some of the others though. Well, anyhoo, I have a couple of nice memory shots and as that was my last show I can safely say that I won't need to worry about the risk anymore
[Edited 9/3/07 7:02am]

The pics don't bother me so much, but i was on the 2nd row on floor seats, an isle seat and what REALLY bugged me were the number of people who kept coming down, standing next to me trying to talk to me so it looked like they were supposed to be there.

Totally did my nut in. Almost, but not as much as the very tall guy and girl who appeared half way thru, stood right in front of me so i couldn't see. I complained to the bouncer and in listening to their convo... they were from LOWER TIER seats and had the nerve to walk down and stand right in front of me on front row floor seats. Whats worse... the bouncer had a bit of an argument with him, but they didn't move and he did nothing, just backed off!! GRRR In the end i gave up on my seat and moved into the middle of the isle so i could see. The bouncer kept asking me to move, but i just said... when you move them, ill move back!

Sorry, but if they wanted floor seats, they should have paid for them, like i did!

Rant over, sorry lol.

Anyway... pics don't bother me so much, the odd one i don't mind. But i have been frustrated at other concerts by people videoing the whole thing, i mean... cant they just watch!!