
Bob Dylan is banning phones on his tour, but good luck stopping us
Is Dylan going to enhance our experience of live music, or does he need to get over himself? Kasia Delgado talks to passionate haters and defenders of phones at gigs

It seems a bit silly to me. If the fans paid the money to be there they can enjoy it how they wish. Doesn’t really bother me that people feel the need to document it. Most of the time the videos are terrible quality but that might be why Dylan is doing this. He might feel that people won’t come to his shows if they can see it for free on YouTube.![]()
Bob Dylan is banning phones on his tour, but good luck stopping us
Is Dylan going to enhance our experience of live music, or does he need to get over himself? Kasia Delgado talks to passionate haters and defenders of phones at gigsinews.co.uk
That's why he's Bob Dylan and you're not.It seems a bit silly to me. If the fans paid the money to be there they can enjoy it how they wish. Doesn’t really bother me that people feel the need to document it. Most of the time the videos are terrible quality but that might be why Dylan is doing this. He might feel that people won’t come to his shows if they can see it for free on YouTube.
Personally I feel they distract me from the performance so when I do go to a concert I might snap off a picture but for the most part the phone is in my pocket.
But you can call me Zimmy?he's Bob Dylan and you're not
My favorite Bob Dylan fact is that he made a noise complaint against his neighbors. Frankly I'd feel kind of proud in a weird way that he paid me a little bit of attention and bad for being a bad neighbor.I LOVE Bob Dylan............. The man, to me, is a genius............
I remember not too much in the distant past, when Bob REFUSED to have any of his stuff on you-tube. Someone would post one of his songs and in a couple of days it would be removed..........
Then, Bob got smart, he figured out that if you "can't beat 'em, join 'em"........ Now he has his own BD channel, and is reaping in the spoils.......
But, to the point........ If I was a performer, I think all the phones held out at arms length, would be a great annoyance, especially someone of Bob's age..........
I get it, but I think Bob's going a bit too far on this................ and I'm one of Bob's biggest fans....... absolutely adore him, he's as American as apple pie...........
I'd agree, Bengel................. I just thought to myself how much more enjoyable a show would be without hundreds of outstretched arms held overhead with the cell-phone clutched........... Old School Cool would be nice, just sit there and enjoy the show..........I have to admit that the only shows I have seen in the last few years are Dylan and Leon Russell. Outdoors from the audience perhaps the phones aren’t as intrusive, but I think it can really spoil a theater setting for the audience and cannot imagine how it would play from the performers side. I have to think putting the phone down for a bit has to be a good thing. The Dylan show I just saw/heard was enchanting and people getting up even between songs disturbed the magic, so I have to say I think the restriction is a positive.
That sounds like Dylan to me!Old School Cool
except who is not going to a concert cause they saw it on youtube (unless it's amazing how bad it is), but legally he's in the right. Now albums and recordings yeah youtube could take food out of his bank money from his mouth.I would argue that his songs are his intellectual property. He makes his living by doing what he does. So, if I can watch a YouTube video of his concert and not have to buy a ticket or pay to listen to his songs it is basically stealing from him as a performer yes? Just sayin?.
Last time I checked, this is still a free market economy
True sir! But I’m saying that as a mechanic, if someone does a video of me doing a repair and I did not post the video myself or authorize it then I loose business on the same repairs because everybody watches a YouTube video on how it’s done then what is my skill, training or investments I have made in myself worth? I get it……nobody escapes the interwebs nowadaysexcept who is not going to a concert cause they saw it on youtube (unless it's amazing how bad it is), but legally he's in the right. Now albums and recordings yeah youtube could take food out of his bank money from his mouth.