Camera phones at gigs? You can get too much of a good thing

I'm not one to bemoan the camera phone - far from it. I love to snap a double entendre sign in a shop for posterity, send a silly face picture on Twitter or even Snapchat (yep, down with the kids), or capture an image of something genuinely intriguing/interesting in day to day life. Without wishing to sound like a Werther's Original-wielding grandad it really isn't that long since all that seemed a distant possibility is it?

But while I do understand their value and allure, it's a different matter when it comes to a gig.

I've been to two gigs recently, both at smallish, non-arena venues. I may be of diminutive stature but over the years I've become accustomed to the art of engineering a clear line of sight to the stage. Until recently.

The problem now is that some people feel the need to take photos/video of every last second of the gig they're at - blocking otherwise clear lines of sight with their £40-a-month weapon of choice.

I know it's really about the sound but it's quite nice to get a good look at whoever you've paid decent money to see - and having to peer through the dodgy screen on someone's scratched Samsung doesn't count as a 'good look'.

I am also genuinely fascinated as to what happens to these photos and videos. I am not against taking a quick pic as a reminder but some of the ones I've had the misfortune of seeing being taken were beyond abysmal. And the videos? Good luck trying to work out which song you'd even filmed when the sound is drowned out by a nearby scream or the out of tune drawl from the sweaty fella next to you.

The thing that leaves me scratching my head most though is the fact that these people surely don't enjoy the moment. The best bit about a gig for me is seeing just how good an artist is - how easily they can roar out their best hits outside of the comfort of the studio. That and the one or two songs that a powerful live performance can give a new lease of life to and make you appreciate them more than when they were just 'another one on the CD'.

If your main consideration is your battery life, faffing about getting the artist in shot and Snapchatting your mates every minute (I may be down with the kids but even I was appalled by this), then do you really allow yourself to soak in the performance? 

I'm all for chronicling the events of your life...but it might be nice to have some events that you properly enjoyed to reflect on surely?

Oh and seriously, don't think that that demented funky chicken dance is acceptable either...