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Roger Waters posted on his Facebook, the other day,

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Roger Waters on cell phone use at concerts
:: Posted by abhitaranath on February 25, 2011

Roger Waters posted this today on his Facebook page. This isn’t directly Crimson-related, but there’s a strong link here to a lot of what Robert says.
- Abhi -

"I’ve been at the editing suite today looking at some of the footage of the North American shows that we shot as an aid to making a proper film of the show later for Theatrical and Blu-ray release.

I am struck by the number of cell phones held aloft to film bits of the show and also by the amount of flash photography and the number of people texting and twittering.

This is a minority of the audience but a significant minority. What do we all think of this?

For my part I would never turn on a cell phone at any musical event, whether it’s at The Met, The Garden or anywhere else. It would seem to me to show a lack of respect to and care for fellow concert goers or for that matter for the artist. Apart from anything else, how could I possibly truly experience the thing I’d paid to see and hear, if I was fiddling with an iPhone, filming or twittering or chatting or whatever?

Anyway, this is a question not a general admonition, I am genuinely interested to know what you think.
Roger"

Photography happens at concerts for the same reason it happens in places where tourists go (they want pictures to remind them of the experience, or to brag about, nevermind that they can get better pictures in concert programs or DVDs). Flash photography happens in large venues because people are stupid (it doesn't help). Flash photography happens in small venues because people want good pictures (it helps). People don't care if flash bothers the performers or annoys other audients. They Twitter and such, because they'd rather tell their friends about the show than watch it. Sometimes they wave their phones in the air like lighters.

I don't think it's a big deal to take a minute out of a two-hour concert to send a message to a friend who's bummed about missing the show, but to do it constantly? I'm not sure what's up with that. I don't think it's a big deal to take a few photos either, but I hate being stuck behind that guy who has his camera up and blocking my view for most of the show. But it's not much more annoying than the drunk girl waving her arms throughout the entire show. Or the guy with the painful whistle. Flash is annoying. I've been known to shoot flash at a concert once or twice. I try to avoid it. I'm sure some people are taking notes on their phones. Writing set lists or whatever. I tried that once. It took too long.