I've been to numerous shows recently with no-phone policies (TOOL, Louis CK, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle). I _love_ the policy, it frees people to enjoy the show, doesn't block views with people holding phones up and doesn't ruin the lighting.
I now intentionally seek out no-phone shows and events (it's common in standup comedy).
The first two enforce the rule with security - if you get caught, you get kicked out and banned from future shows.
The later two shows used the pouch system from Yondr. At Chris Rock the show started 90 minutes late since people came to the show with their tickets on their phones and had to walk back out to unlock them. There were also nowhere near enough staff to lock the phones and provide pouches, nor to unlock phones. It was chaos.
Chappelle doesn't do digital tickets, but on the way out there was almost a crush in the crowd as people lined up to get their pouches unlocked. We ended up forcing open a fire escape and went home with our phones still in pouches, I ended up unlocking the pouches at home (you just gotta beat it open, or use a magnet)
The implementation of these systems aren't perfect - but there is definitely room here for a good implementation.
My thought was that the best solution would be phone lockers in venues that are after ticketing. Simple slots that you slide your phone into and get an RFID tag with a locker number back in return. I'm sure somebody will figure it out.
I now intentionally seek out no-phone shows and events (it's common in standup comedy).
The first two enforce the rule with security - if you get caught, you get kicked out and banned from future shows.
The later two shows used the pouch system from Yondr. At Chris Rock the show started 90 minutes late since people came to the show with their tickets on their phones and had to walk back out to unlock them. There were also nowhere near enough staff to lock the phones and provide pouches, nor to unlock phones. It was chaos.
Chappelle doesn't do digital tickets, but on the way out there was almost a crush in the crowd as people lined up to get their pouches unlocked. We ended up forcing open a fire escape and went home with our phones still in pouches, I ended up unlocking the pouches at home (you just gotta beat it open, or use a magnet)
The implementation of these systems aren't perfect - but there is definitely room here for a good implementation.
My thought was that the best solution would be phone lockers in venues that are after ticketing. Simple slots that you slide your phone into and get an RFID tag with a locker number back in return. I'm sure somebody will figure it out.