Audiences don’t realise what they’re missing out on if they stay stuck to their phones: Raghu Dixit

It is true that my fanbase has increased tremendously because of the many audience videos made at my concerts. However, it is also a fact that I always discourage people from recording while they are at my gigs.
The minute I get on to the stage, I see so many hands go up in the air, all with phones busy recording every moment. I often joke about this.I tell them that I am not all that good looking for them to need to record this for posterity. I have used humour but been firm and asked the audience to stop recording, because they do not understand what they are missing out on when they remain immersed in their phones. I really wish people would put their devices aside and enjoy the experience of being at the show, soaking in the intensity of the performance and the artiste they have come to watch.
Having said that, I realise sometimes the recording is a genuine effort. For instance, when I am performing at a venue in London and a member in the audience records part of the show to share it with those who could not make it, it can be an attempt to make them a part of the experience. Unfortunately, often these videos are not really a way to go back in time and relive an experience. Instead, these are shot and uploaded to just show off how cool life is, to friends and others on social media. Just because you are attending a concert. Call it peer pressure, or the need for validation or just an attempt to make others who could not be there, envious. I still understand a 30 or 40-second video recording, but I have seen people live stream the whole concert on social media and it befuddles me.
I feel the way we show our love for our artistes has changed drastically over time. In the early 2000s, I recall not missing even one of Thermal and a Quarter’s performances. I continue to love the band for their songwriting skills, Bruce Lee Mani’s captivating performances and admire the fact that they are a band with members who have stuck together for decades without letting anything come in their way. It does not matter to them if they get to a certain gig or what the audience demands. Back then, as fans, we would support our favourite artiste by buying all the latest CDs, their merchandise or even the little booklets they would distribute at the venue. We would follow their music and the growth of the performers.
Today, selfies, video clips and reels seem to be the way fans show their love for their favourite musicians. And I get that. In fact, I make it a point to repost every clip or reel that fans have made and it is their way of expressing their love for me and my work. At Lollapalooza, there were so many videos that I crossed the limit on reposts of fan stories. I realise, a musician reposting a fan’s post is gratification for the fan and establishes a certain bond between them.
Not all venues have the same approach to this. Certain auditoriums across the world do restrain people from recording the show at any cost. This is important for certain forms of art such as dance and theatre – as there are more complicated IPs to protect. It may not be as complicated for musicians. In fact, I see people recording at my shows as a tool to augment the popularity of my band and create a buzz for my next show.