Comedian Dave Chappelle Using Tech To Keep Audience Off Phones At His Shows
Stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle has joined forces with a tech start-up in order to stop members of the audience using their mobile phones during his live shows.
The American comic has banned the use of phones at his shows for years, but is taking things a step further with the use of smartphone-locking pouches.
The smartphone sleeves from San-Francisco based tech firm Yondr will be handed out to attendees as they arrive.
Members of the audience keep the phone pouches with them throughout the show, but as soon as they enter the ‘no-phone zone’, they are locked shut.
If someone needs to use their phone, they can simply step outside of the no-phone zone and the case will unlock.
Not only do the phone-locking pouches prevent fresh material being uploaded to YouTube before the performance has even finished, it also stops people from disturbing others with their backlit screens, leaving everyone free to enjoy the routine.
Some venues have tried confiscating phones from attendees in the past, but this proved unpopular and resulted in long check-in and retrieval lines.
This year’s London-based Secret Cinema productions of The Empire Strikes Back used a slightly more basic version of Yondr’s system.
Mobile phones were heat-sealed in foil pouches on arrival so that they could not be accessed until movie goers left the venue and ripped them open.
Image credit: Startraks Photo/REX Shutterstock
Via: The Hollywood Reporter
