Why film at a gig?

Krystian Zimerman (c) Kasskara and D/G

I have stumbled across this not-so-recent news article by the BBC in which pianist Krystian Zimerman went off stage during one of his concerts. The reason was that someone was filming with their smart-phone an didn't stop doing so even after the concert was interrupted. Therefore he walked off stage and although he finished the recital, he didn't play an encore and was seemingly annoyed. He commented afterwards:

'What happened is theft, pure and simple. It cuts particularly deeply when the artist is of a sensitive nature.'

No matter whether this is professional behaviour or not, the question I am asking myself is simply why bother? Why film at a gig?
There are no good arguments for doing so.

First of all it is disrespectful against the artist as you could not only make him uncomfortable and therefore diminish the performance for you and everyone around, but more importantly you are making the choice of rather looking at a screen and concentrating on filming than enjoying the performance. Roger Waters:

'It would seem to me to show a lack of respect to and care for fellow concert goers, or for that matter the artist.'

Everyone should remember, and those who have been in this position know, that even though you have 'paid' for the artist to perform, he or she is nevertheless performing for your entertainment, not because it is particularly fun to do so. The artist is putting himself in the spotlight for you to have a good time.

Secondly, the footage you create is probably of poor quality and will not be able to represent the event as it unfolded. Another BBC article quotes two girls when asked about their motivation to film at gigs: '[It's] memories, so you don't forget the good times,' however they also say: 'It is a bit annoying though sometimes when there is loads in front of your face and you can't see.' This is quite remarkable: they claim that they film to not forget the good times but say that they can't really see everything sometimes. Well that would imply they don't necessarily have a good time and should rather try to move to a better spot instead of wasting the experience. Which brings me to my final point, what experience?

Going to a concert for me not only meant to listen to the music first and foremost as I am able to do that with superior quality at home (exlcuding classical concerts). It was also about the performance, the experience of the pushing and shoving in the front row, or (as in the concert hall) to enjoy the anticipation of the music to come. This might all be lost while being occupied with filming, there is no experience when you go home apart from having held your smart-phone for an hour.

I am personally very concerned with the incentive of 'sharing' in our society. People seem to be easily motivated to share their lives for everyone to see. And one of the reasons they film at gigs might be that they almost 'need' something to 'share' or that there is an opportunity to share another part of their life. But instead they should rather live their lives, somehting a lot of people seem to forget more and more. I find that very sad as I am believing that the more someone shares the more this person loses its individuality, which might seem paradox at first but not so much after thinking about it.

-PW