Why phones are getting banned from the dance floor

Overuse of phones has become a constant conversation and a big trigger for many of you. Every week, there are clips of parties where seemingly everyone in the crowd has their phone out to capture a peak moment.

Calls to ban, or at least limit, phone usage on the dance floor have come from far and wide. Clubs, festivals and artists seem to be listening, with many bans coming into force.

Here’s why…

TO PROTECT THE MOMENT
Many ravers spend more time capturing the right shot than actually feeling the music. Without phones, the focus shifts back to connection, dancing and the energy in the room. It’s about encouraging people to live in the moment, not document it.

RESPECT FOR THE ARTIST
Though it can be great for marketing, some DJs dislike having their sets filmed, especially when targeted by online hate mobs. Phone bans create space for artists to play more freely, without worrying about every tiny action being recorded and scrutinised.

BETTER ATMOSPHERE
When phones are removed from the dance floor, people feel safer. There’s less surveillance, and a more liberated environment is cultivated. Without the constant gaze of screens, a more uninhibited vibe arises - creating a better atmosphere.

INCREASED PRIVACY
Whether you like it or not, filming on a busy dance floor means you capture people’s behaviour without their consent. Phone bans protect people from unwanted filming or being shamed online. What happens on the dance floor should stay on the dance floor. Always.

DISRUPTS ADDICTION CYCLES
Checking your phone can become an automatic reflex: check notifications, film a clip, repeat.
Banning them forces people to break that loop and lose themselves in the music. Taking phones out of the equation offers a rare chance to truly disconnect in a hyper-connected world.