Melbourne's Cherry Bar Owner On Banning Phones At Shows: 'It Fucks The Gig Vibe'

The owner and booker of Melbourne's Cherry Bar has spoken out after the iconic venue proposed to ban mobile phones at gigs yesterday, saying it is a "communal feeling" amongst live music fans.

While the proposal received a large amount of both support and criticism, James Young says if the ban was to be introduced, it would be self-implemented by staff and punters. 

"Cherry Bar is pretty much self-regulating," Young said in a statement given to The Music.

"Once we officially introduce a 'no filming entire songs on your mobile ban', all the staff and all the punters will self-implement the rule —  i.e. 'Hey mate, you’re at Cherry, no filming songs on your phone here!' —  It's kind of a name and shame thing. No, we won’t be confiscating anyone’s phone."

The statement continues, "The idea for the 'phone ban' comes from a communal feeling that genuine live music fans are sick to death of having people obscure their view, fuck with the gig vibe and embarrass themselves by staring at their phone screen instead of the live music on the stage right in front of them.

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"Getting rid of annoying phones at gigs; it’s just a vibe man. And Cherry Bar encourages other venues and artists to support Cherry and also adopt this ban."

However, Young insists that if a band encourages fans to get their phone out and capture footage, the venue has no issue.

"...That creates an exception Cherry can accept," Young says.

"The band can overrule our ban on mobile phones, a punter cannot."

Cherry Bar's original Facebook post has since garnered over 500 comments.