Ma’am Turn Off Your Smartphone

Friday, July 15th, 2011 John Gallagher, Sr. Public Relations Manager

For six quarters we’ve been examining mobile device habits with our Mobile Workforce Report, and this quarter is no different.

In our upcoming August report we asked if mobile workers ever truly disconnect from technology during waking hours, and if so where, when and why? 57 percent of those surveyed responded that they disconnect during a theater or stage performance.

Well, I experienced this first hand on Tuesday night, whether I liked it or not. At the Paramount Theater in Oakland, Calif. they appear to have a zero-smartphone during performance policy. I was there to see Eddie Vedder perform an acoustic set. It was an amazing show, and the Paramount Theater was wonderful venue, a majestic 1,284 seat Art Deco theater built in 1931.

The first thing I noticed was that the theater was very dark, except for a couple of lowlight wall sconces and the stage lighting. My first indication of the theater’s policy came as I started to tweet, the person behind me asked me to turn off my smartphone because the brightness of the screen was hurting his melon – hmmm, melon, I hadn’t heard that used since 1991. Sure no problem I turned over my iPhone to mute the offensive brightness of the screen. No harm, no foul.

Then as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I noticed a large contingent of security and ushers throughout the theater. As a blue light of a smartphone screen would light the darkness, they would quietly swoop in and escort the mobile maniac out of the theater.

All in all about 10 people were escorted out. The rest of us caught on, and let sleeping smartphones lie. I must say that I was a bit restless, but I managed to survive for two hours without consulting Facebook, checking email, tweeting or texting. I would have a picture, but I couldn’t use my smartphone to capture the moment.

Have you ever truly disconnected from technology?

If so, we would love to hear your story. Complete our Mobile Workforce Report survey and you may even win an iPad 2.

Photo courtesy REL Waldmen CC 2.0