Here are a few artists who have put the kibosh on picture taking.
Prince
The “Purple Rules.”
When fans showed up for a surprise performance at City Winery in New York City, they encountered a sign informing them that photography, videography, and cell phone use were not allowed. “These rules will be strictly enforced and violators will be asked to access another experience.” How strict? According to theGothamist, phones were being ripped from people’s hands when they were caught trying to record the performance, and they were escorted out if they didn’t comply. Gothamist editor Ben Yakes, who was in the audience, wrote, “I didn’t really feel the desire to take out my phone – Prince and his merry band of horn blowers masterfully kept my brain and legs fully engaged… I couldn’t take my eyes off of the stage.” But apparently the ban wasn’t 100-percent effective, as a few images and videos of the performance made it online.
This wasn’t the first time photography was banned at a Prince performance. When he played at a similar surprise concert at the City Winery location in Chicago, the same rules were listed and guards were sent into the crowd with the sole purpose of enforcing the ban.
Beyoncé
We’re not sure if it was Mrs. Carter who ignited this sudden push to ban photography at concerts, but she (or was it alter ego Sasha Fierce) did make a big stink about it. After unflattering images of her performing at this year’s Super Bowl were published (these were shot by pros covering the concert) and an unsuccessful attempt by her publicist to have them removed, Beyoncé decided to ban professional photographers from her tour, with the thinking that this will prevent bad photos from making it to the press. (Instead, her team would send out preapproved images to the media.) The plan backfired, naturally. Although cameras weren’t allowed, fans were able to shoot the performance with the phones. Photo agencies paid these fans for their photos, and as Fstoppers rightly puts it, “Now not only is the mainstream media showing unflattering photos of her, they are showing bad-quality unflattering photos of her.”
Other performers have taken notice of Beyonce and Prince’s call to put away the cellphones and watch the show live, instead of through a screen. Take a look at a few musician
