Just when you thought that you record Dave Chappelle’s stand up on your phone, think again.
Many innovative ways are starting to surface when it comes to sharing. It seems like everything has a hashtag now but that doesn’t seem to be a top priority for Dave Chappelle. Like any other comedian, he doesn’t want his material stolen or his set to end up on YouTube, like it has before. Cue the entrance to this new technology: Yondr. In other words, Chappelle may be on to something here.
The revered funnyman has entered into a deal with San Francisco-based Yondr to use that company’s smartphone-locking pouches at a series of live shows this week in Chicago.
Attendees at any of Chappelle’s 13 sold-out Thalia Hall performances will be greeted by staffers handing out gray smartphone sleeves, available in three sizes. They are then instructed to place their phones inside the sleeves and fasten them, at which point they are welcome to carry them inside the venue.
As soon as they enter the “no-phone zone,” however, the pouches will have locked shut, preventing anyone from firing off so much as a winking emoji. Need to make a call or send an email? No problem. Simply leave the designated zone (and head, say, to the lobby bar), and, as you move past several strategically placed stations, the pouches can now magically be unlocked.
This is pretty bad ass if it works but I’m wondering how those who can’t survive without their phones will feel. We’re often told to get off our phones since we’re on them too often. This’ll probably bring back the times when people didn’t reach down and have to record every single second. And chances are, Chappelle probably won’t take a hit in ticket sales.