Concert-goers will be given stickers upon entry to cover their cameras
The Warehouse Project in Manchester is introducing a ‘no phone’ policy for many of its upcoming gigs, it has been announced.
The mobile phone ban will be in force during events held in the Concourse section of the club at Depot Mayfield, on Store Street, with gig-goers told to put as sticker over their device’s cameras.
The popular venue said for its more intimate gigs, phones will not be permitted to be used and that the stickers will be provided on entry.
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And ticketholders attending other full Warehouse Project events (WHP), are being ‘encouraged’ to keep their phones in their pockets throughout events, with signage also in place to remind crowds to ‘respect those around them’ and limit the use of their devices where possible.
It follows the likes of other UK music and events spaces, and performers, who have implemented a ban on phones. Bob Dylan introduced the policy banning mobile devices during his tour in 2024.
The Warehouse Project said it feels “that club culture is best enjoyed in the moment with your friends, and your phone in your pocket”.
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The next upcoming events in the Concourse section include Annie Mac’s Before Midnight on September 6, DJ Heartstring on September 12 and and ANOTR on September 19.
A statement issued by the venue online said: “Sometimes maybe it feels you only hear from us when there is a line-up announcement, and we want to change that. So while we’re making preparations, we will be in touch with some general updates – we always welcome your feedback too.
“We know WHP can be a BIG experience and we don’t feel its always our place to try and enforce a strict no phones policy. However, we feel that club culture is best enjoyed in the moment with your friends, and your phone in your pocket.
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“You may have noticed a few more ‘Concourse Only’ events appearing on the calendar. For these more intimate shows we will be introducing a no phones policy and asking people to sticker their phone cameras upon entry.
“For the full WHP shows, we’ll be encouraging everyone to keep their phones in their pockets, especially on the dancefloor. Whilst not enforcing a no phones policy there will be signage around the venue asking people to simply respect those around them and limit use of phones generally whilst in the venue.”
The events space added that there will be a ‘huge’ archive of professionally shot images and videos at the end of each night that concert-goers can use on their own social platforms.
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