Editor’s note: For a full review of Tool’s Seattle concert I recommend checking out this excellent review by my colleague Ernest Jasmin of the Tacoma News Tribune.
I made a mistake. It happens. Unfortunately, that mistake is the reason why you won’t be reading a review of Saturday night’s sold-out concert by progressive metal masters Tool here on Ear Candy.
The mistake I made was not bringing a notebook to the concert. This probably doesn’t sound like a big deal, but this simple mistake combined with an inane policy and a hard-working and effective venue event staff caused me to almost be evicted from KeyArena three times and thus killed any chance of me being able to write a review Tool’s concert.
I will go on record stating that Tool performed what was undeniably one of the best arena rock shows of the summer. It was filled with stellar visuals, amazing musicianship and obsessive fans. I’ve reviewed Tool before so I knew what to expect from the band. What I didn’t know to expect was a policy that did not allow cell phone cameras to be used throughout the sold-out 20,000-capacity KeyArena during the concert. That policy was later turned into an absolutely no cell phone use policy and because I use my phone to take notes I did not take notes during the concert. In fact, I was told if I did use my phone to take notes I would be evicted from the building. This is of course where my mistake of not bringing a notebook comes into play.
I could deliver a review based off my memory and go without notes, which is something I have done before but Tool is a professional band I respect and its fans are very passionate, therefore I believe the band and its fans deserve an accurate and honest, professional-caliber review of the show. Also, since I was not allowed to use the only tool I had at my disposal to take the notes required to do my job and provide a professional review of the show, I will not be reviewing the concert.
Every time I go to a show I always have the mindset that I get to do my job as a guest of the artist/venue and because I’m a guest I must adhere to the terms of the artist/venue. As long as I am made aware of those terms beforehand I can make a decision on whether to attend based on whether I want to adhere to those policies. If Tool’s management would’ve informed me of the no cell phone policy then I would’ve brought a notepad and I could have enjoyed the show. Instead I’m left with a crappy memory of what was likely a great experience for everyone else in attendance.
Now I’m not one of those entitled music journos who thing they are the most important person in the room. I appreciate and am thankful for every opportunity I get to review a band, be it an arena act like Tool or a local singer-songwriter playing the High Dive. I strongly believe that getting to review concerts is a privilege and it is a job I enjoy and take seriously. I really don’t enjoy getting all self-important on my blog, but I’ve been doing this job for 10 years and I have never been treated so poorly which is why I feel the need to tell this story.
Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I respect and appreciate all event staff and security staff at every concert I attend. I say this because I am writing this a bit off the cuff and it will probably sound like I am upset at the event and security staff at KeyArena. That is not the case at all. The event staff at KeyArena Saturday night were just doing their job (extrememly well I might add), which is a very difficult and important job that involved keeping me and everyone else who was at the concert safe. Sadly, on Saturday that job also involved carrying out the stupefying cell phone policy put in place by Tool’s management (which provided me with my ticket to the show) and Tool’s security. With that said, here’s how my experience at Tool’s concert went:
I was first approached by a member of KeyArena’s security squad 25 minutes before the show started when I stood up and snapped this picture with my phone. I was then asked by a nice female security staff member not to take photos and was told if I did take another photo I would be “removed from the venue.” I was also told there was a sign posted in the concourse area of the Key stating cell phone cameras were strictly prohibited. I apologized and explained that I did not see the sign and expected not to have any more run-ins with event staff.
Five minutes before the show started I decided to send a tweet about the no camera phone policy. As anyone who follows Ear Candy on Twitter knows, I almost always tweet my thoughts and observations about concerts while I’m at a show. I consider live tweeting a concert part of how I cover shows nowadays. It’s become something I am known for and something that readers expect of me. When the same security woman saw me on my phone sending a tweet she told me to put my phone in my pocket because if she saw me using it again she would kick me out of the arena. I explained I wasn’t using the camera and she said it didn’t matter whether I was using my camera phone.
At that point I probably should have done as she asked and kept my phone in my pocket for the rest of the show. But I had a job to do and I had to use my phone to do it properly so I figured I would take my chances. Plus, slightly rebelling against authority is part of a journalist’s DNA so I decided to take notes on my phone and deal with the consequences.
My third and final encounter with security came during the fourth song of the set while I was taking notes. I explained I was not taking photos and that I was a credentialed media member using my phone to take notes for a review (I even showed her my notes). I was approached by the same security staff member who approached me the previous two times and she told me I could use my phone as long as I kept it hidden. When I again explained I was not using my camera phone and that I was under the impression the policy only applied to camera phones, she replied by telling me the head of security was “breathing down my neck to eliminate all cell phones that are being used.” She said she was told that the policy applies to all cell phone use and that if I was seen using my phone again I would be forcibly removed from KeyArena.
Of course I didn’t use my phone after that warning because I was afraid of being thrown out of the show. Also, event staff shined a flashlight on or near me three times during the rest of my time at KeyArena (I left after an hour and 45 minutes because I felt extremely uncomfortable and unwelcome), as if to remind me they were watching me and my dangerous cell phone. To be fair I did see at least six people get escorted out for using cell phones. I doubt those people were given the three warnings I received and I am thankful the security woman I was dealing with decided not to kick me out of the venue because I am sure she could have if she wanted to.
In this situation I place full blame on Tool’s security and management staff for implementing such a ridiculous policy. Tool has always been a mysterious and secretive band that likes to control its own image, which is why I’m guessing the cell phone policy was put in place, however, you can’t control the actions of 20,000 or so people inside of a basketball arena when it comes to personal communications devices. I’m amazed the band’s security and management thought they could eliminate all cell phone use throughout a sold-out KeyArena.
It’s okay though because I think I like A Perfect Circle better anyway, and I still think I have the best hobby in the world that occasionally gives me a paycheck.
