Shelter Amsterdam Implements a “No Phone Policy”

House and techno haven Shelter Amsterdam becomes the latest venue to implement a no-phone policy.

The live music experience in the digital age has been blemished by an obsession with documenting it. Though having your phones out during a performance or even a night out at the club isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it does have a diminishing effect on a crowd member’s presence. Entertainers, event organizers and attendees alike have voiced their frustration with this phenomenon over the years, and it has only recently started to take effect.

Artists across the board have started banning phones at their shows just to have their own audience’s attention. Rock royalty Jack White and veteran comedian Chris Rock are among the most notable figures to summon Yondr, a company that makes pouches to lock phones inside for the duration of a performance. Most recently, landmark nightclub Shelter Amsterdam announced that they too will be implementing a no-smartphone policy at their venue moving forward. Read their full statement below:

Branded as “a home away from home for veteran clubbers and enthusiastic newcomers alike,” this nightclub is taking major strides in preserving the core practices of going out and partying. Whereas memories are key, those running the place believe that being in the moment takes precedence over everything else. Their decision to disallow cellular devices is rooted in an emphasis on escaping, so it should come as no surprise that they got rid of what distracts people the most.

As one of the top destinations for fans of house and techno, Shelter Amsterdam is in a position to shift the culture and its norms. They are now playing their part by exercising this privilege responsibly and encouraging attendees to enjoy the club without constantly recording or staying connected with those not with them at the moment.

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Though their popularity can largely be attributed to the virality of social media and cyberspace connectivity, Shelter Amsterdam has not lost sight of what is most important: the music. The venue staff will now put more work into documenting their events while audience members get to focus on being present and dancing.

Located across the IJ river in the Dutch capital, Shelter Amsterdam has become a cornerstone of the electronic music space. What goes down there sets the tone for the rest of the culture, so it is important for them to lead by example. Whereas they will not be required to lock their phones inside pounces, clubgoers will have to figure out how to absorb their surroundings and have fun without any technological intervention — sounds like a tempting challenge!

Karan Singh

I am an Indian American music journalist based in Los Angeles. My interests include (but aren’t limited to) downtempo, industrial, drum & bass and trip hop. After working in the publishing industry as a copy editor for nearly three years, I decided to switch professions and become a writer. I have a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Cruz and a master’s degree in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. My aim as a writer is to explore the forces that energize creativity. I’ve always felt a natural pull toward the arts and entertainment space, and my stories seek to magnify the facets of its adjoining cultures.

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