BEYONCÉ wants fans attending her gig in Dublin tomorrow night to 'live in the moment'.
When Queen Bea hits the stage at Croke Park, she wants fans to watch through their eyes and not through a lens.
The American singer has warned those coming to the concert not to bring any iPads along with them on the night.
It's the latest attempt by the Bootylicious star to get concert-goers to appreciate her performance live, with the singer no stranger to berating fans about filming her on stage.
She previously told one off for recording her performance: "You can't even sing because you're too busy taping," Beyoncé told him.
"I'm right in your face, baby. You gotta seize this moment. Put that damn camera down".
There is nothing new about people recording concerts but the proliferation of smartphones that can capture good-quality photos and videos - which are often uploaded to YouTube - have made it more of a common occurrence.
With concerts and events now aglow with phones and tablets, Beyoncé has joined a growing list of artists taking a stand.
Numerous stars have criticised fans for experiencing live music through the filter of a screen, with many claiming they want to have contact with their audience, not with digital devices or phones.
Filming at concerts has always been a divisive subject, with many people naturally wanting to 'capture the moment' at shows.
But now the banning of cameras, phones and other recording devices has become more prevalent with some artists imposing restrictions at their gigs.
American band the Eagles asked fans not to switch their phones on - at all - during their concerts. Signs warned guests caught texting, taking photos or filming would be asked to leave.
It has even filtered into classical music too with one of the world's leading pianists surprising concert-goers when he stormed off stage because a fan was filming his performance on a smartphone.
Krystian Zimerman returned moments later and declared: "The destruction of music because of YouTube is enormous".
Apple has also taken the matter seriously and just last week it was granted a patent for technology that could bring a halt to smartphone cameras being used at concerts.
The new system could potentially stop people filming gigs and events with their iPhones by allowing venues to use an infra red beam to disable photography on mobile phones.
I'm not totally opposed to recording at concerts but then who wants a bulky device such as iPad stuck in your face during your favourite song?
The arguments against the camera bans are compelling - why shouldn't people be able to record? They paid for the tickets, why shouldn't they be able to bring cameras and phones into venues and take some photographs if they want?
Is it any more annoying than the 7ft tall man who has secured himself a spot in the front row?
Yes, people should realise that filming during gigs takes away from the experience of a live performance as well as being a nuisance to the performers and other concert-goers.
But artists need to embrace changing technology, we view most things through a screen these days - and cope.
Telling gig-goers what they can and can't do at a live music event also implies a romantic notion that the pre-mobile, pre-social media era was better. But was it really?
Dare I say people can still enjoy the music afterwards through their pictures and recordings.
Do cameras and smartphones take the fun out of concerts or is it an inevitable new form of social experience that artists need to come to terms with?
Given the amount of photos and videos online today it's going to be hard to enforce any sort of ban.
Yes 'capture the moment' but try to 'live in the moment' too.
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Competition
Rosie Blake's new novel How to Find Your (First) Husband is a hilarious romantic comedy about a globe-trotting quest to find love.
Isobel Graves moved to LA determined to be the 'next big thing', but instead finds herself dressed as a giant prawn handing out fliers promoting a fish market.
Rather than attending glamorous parties and dating exciting men, her evenings consist of watching box sets with her sort-of boyfriend, whose idea of romance is a late-night drunken text.
When Isobel catches sight of Andrew Parker, her childhood sweetheart, in the background of a TV news story she feels it's a sign - if she'd stuck with Andrew everything would have turned out better.
She quits her dead-end job and travels the world seeking the man she believes she is meant to be with.
Join Isobel as she travels from LA to Devon and to a remote Malaysian island in search of true love.
I have three copies of How to Find Your (First) Husband to give away. To be in with a chance to win, simply email your name, address and telephone number - along with the answer to the question below - to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday July 12 at noon.
(Q) What is the name of Isobel Graves' childhood sweetheart?
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
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What's Hot!
Budget beauty - Lidl is expanding its Cien beauty range with the launch of a new cosmetics line, proving that you don’t have to spend big to get great results. The budget range includes a number of summer essentials, including BB cream, lipstick, lip gloss and nail polish, as well as a range of travel minis.
He's back - 1980s pop icon Rick Astley is making a return with a gig in Belfast next year. The pop singer will take to the stage at the Waterfront Hall on March 20 with tickets on sale from today from the venue box office and Ticketmaster.
What's Not!
Not so Top Gear - It looks like the criticism has finally got to him. Chris Evans announced this week that he is leaving his role as a presenter on BBC Two's Top Gear after just one series. The presenter said he had given his best shot but it was "not enough".
Tattoo time - Dame Judi Dench has been given an unusual 81st birthday present by her daughter - her first ever tattoo. The actress had the words 'carpe diem', which means 'seize the day', inked on her wrist.
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Competition winners
The winners of last week's bBold competition are Ann Loughran from Castlecaulfield, Ann Clenaghan from Lurgan, Katherine McDermott from Derry, Fiona Farrell from Keady, Grainne Morrison from Belfast and Ronan Laverty from Lurgan.
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Easy Peasy Recipe
This week's Easy Peasy Recipe is raspberry and custard cake.
You will need:
440ml/1lb can ready-made custard
300g/10½ oz raspberries, crushed
250g/9oz unsalted butter
250g/9oz caster sugar
4 free-range eggs
250g/9oz plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
125ml/4½ floz full-fat milk
4 tbsp demerara sugar
To make:
Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas4.
Grease and line a 23cm/9in spring form cake tin.
Mix the custard and half of the raspberries in a bowl until well combined.
In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy, add the eggs, one at a time, until well combined.
Stir in the flour, baking powder, milk, and the remaining crushed raspberries.
Pour half the cake mix into the cake tin.
Add the raspberry custard mixture, and top with the remaining cake mixture.
Sprinkle with the demerera sugar and bake in the oven for 1½ hours. (Test by inserting a skewer into the centre, if it comes out clean, the cake is ready).
Remove the cake from the oven and set aside to cool.
Remove from the tin and cut into slices.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:
Easy Peasy Recipes,
Suzanne McGonagle,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
s.mcgonagle@irishnews.com
