We’ve all been there. You’re at the concert of your favorite artist or band and you want to remember every moment of the experience so you whip out your cell phone and record your favorite songs and take millions of pictures of the performance. The next day you’re at school telling your friends all about the concert and showing them all of the pictures and videos you took and they’re asking all about the artist and what your favorite part was, but you cannot seem to remember the little things that happened during the show. You think to yourself and ask why it is you can’t remember everything and then it hits you, technology. You were so wrapped up in capturing every moment so you could save it for the future, that you were unable to appreciate the experience when it was actually happening.

The way that our generation experiences live music is drastically different than how our parents’ generation did. They didn’t have the same technology we have today, which means that they weren’t distracted and they were able to absorb and truly appreciate the experience of live music. Our generation is living in the most technologically consumed society to date. This means that everywhere we turn, there is some kind of technology there to distract us from whatever it is we are supposed to be doing, including listening to music, which is now based on technology.

As an avid concertgoer, live music is my absolute favorite thing to experience. There is something about the excitement that fills the air before the performer comes onto the stage that is addicting. What I constantly see is that even before the performance begins people are on their phones taking pictures f the stage and selfies of themselves with their friends to post on Facebook or Instagram. During the concert, while the performer is pouring their heart and soul into the concert, people are busy updating their Snapchat story and their Twitter to show other people what they are missing out on, meanwhile they are missing out on the same experience.

The worst part about it is that I’ve done this one too many times. I hate when I come home and all I can really remember about the concert is seeing the performance through my phone screen and not through my own eyes. Sure the photos are great for when you want to remember, but the artists usually have photographers at their concerts, which are posted in various places for the public to view.

Live music is something special, something that should be cherished and something that you should consume you in that moment. Nothing will ever beat the experience of going to see your favorite artist or band sing your favorite songs, which is why it’s important to recognize that our technology is destroying these experiences. I’m not here to tell you to exchange your iPhone for a flip phone, but I do think that it’s okay to put your phone away for a few hours.