As the lights go down and your favorite band takes the stage, the crowd goes wild in anticipation.

You are so excited to see your favorite band and sing along and get lost in the music.

But out of the corner of your eye, a bright phone screen continuously blinds you. At first, it is no big deal because you figure the person next to you will turn off their phone soon. However, they continue to take photos, use Snapchat or text throughout the entire concert.

As someone who has been to 17 concerts this year, I know all too well about the people who do not seem to be going to the concert to enjoy the music. That is why I am there, but the people using their phones the whole time seem to have a different agenda.

When did going to a concert go from being a time to enjoy yourself and get lost in the music, to a time to see who has the best Snapchat story of the concert or to text your friend about the show the whole time?

The problem with these compulsive phone users is that they do not realize it is considered rude to many people. Not only is it rude to the people standing around the compulsive phone user (because really, who wants to see an LED screen all night?), but it is also rude to the people you are constantly harassing with photos.

Do not get me wrong, I take a few photos and sometimes a Snapchat or two, but no one wants to see or hear the entire concert. There is a definite difference between showing people that you had a good time at the show versus bombarding them with your low quality video and sound via social media.

Going to a concert should not be a popularity contest. It should not be about who has the best video or photo. It needs to be about the music. You should be enjoying yourself so much that you almost forget that you wanted to take a photo to commemorate the awesome time you are having.

Music is one of my greatest passions, so there is nothing I enjoy seeing more than a couple thousand people in the same building to see the same band. That bond alone should be enough to get you lost in the music and create new friendships with other concertgoers.

So next time you go to a show, take a photo or two and then put down the phone. Your experience will be enhanced, and you will become so immersed in the greatness that you won’t even think about having your phone out.