Parties are going phoneless to bring back the old days
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Someone snuck a phone in, don't tell. Photo: Courtesy of CMFRT Co.
The new way to party is the old way to party: Phoneless.
Why it matters: It's an up-and-coming trend tapping into a growing, multi-generational resistance to always being online, and Ern Weaver brought it to Richmond.
State of play: The idea for phoneless Richmond events started early last year, when Weaver and local DJ Markus Gold were thinking about how to reinvent "the good days" before social media dominated nightlife.
- With the rise of social media, "people were more so focused on documenting what they're doing, trying to make it cool" instead of being in the moment, Weaver explained.
- Weaver tells Axios that conversation was part of a brainstorming session for how they could expand their event series, CMFRT Co., which hosts almost-weekly parties at bars across the city.
- And it led to a "Do Not Disturb: The No Cell Phone Party," their first phoneless event in Richmond, which took place at Vagabond the week of Thanksgiving.
How it worked: Guests could use their phones in a designated area at the venue.
- But once they headed back to the dance floor, they checked their devices into a numbered locker.
- There were also games like UNO, Jenga and Spades.
What they found: An immediate difference, Weaver said. People were mingling more than he had seen at other events he's hosted.
- People seemingly felt freer to dance, said Weaver, because "you didn't really have to worry about somebody pulling their phone out, recording you."
- Attendees also told him they hadn't realized how much they used their phone, and not having it "felt like a breath of fresh air."
The intrigue: Weaver said interest was spread across age groups, with millennials welcoming the throwback and Gen Z-ers being curious.
- "I didn't realize it but they never got to experience going to events or parties without social media," he added.
What's next: While more phoneless parties are on the way, with future events potentially expanding beyond Richmond, Weaver told Axios they're not officially booked just yet.
- In the meantime, CMFRT Co. is hosting an "Immersive R&B Experience" at the ICA on Feb. 28 with Gold as the DJ, open to people 25 and up.
- Phone use is optional.