What Are Yondr Pouches and Why Do Concerts Use Them?

Going to a Concert? You Might Have to Lock Up Your Phone First

Imagine going to see your favorite artist and not being able to take a single photo or video. That’s exactly the point of a Yondr pouch.

I love going to concerts, and like pretty much everyone else, and my phone is out. I don't think I've ever went to a concert without my phone or a dead phone. Now after I left the concert my phone might be dead, but when I get there I make sure I have access to document the greatness my eyes and ears are experiencing. I have always been someone who like to capture the moment.

But what if you went to a concert and your phone was locked away for the entire show?

That is becoming a reality at some concerts and live events thanks to something called a Yondr pouch.

And before you panic, no, they don't actually take your phone away from you.

What Is a Yondr Pouch?

A Yondr pouch is basically a lockable pouch designed to create a phone-free space.

When you enter a participating event, your phone and sometimes your smartwatch, camera or other recording devices goes inside the pouch. The pouch is then locked, but you keep it with you the entire time.

So your phone could literally be sitting in your hand or your pocket. You just can't get into it.

If you absolutely need to use your phone during the show, venues typically have designated Phone Use Areas where the pouch can be unlocked. Before heading back into the performance area, your phone gets locked back inside. At the end of the night, the staff will unlock the pouch as you leave.

Why Would an Artist Want You to Put Your Phone Away?

This was my biggest question: Is the venue making everyone do this, or is the artist actually asking for it?

The answer can depend on the event, but yes, artists and event organizers can require Yondr pouches. Ticketmaster says Yondr is used when event organizers or artists require devices to be secured during an event.

The idea is pretty simple: instead of watching half the concert through the screen of the person standing in front of you, everybody is actually watching what's happening on stage.

There is also the recording side of it. A phone-free policy makes it much harder for entire songs, performances, jokes or other material to immediately end up online.

Some Artists Really Do Want a Phone-Free Crowd

This isn't just something happening at tiny venues.

For her 2026 Lost Tour, Phoebe Bridgers specifically asked for phone- and camera-free shows, with phones, smartwatches and recording devices secured in Yondr pouches.

Blues-rock guitarist Gary Clark Jr. also has a 2026 show advertised as a phone-free experience using Yondr pouches.

And one of the biggest names associated with phone-free performances is comedian Dave Chappelle. His 2026 arena dates require phones, smartwatches and accessories to be secured in Yondr pouches, with Live Nation explaining that devices can only be accessed in designated Phone Use Areas during the event.

It's More About the Show Than the Building

Here's something important to know before you start wondering whether your favorite concert venue has suddenly banned phones.

A venue can host a Yondr show one night and a regular show another night.

Madison Square Garden, for example, says its device-free policy applies to select events, and its upcoming Dave Chappelle shows specifically state that recording devices are prohibited *at the artist's request*.

So if you see your favorite artist is coming to Indiana or somewhere nearby, don't automatically assume you'll have to lock up your phone. Check the information for that specific concert before you go.

Could You Handle an Entire Concert Without Your Phone?

I can understand both sides of this one but the Gen Z in me is saying no, I want my phone.

Part of me loves having pictures and videos from concerts to look back on. Some of my favorite memories are tied to shows I've been to, and of course I want something to remember them by.

I also see the side of it to where you should just enjoy the music without a screen in your hand.

The real question is: Could you go an entire concert without taking a single picture or video?

Because depending on who you're going to see, you might not have a choice.