Just as popular as using selfie sticks is banning them from events and venues.
As more and more selfies are being taken with the help of selfie sticks, more and more venues and events are banning the monopods. The extendable metal sticks are typically a couple of feet long and some use remotes or Bluetooth controls to snap to trigger the phone cameras.
Last month, Disney banned selfie sticks from all of its U.S. theme parks, and this month the ban went into effect at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland as well. Initially, selfie sticks were merely banned from rides, but after numerous stoppages of certain rollercoasters at Disney parks due to selfie stick use, they have been banned altogether. Signs in parking lots will encourage visitors to leave their selfie sticks in their cars, or they can be checked at the main gate.
Disney isn’t the only one to crack down on the selfie stick craze. Many museums have banned them, as well as most festivals such as Coachella, which included them on its prohibited items list as “No selfie sticks/Narcissists.”
When it comes down to it, banning selfie sticks is a matter of safety and customer service, said Casey Sparks, assistant general manager at BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla. BOK Center began banning selfie sticks in January when they started getting a lot of questions about them leading up to Garth Brooks' shows. Some artists were okay with them and some weren’t, so they decided to make it a house rule to make it easy for patrons.
“It boils down to two reasons we don’t allow it, and number one is for safety,” said Sparks. “They can be used as projectile items. Most artists don’t allow bottled water and cups now because they can be thrown. And second is just for the experience of our other guests. If everybody is using them we feel like it could detract from their experience.”
The same philosophy seems to apply to fairs. San Diego County Fair wrapped its 2015 run on July 5, and it was the first year of a selfie stick ban, though Linda Zweig, San Diego County Fair rep, said they plan on keeping the policy in the years to come.
“Our number one concern is always safety,” said Zweig. “We took the cue from other large venues who are doing the same, including the Kentucky Derby. We also have a policy regarding cameras and no tripods. We don’t want to do anything that might impede the flow of traffic or become a hazard, and that’s why we decided to ban selfie sticks. Quite frankly, it did not impose a problem. More large venues are doing this, so there were no major issues.”
Signage and info on their website communicated the new policy, and bag searches and metal detectors weeded out any strays.
A major factor at fairs is the carnival and guests using selfie sticks on rides. Gary Goodman, general manager, South Carolina State Fair, said they’ve also chosen to ban selfie sticks when it kicks off in October. Their carnival partner, North American Midway Entertainment has banned them from their rides, so the fair followed suit.
“We’re going to not allow any selfie sticks inside the fairgrounds when the fair’s going on,” said Goodman. “If we see someone using one, we’ll ask them to leave the grounds and get rid of it. If they don’t, then they’ll need to throw it away or we’ll confiscate it.”
The big crowds attracted at fairs makes for a risky environment in which to use selfie sticks. Goodman said some vendors will be selling selfie sticks at the fairgrounds, but customers will still not be allowed to use them. Bag checks will be in place as usual, but Goodman suspects one or two will still be sneaked into the fairgrounds regardless.
“I feel confident that there will be some who get selfie sticks in and try to use them, and we’ll just have to deal with them,” said Goodman. “When you’re dealing with big crowds, everyone needs to be paying attention to where they’re going and what’s happening around them. Selfie Sticks are something that creates an issue of people not being aware of what’s going on around them and that could hurt someone. You’ve got children that could walk into one and somebody could turn around with one not realizing that there’s a selfie stick protruding three feet in front of them. You can slam someone in the eye or whatever, so it’s just a safety precaution.”
Kansas State Fair’s midway is also provided by North American Midway Entertainment, banning selfie sticks from rides at that fair, but the fair itself does not have a policy regarding selfie sticks at this time, said Rachel Groene, Marketing and Communications. Groene said they will continue to monitor the situation, so a fairgrounds-wide ban is still possible.
Tim LeFevour, general manager, Soldier Field, Chicago, said their ban on selfie sticks at the stadium came about for a couple of reasons. First, they’re finding that a number of concert promoters don’t want them to be allowed, because patrons in seats close to the stage or thrust were getting too close to artists. Already, flag poles or any sticks used for carrying flags, are on the prohibited items list, as well as anything that can be used as a potential weapon. But mostly, it comes down to the fan experience at each event.
“We are constantly thinking about fan enjoyment of an event and do not want anything to interfere with their sightlines,” said LeFevour. “ Umbrellas are also not allowed at Soldier Field as they can interfere with a patron's view and disrupt their enjoyment of the event. We discussed selfie sticks and came to the conclusion that the sticks can interfere with another patron’s enjoyment if used improperly or for a long period of time.”
Overall, though selfie sticks may be on the rise among the selfie-obsessed, it seems most venues and events are choosing to keep them out, because of safety concerns and for fan enjoyment.
Interviewed for this story: Casey Sparks, (918) 894-4210; Gary Goodman, (803) 799-3387 ext. 117; Tim LeFevour, (312) 235-7000; Linda Zweig, (858) 792-4262; Rachel Groene, (316) 263-1004 ext. 114