Blinded: Why Strobe Lights Should Be Banned 

Earlier this month I went to see the wonderful The Last Dinner Party play live in Glasgow. The all girl band have a young, fashionable, mainly female crowd and play music that is thrillingly orchestral, dramatic and fun. Being in a crowd like that is heartening and a privilege. The band seem to really care about their audience too, raising money for local food bank charities on each night of the tour. 

However thanks to their overuse of strobe lighting effects I left the show with a headache, feeling irritated to the point of anger. 

If a band truly cares about their audience and wants them to have a good time, then why the fuck would you repeatedly flash lights in their faces to the point where anyone with photosensitivity can barely lift their eyes from the floor? For people with epilepsy or similar conditions this choice of lighting effect is outright dangerous. 

Some people may not be bothered about strobes but for those who are afflicted they are physically painful. I immediately feel ill when strobes begin. My head pounds. My eyes can’t focus. In the worst cases they trigger ocular migraines. If you’ve had one of those you know they’re like being temporarily blinded and then having a deadly hangover afterwards. 

Is making your audience feel unwell necessary? For what? Flashing lights like strobes are disorientating and disruptive to the senses. That may seem ‘cool’ or ‘edgy’ but really they are just a useless effect that detracts from the music. 

The only time I’ve ever understood the need for them was when I saw the Manic Street Preachers play their seminal album The Holy Bible – with songs about horrific topics like eating disorders, serial killers and the holocaust. Inflicting pain on your audience was the point. 

But there’s just no need for your average pop gig or indie band to be using them in the constant way they are at the moment. Even metal fans would surely appreciate the chance to enjoy their favourite bands without getting punished in this way. 

Warning signs outside venues are not effective. All they do is tell the audience in advance that this is going to be a painful experience. The fact they have to display warning signs alone should be enough for venues and artists to end the madness and stop strobe light use altogether.

Bringing sunglasses to every gig is the only way to protect yourself – you do end up looking like a twat though. For some people this still won’t be enough and they will have to leave. That’s just ridiculous when people have paid their hard earned money, especially considering other lighting effects can be equally as visually interesting without causing the same damage. 

Making shows accessible and enjoyable for everyone is simple. Stop strobe lights. In the end your audience has bought the ticket to hear the music, not see the light show. I’d rather see a band play in the dark than go home with a migraine.