(Credit: CBSi)

We've all been there: standing just behind the front row in a sweaty moshpit, when the band onstage rips into its lead single. The crowd goes wild, then some punter lifts up their phone to start recording the song.

New York City-based band Ratatat has said that it will support a ban on camera phones at its live performances. Speaking to The Edmonton Sun, Evan Mast from the band has expressed his concerns about members of the audience using their phones. "Lately, I'm kind of in favour of banning it, because whenever you go to shows, there's so many people with their iPhones and it's a bit distracting, I think, for people in the audience, and for us onstage, too," he said.

While enforcing such a ban would be difficult without extensive search and retain policies at the door, Mast rather amusingly said: "maybe we should just delegate one person at the beginning of the night to do all the iPhone filming, and then he can share with everyone."

Many live music venues in Australia currently ban the use of recording devices and standalone cameras at gigs, though a harsh reprimand by an usher or bouncer can only go so far. Mast even said that he would also prefer fans to refrain from talking or texting on their mobiles during a performance.

What do you think? Should smartphones and camera phones be banned at live performances?