Jolene, a downtown Miami venue, announced on social media that it is now a phone-free space. The trend, which has been gaining momentum over the past two years, encourages people to be present in the moment, enjoy music, and have real conversations. According to a recent study by ticketing company Eventbrite, phone-free events have increased by 567% since 2024, while attendance at those events has grown by 121%. The report suggests that “Gen Z and Millennials are pulling the plug on the performative night out.”
Coloma Kaboomsky, known simply as “Coloma” in the Miami music scene, is one of the owners of Jolene, along with other venues, including Club Space. In a conversation with Miami New Times, he spoke about the new policy: “Deeper human connection, enhanced respect for artists, and uninhibited dancing are just the start of our no-phone policy at Jolene in Downtown Miami.” Stories shared on social media over the past weekend showed door staff placing stickers over guests’ phone cameras before they entered the venue.
“With phones becoming an extension of most people, we want to encourage being present and stepping away from the digital world while we partake in what we consider to be the ancestral practice of gathering around the sound of drums,” Cano adds…