Eva Restaurant, an family eatery in Los Angeles is offering 5% off to those guests who check their phone at the door so that they spend time (1) focusing on their dining experience with their friends and family and (2) not disturb other patrons. Not all customers participate in the offer, but in a recent evening 70% did.
The bigger picture here is what's interesting. We've all gone to dinner and seen a pile of our collective cell phones on the table. Maybe this was less prevalent when we could only give and receive calls and texts, but now "work email" is my biggest reason to leave the cell on the table (so I can see the specifically colored LED go on indicating a work email). The offer at this restaurant is minorly compelling, but the fact that the offer was made in the first place sends a bigger message, IMO...
http://bites.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/08/16/13320075-would-you-give-up-your-cell-phone-for-a-discounted-dinner?lite
-Eric S.
5 comments:
Silly restaurant. You should know better than to think that in today's day, people can actually part with with their phone for more than a few minutes. There is no such thing as dinner for two any more. Instead, dinner often incorporates sending quick text messages to a nervous parent, firing off a quick response to a micromanaging boss, or answering a phone call from a blocked number just to make sure it's not an emergency.
60 Minutes recently reported on the state of addiction to mobile devices. Blackberries are no longer reserved for high profile executives, and cell phones are given out to 7 years olds for Chanukah and Christmas. People claim an ability to "multi-task" and that the advent of all these new technologies, improves efficiency and productivity. 60 Minutes goes on to explain that true multi-tasking is not actually possible. In fact, our brains must re-calibrate each time we want to begin a new task, forfeiting precious nanoseconds. I thought about it for a second, and realized that it made perfect sense. For example, I would extremely more productive at work if I was able to just crank out a project if I wasn't constantly interrupted by checking email, replying to a time sensitive question, or answering the phone.
So are we doing it as part of a job necessity, or have we just become addicted to being all over the place (ie. checking email every few seconds, etc.) Unfortunately, I think it is an unintended consequence of the so readily available technology. As I write this blog, I admit to having positioned my iPhone just within peripheral site to ensure I don't miss a text message come through. I've also paused twice now, to check my email.
In response, technology addiction centers have begun to pop up. Just the way, an alcoholic or drug addict would check into a retreat lodge for a few days, cleanse the system, and then slowly re-enter society, tech addicts can now do the same.
Personally, I think it's a bit extreme to compare drug addiction to a compulsory desire to check email and text messages. Or maybe, that's just an addict refusing to admit she has a problem!
I'm on the other end of the spectrum here. I would welcome a dinner for two - intended for two and not everyone else on Facebook or from work. I admit; I'm guilty of sitting at dinner with my mobile on the table.
Ironically, we are so readily available yet we are not "available" for the person sitting across the table from us. I miss having an uninterrupted discussion with my friends and family.
At the heart of this idea, to check your phone before dinner, is a matter of self control. People generally do not see checking their phone at dinner as a inappropriate or awkward thing, and I think it depends on the company. However, that is the price that we pay for the digital age that we live in.
People just cannot live without looking at the phones during dinner - it's like a nervous tick. I remember being at a dinner with my boss, while we were traveling - he was obsessively checking his blackberry, during the entire meal. It was very distracting and being that we were in a formal setting, somewhat rude for the other diner that was with us as well.
Now, I say this knowing that I have also been at dinner and have had to respond to a micromanaging boss, or overprotective parents who would think I had fallen into a ditch by the side of the road if I went too long w/o calling them back. However, ultimately, I think it comes down to self control - we are ruled in a society where people are always connected. If we can't put our phones aside for an hr to have dinner and actual conversation, what does that say for our society?
However, the age that we live in now dictates that we do rely on connectivity, at all times.
"Check" my phone before dinner? No, thank you!
I think this is a truly brilliant marketing strategy on the part of the restaurant. When I heard it, I thought less about not being able to check my own phone - which I am fine with and more about being able to sit through a romantic dinner while not having to listen to other diners shout into theirs. I think the obsession with connectivity is unhealthy and damaging to our ability as people to be present with the people we are with, and to devote our attention to the situation at hand. While I'm guilty sometimes too, I've begun looking for these very ways of eliminating the compulsive need to check various electronic devices. I sometimes simply leave it at home. I recently went almost a month without a personal cell and I was truly surprised at how much I didn't miss it. I paid more attention in meetings - remembered more afterward and was more effective and productive at work. It's remarkable how many emails and texts can truly wait a few hours or even a day or two to return. Ultimately when I heard this, I focused on this restaurant successfully marketing this experience that rarely exists even in fine dining any more. And they're offering to pay you (offer you a discount)....I would encourage more restaurants to jump on this bandwagon. I would make a point of seeking them out and becoming a loyal patron.
I find this an interesting message. However, I think the restaurant might have been better to offer 5% off if they check in to their restaurant on 4 square to build publicity. There must be some way they can get online publicity (besides this article) for such an innovative idea. Maybe some post that says I am unavailable for 2 hours because I am eating at the no-cell phone policy restaurant ABC. That sends the focus on people message and also gets the name of the restaurant out there.
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