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Dave Chappelle uses a clever technique to stop people from using smartphones during his shows

Comedian Dave Chappelle
Comedian Dave Chappelle. Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images

Comedian Dave Chappelle is working with Yondr, a company that makes lockable pouches, to create a "no-phone zone" in his shows, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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People recording video on smartphones and then sharing it to social media, such as YouTube or Vine, is a big problem for comedians. If everyone has already seen the material on the internet, the reasoning goes, then fewer people will attend the show.

Anyone who attends one of Chappelle's 13 sold-out shows in Chicago will be greeted by staff members with a Yondr pouch. The smartphone is placed into the pouch and fastened, and then attendees can enter the hall. The pouches unlock once you leave the no-phone zone.

Videos of comedians often go viral, lowering the demand for their work. A video of Chappelle's show can attract over 2 million views, from which he makes no money.

Yondr phone case
A Yondr phone case. Yondr

"It's a huge thing for Chappelle, like all comedians: how to make the show phone-free," Yondr founder Graham Dugoni told The Hollywood Reporter.

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Thalia Hall, where Chappelle is set to perform, has around 800 seats, making it relatively small. Yondr says it can provide pouches for stadiums with up to 20,000 seats.

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