Concert Shooting Protical

[Disaster_Area]

So I've been shooting concerts for quite a while now and I'm trying to work out what the best method of preparing for a shoot permission wise is. I'm not talking about shooting huge shows at large concert halls, these are locked down pretty tight and there's no way to shoot without permission, I'm talking about medium to small size venues with medium to low profile bands. There's a few different methods I've used with varying levels of success and plusses and minuses for each:

#1: Show up with my DSLR rig with no prior permission:

Pros: If you get past the gate with your camera, you're pretty much good to go to shoot as long as you want

Cons: - If you get turned away at the gate, best case you get told not to take pictures, worst case you're not allowed in at all and since I don't have a car to store my gear in I'm pretty much screwed if this happens.

- you're pretty much on your own to get a good spot to shoot, this can mean lining up way before the venue opens to ensure a good spot


#2: Try to get permission ahead of time:

Pros: Once you're on the photog list, you're good to go and usually get ushered up to the best shooting locations

Cons: - you usually only get to shoot the first three songs
- you may be under other restrictions from either the band or venue
- it can be hard to figure out who exactly you need permission from
- you can never be sure you ACTUALLY have permission from all parties, I've been in situations where I got permission from the band, but get turned away by the club or vise versa


So my question is what do all you other concert photogs do? I was motivated to ask this because of a show I shot this weekend. Due to the proliferation of DSLR's, EVERYONE and there dog has one now. I shot a show last weekend where I tried for months to get official permission, I was told by the bands manager and the venue that without a photo pass I would be turned away if I had anything larger than a small P&S. After months of emails I finally got on the list, and when I got to the club I was given the standard, no flash, first three songs speech. But when I looked around there where at least a dozen other people with DSLR's and none of them I spoke to had a photo pass to shoot. Plus they all of course had just kit lenses so they where flashing away the whole shot. I shot the first three songs but since everyone else was still shooting I just kept going.

I'm just confused as to how I should approach this going forward, I hate worrying that I'll be turned away without permission, but everytime I do get permission I'm under strict restrictions that people that just show up with cameras don't have to worry about.

 

[furcafe]

There are no hard & fast rules. After all, this is the music industry you're dealing with! 😉

Personally, if permission is required I get it, usually via the local web publications I typically shoot for or the (small-time) bands I know. Having a photo pass usually doesn't get me out of having to show up early, because most of the acts I shoot aren't big enough to warrant a pit or other designated shooting area. The upside is that smaller acts generally don't abide by the stupid 3-song rule. I will respectfully disagree w/memphis re: "nothing different happens after the first 3 songs." Lots of things can happen after the 1st 3 songs, e.g., band loosens up & gets better as the night goes on, they play songs that get more response from the audience & do crazier things on stage, they bring on guest musicians, etc.

If a club is letting in everybody w/a dSLR then obviously permission isn't required or the rules aren't being strictly enforced (sounds like that was your situation). As far as dealing w/rules "on the ground," I'm prepared to improvise. Normally, if there's a conflict, the band's rules will trump the club's, but that's not always the case so I'll go w/what the security personnel are enforcing (not worth arguing).

As a general rule, get to know the people who own & run the venues & the bands. Once you're friends & not some stranger w/a camera, all kinds of good things happen. Many times, I'd much rather shoot backstage while hanging w/the musicians & tech guys than get stuck in the scrum w/all the other photogs.

And stop bringing a big dSLR to shoot shows, this is the RFF! 😀

So I've been shooting concerts for quite a while now and I'm trying to work out what the best method of preparing for a shoot permission wise is. I'm not talking about shooting huge shows at large concert halls, these are locked down pretty tight and there's no way to shoot without permission, I'm talking about medium to small size venues with medium to low profile bands. There's a few different methods I've used with varying levels of success and plusses and minuses for each:

#1: Show up with my DSLR rig with no prior permission:

Pros: If you get past the gate with your camera, you're pretty much good to go to shoot as long as you want

Cons: - If you get turned away at the gate, best case you get told not to take pictures, worst case you're not allowed in at all and since I don't have a car to store my gear in I'm pretty much screwed if this happens.

- you're pretty much on your own to get a good spot to shoot, this can mean lining up way before the venue opens to ensure a good spot


#2: Try to get permission ahead of time:

Pros: Once you're on the photog list, you're good to go and usually get ushered up to the best shooting locations

Cons: - you usually only get to shoot the first three songs
- you may be under other restrictions from either the band or venue
- it can be hard to figure out who exactly you need permission from
- you can never be sure you ACTUALLY have permission from all parties, I've been in situations where I got permission from the band, but get turned away by the club or vise versa


So my question is what do all you other concert photogs do? I was motivated to ask this because of a show I shot this weekend. Due to the proliferation of DSLR's, EVERYONE and there dog has one now. I shot a show last weekend where I tried for months to get official permission, I was told by the bands manager and the venue that without a photo pass I would be turned away if I had anything larger than a small P&S. After months of emails I finally got on the list, and when I got to the club I was given the standard, no flash, first three songs speech. But when I looked around there where at least a dozen other people with DSLR's and none of them I spoke to had a photo pass to shoot. Plus they all of course had just kit lenses so they where flashing away the whole shot. I shot the first three songs but since everyone else was still shooting I just kept going.

I'm just confused as to how I should approach this going forward, I hate worrying that I'll be turned away without permission, but everytime I do get permission I'm under strict restrictions that people that just show up with cameras don't have to worry about.

 

[Disaster_Area]

Hahaha... yeah, I've shot shows with an RF but film just doesn't cut it when I need the security of knowing I'm getting well exposed, focused shots and take upwards of 500-800 shots in one show. Mobile stage lighting plays havoc with exposure and I don't like the crap shoot that shooting film entails.

And I definitely have to agree that shooting past the first three songs is a huge bonus. Most shows I've been to start slow and build to more exciting displays as the night goes on. If you're lucky a band will open up with a big, loud energetic song, but I've definitely gotten a big variety of shots past the first three songs. This is especially important when there's no pit, and you have to push through crowds to get different angles and shooting positions, shooting past the first three songs is almost a must. And shooting the encore usually yields even more different shots as a lot of bands do weird or unusal things like switching up instruments or playing musical chairs with who plays what and who sings... I've seen some really great and unusual stuff during encores.

 

[Disaster_Area]

everybody who snuck their camera in risks a large conflict with a burly bouncer who will attempt to confiscate their camera = the photographer logic of you can't seize my personal property goes out the window when a 300 lb pissed off bouncer is taking your camera - you don't have rights

+1, yeah, this is one of my main fears when I shoot without prior permission, I haven't had any rough run ins with bouncers so far, but it's always a threat.

 

[furcafe]

Who said anything about film (though it's hardly a crap shoot w/practice)? 😉

Hahaha... yeah, I've shot shows with an RF but film just doesn't cut it when I need the security of knowing I'm getting well exposed, focused shots and take upwards of 500-800 shots in one show. Mobile stage lighting plays havoc with exposure and I don't like the crap shoot that shooting film entails.

And I definitely have to agree that shooting past the first three songs is a huge bonus. Most shows I've been to start slow and build to more exciting displays as the night goes on. If you're lucky a band will open up with a big, loud energetic song, but I've definitely gotten a big variety of shots past the first three songs. This is especially important when there's no pit, and you have to push through crowds to get different angles and shooting positions, shooting past the first three songs is almost a must. And shooting the encore usually yields even more different shots as a lot of bands do weird or unusal things like switching up instruments or playing musical chairs with who plays what and who sings... I've seen some really great and unusual stuff during encores.

 

[cnphoto]

Start your own music e-press / street press! That's what a friend and I did.

We now get accredited access to whatever shows we want, we have a niche though (punk, hardcore and metal) so it is easier to get access than say Beyonce or Elton John.

And! Shooting on film is dead easy, once you get the hang of it. I shot a few shows on a Barnack, the best part was weird looks I got from the DSLRS totting photographers, ha.

I'm shooting a massive music festival this weekend actually: Leica M6, CL and 15 rolls of Tri-X. We've organized a second photo pass for one of our other shooters to just shoot bands though and I'm going to try shooting a bit of a photo essay about the event, for something different.

Also - I always go 3 songs, no flash. Regardless of rules. It's good practice to get in to, and sometimes it's nice to put the camera down and enjoy the show.

 

[sevres_babylone]

It depends on the club, and may also depend on the particular doorman on duty. It also can depend on the camera. At one club, the doorman looked like he was going to make a fuss, but then, looking at my R-D1 in Luigi case with an old Canon lens, just started to laugh, and waved me in.

Another time though, the doorman looked at the same camera, and said, "Professional camera, you can't bring that in." An exchange followed, in which he said that it said on the ticket I couldn't bring it in. Surprisingly however, for a Ticketmaster ticket, it didn't. But when I pointed that to him, he pointed to a line that said to abide by all the rules of the club. Points to him. I then asked to speak to his boss, and he said he was the boss. The exchange -- putting in my car, but I came by bus -- followed. Then he was paged about some guy running amok nearby, and he waved me through, saying it was my lucky day. And I guess since I've never won any lottery, sad to say, it just may well be.

I shoot indie bands, and have only had to deal with the 3 song deal once. Generally both me and the band are only getting warmed up by then, but I also agree with the poster who said sometimes it's best to put the camera down and just enjoy the music.

 

[sevres_babylone]

Start your own music e-press / street press! That's what a friend and I did.

We now get accredited access to whatever shows we want, we have a niche though (punk, hardcore and metal) so it is easier to get access than say Beyonce or Elton John.

Not my pic (though I wish it was):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ekai/4448924106/

I love Beerland!
And I'm sure your ezine's good -- I'd like to see it.

 

[cnphoto]

Not my pic (though I wish it was):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ekai/4448924106/

I love Beerland!
And I'm sure your ezine's good -- I'd like to see it.

ha! that's hilarious. i always tell our shooters to follow the rules of the venue and the security - to the letter.

if it means we can't get access to shoot, that's fine we just pull the article. when the artist management or record label contact us to ask why somethine wasn't run, well we where just complying by the venues rules. easy.

The "mag" is here: http://www.noheroesmag.com

the page defaults to a blog, click on "magazine" link in the header to view the issues etc.

the plus side here in Aust is there are few music press / magazines and most are pretty crap (ours included probably! ha). so we where lucky in being able to establish good relationships with the big touring companies out here and artist and label management for the region.