Question about Concerts & (D)SLR's

[Erik Menard]

Hi Folks :

This is my second post here, and I've only just recently gotten seriously into photography. I live in Montreal, and my wife and her sister are planning to attend a big 2 day open air concert that's held here every year called OHSEAGA I was thinking of going in order to enjoy the music and hone my photography skills with my new D-SLR. As I was going through a list of cleared & prohibited Items for the concert/ festival grounds on their web site I came a cross the following:

ITEMS NOT ALLOWED ON THE FESTIVAL SITE

> Video Equipment
> Professional photo equipment (SLR cameras, i.e. removable lens cameras)
> Audio Recording equipment

ITEMS ALLOWED ON THE FESTIVAL SITE

> Digital Camera (non-professional, i.e. no removable lens)
> Disposable cameras (non-professional)

Is this unusual ? I can sort of understand the video and audio equipment, but the prohibition against "SLR cameras, i.e. removable lens cameras" seems rather arbitrary and punitive, as a result I will probably not attend the festival / concert after all.

What's up with that? Can anybody help me understand the reasoning behind this, and is is reasonable, should I complain (not that my lone complaint will have much of and effect)?

- Erik

[zona5101]

if you can sorta understand the no video / audio its the same logic to understand why no "real" photo gear.

[Cypher]

It probably has to do with the fact that they have already hired people to cover the photography. Letting any enthusist take his her DLSR could cause them to have problems with the people hired to do the job. As we all know alot of us own some pretty nice glass and in that respect I can understand there decision.

Best of luck,

[Murtasma]

Concerts not allowing SLR style cameras is very common from what I've seen. As for the reasons I think it's completely acceptable. I wouldn't want someone behind me at a concert with a super long telephoto lens behind me for fear of them hitting me with it or if they are in front blocking my view. Also these events typically have professional photographers there using SLRs. I don't think the pro's like it when every mom and pop is out there with their own SLR obtaining better images then a point and shoot is generally capable of producing.

Video and Audio should be self explanatory. Many newer SLRs can shoot video now as well. What you have when you purchase a concert ticket is essential the right to be there and watch the perform. Not record it and watch it again and again. If you want that you have to purchase the video created by one of the professionals there.

It's mostly about making money and liability for the venue.

[Erik Menard]

Originally Posted by zona5101

if you can sorta understand the no video / audio its the same logic to understand why no "real" photo gear.

Not really, cause they didn't say you can bring recording & video equipment but only if its not of professional quality. They said not at all; which is fine by me.

They should just said no photography is allowed on site ground other that the officially sanctioned event photographers. But, to say you can take photographs but only one that won't turn out really really well regardless of why you taking them, just seems unfair to me.

Besides, the official photographers have privileged access that event goers don't have so nobody is really stepping on their toes, are they ?

Anyway just seems like if you own good equipment everybody suddenly become prejudiced against you regardless of your intent. ahh maybe I'm just grumpy

- Erik

[Swisstony10]

That's pretty standard and understandable for concert situations..

Even when you get a photog pass to the pit at the front of the stage, as an accredited photog, you still have to follow rules. The standard protocol is "First three songs. No flash." - if the security see a flash, they generally pull you out of there and you don't get back in. Once the first three songs are done, again, the security start to firmly but politely usher all the photogs out of the way. Admittedly, with good technique and the right kit, there's no need for flash (you only have to look at some of Sime's examples), but what really annoys me is when I'm told I can't use flash, and then I turn around for a glance back at the audience and get nearly blinded by the galaxy of flashes going off. (Well, ok, not even nearly blinded, but it's still annoying)..

I shot at a fashion show a month or so ago - the end of year projects for my local art college, I set up in a room aside from the main show and did posed shots of the (amateur) models and the student-designers. I was allowed in to watch the fashion show too, and had a prime position right at the end of the catwalk, but was told that I wasn't allowed to take photographs of that. It was a shame, because I would've been able to get some awesome shots. Again, what was annoying was that as soon as the lights started to go down and the music started, out came the compacts and the Iphones, and there were so many flashes going off it was like I was sitting in a nightclub. But you can bet that if I'd got my camera out and started taking shots, even without a flash, I would've been hoofed out.

You could always try contacting the festival organisers and explaining that you're a keen amateur, wanting to get experience of shooting bands and performances, and asking if it'd be possible to bring your DSLR with you (make sure you let them know you're buying a ticket to the festival anyway, if it's not a free-entry thing). You could always offer to let them use your pictures to promote future events in return. The worst outcome is that they'll say no, and you'll be no worse off than you are now. The best outcome is that they give you a pass to get in with the other photographers. That's what I did the first time I decided to take my camera along to a festival with serious intent. I was going anyway, but it was way cooler to go with a backstage pass, and access to the photo pit. I also got SO much brilliant band-shooting experience crammed into three days.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Erik Menard

Not really, cause they didn't say you can bring recording & video equipment but only if its not of professional quality. They said not at all; which is fine by me.

They should just said no photography is allowed on site ground other that the officially sanctioned event photographers. But, to say you can take photographs but only one that won't turn out really really well regardless of why you taking them, just seems unfair to me.

Besides, the official photographers have privileged access that event goers don't have so nobody is really stepping on their toes, are they ?

Anyway just seems like if you own good equipment everybody suddenly become prejudiced against you regardless of your intent. ahh maybe I'm just grumpy

- Erik

They're not targeting you PERSONALLY, they just want to keep their money in their own pockets.

This is standard practice at most events, usually as a restriction form the VENUE, but the bands do have final say.

For instance: interchangeable-lens cameras are not permitted inside the large arena here (Pro Hockey), regardless of what is going on that evening. THe building simply does not permit it. That being said: anything that doesnt have interchangeable lenses will be accepted.

[Jim Bryant]

Basically, the promoters don't want pictures posted all over the internet, but it still does happen. They try to limit the number of working pros by assigning passes. Swisstony explains the reasoning very well.

[Erik Menard]

Well I bow to your collective wisdom, I guess I'm just gonna have to learn to live with it ... for now at least until I take over the world

Thanks for taking the time out to help explain things a grumpy/disgruntled, Very cool of you all to do that.

-Erik Menard