How do you get in to shoot a concert???

[tford]

This August we have a big name concert coming to our town (Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp). I want to take gobs o' pictures but I dont want to get up to the gate and have them tell me I got to take my camera back to the car.

What is the drill for getting in as an "official" photographer? Are there copyright/image issues associated with photographing big name people? Who has ideas or experience with this? Jim Bryant would you mind weighing in on this?

I'm even thinking about getting a smaller Nikon (P90:24x optical wide-angle 26-624mm) just to be less conspicuous.

I'm not leaving this event without a boatload of pictures...

[RexK_Cozumel]

talk to the people at the venue and the people that are putting on the concert. See if they can get you a pass so you can get in with your camera. Or better yet a press pass. (Probably not going to happen unless you are actually with the press) Make sure you do this in advance so that you know what you need to do before the day of the concert.

[bradzo66]

Most promoters are the ones to contact and a press pass will be what you need to request , twist the truth slightly if you have to and tell them you freelance for some vague educational institute and give them a friends name as the contact (this has worked for a friend of mine and I (unless you have a legitimate plan) . The point and shoot type cameras can be undetectable and many of my friends have gone down this path and come away with some great shots . Remember dont use flash (duh) or you'll be out on yr ass or down one camera by the time you leave .

[freybear3]

Contact the event organizers and explain your situation. Usually they will let you in with a SLR camera with a pass, but you will probably need to sign a few papers for copyright issues.

You could try the press pass thing, but you won't get it unless you work for the press.
IF you fake it, well i don't think you wanna know the consequences of being caught with a fake one, LOL


I am unsure on your status in your community, but odds are your better to come to the concert with your point and shoot camera. They will allow these without hesitation into the concert, and you can get some really good photos with most of them.

[OeterB]

This topic has been covered a few times. Have a read of my posts over HERE which give you a good idea how to start.

If you fake it, I'd be extremely disappointed as it's a cop out for the rest of us trying to get in legitimately.

So...

If you want to take anything more than a point and shoot to take photos from your seat, you need a photog pass. To get one of these, for a major concert (like the ones you're referring to) you MUST be associated with a publication --- music press/newspaper. For a major concert like this, if you did the above suggestion (using a friend to 'create' a fake publication), you're liable to be sued for infringement of copyright, etc, as big name acts like the ones mentioned will have publicists who'll look into your publication and look for the published photos/reviews --- things you'll be promising to produce when you SIGN release forms as you leave the pit, saying you're doing it for publicity for the bands, and not for your own profit.

If, by chance, you can get into a legit publication to get you a photog pass, prepare for the most intense experience of your life. While weddings are a non-stop drain on you, concert photography is at the polar opposite of photography in terms of stress --- you get THREE (3) songs tops to get your photos. And then you're out of the pit so the people in the front row can enjoy. In those three songs, you need to have your settings perfect; you can't use flash; you have to go deaf with being on top of speakers; you need to get past other photographers all looking for the same perfect shot without injury or damage to you, your equipment, someone else or their equipment; you need to keep track of the act on stage (as there'll be a lot of movement); and you need to figure out the lighting pattern to get that magic shot. In, approximately, 9 minutes.

It's not easy, so they don't let any photographer in --- hence you need a photography pass. Some great landscape photographers have tried their hand at gig photography, and failed miserably. It's a whole different beast. So, you have to be good to get said photog pass. And they won't let you take shots with your SLR from your seat if you don't have one. And, whatever happens, you'll be signing your rights away with the photos so you can't make profit off them.

So, uh, hope you've already got a folio of live music shots, and are already a top photographer for a music publication (as for a concert this size, they'll be sending their best)... because, if you're not, I doubt Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp are going to be happy to look down the barrel of your lens, sorry. Start low, then build up. We've all got to do it --- I'm only breakign into mid-level concert photography now --- I wouldn't dream of shooting Dylan, Nelson or Mellencamp anytime for at least 3-5 years.

That said, take your point and shoot. You may be surprised with what you can do with it.

[Jim Bryant]

Fake passes will get you in trouble. You need to get a pass issued by the band/concert promoters.

[tford]

Thanks for all your 2 centses. I've decided to contact the promoter directly and see what I can work out. Thanks again It was all great advice.

[freybear3]

let us know how it goes