MERGED --> ALL Concert Photography/Cameras Discussion

[elevashn_hj]

I took my cam to the Charlotte show durring Elevation. I had a Sony Mavica (big and bulky and records to floppy disk). Anyway, I had taking about 15 floppy's worth of pics when I got grabbed by a burly security guy and escorted out of the heart and back stage. There I was greeted by Amanda (A very lovely woman who is about as butch as they come and looked like she could kick my ass. Keep in mind I am 6'5" 220lbs.). She was very pissy with me and then another guy came out and simply said to erase everything I had taken and to not take the camera back out. Anyway, I erased everything on the camera (all of one disk worth) and returned to the heart. I had the 100 or so photos saved neatly in my pants pocket. Anyway, rumor was that beginning in Atlanta (the next show on the schedule after Charlotte) they allowed NON-Professional cam's into the shows.


Enjoy

HJ

 

[Mucca]

Number one rule, unless you are within 5-7 feet of an artist, don't ever bother using a flash. It does NO good, and simply lights up the heads RIGHT in front of you. That digital pic that I took was only one decent one out of about 20 I took from that distance. (Unless you count the ones I took before the show from the same spot)

LOL!
Do the stage lights make it bright enough to take pictures without flash?

 

[drewz]

Cameras??

Well, I'm excited cause I finally secured the GA tickets I was lookin for (and without the scalpage I was expecting... phew). So, the tickets I have say "No Cameras", which is a real letdown....

So:
a) Do they really care?
b) Where should I hide it if they do?

Oh man why is the concert so far off....

Cheers!

 

[Phx27]

Here's a thread about cameras from a little bit ago. Goes over some of the things you wanted to know.

http://forum.interference.com/t112318.html

 

[LaceyM.]

On the slightly touchy subject of cameras...

I have been told that the AAC venue in Dallas has metal detectors that you walk through. If this is the case it will be nearly impossible to **cough** sneak my digital camera **cough cough ** into the venue. I did not get GA tickets and am on the side of the stage and up quite a ways. It's not like I have a zoom lense, but I would like to try to take some pictures... Anyone else have experience in this area? Any suggestions? I would really like to try to take pictures!!

 

[bobola]

on Elevation you were allowed non-professional cameras (it was something specific like no zoom lenses over three inches)

 

[wizard2c]

reply

on Elevation you were allowed non-professional cameras (it was something specific like no zoom lenses over three inches)

Hi!

before or after extension...............then if ya can get close enough ya can use your cell phone with video camera...........besides there will be pix to galore on this website....so I would not worry about getting photos too much.

carol
wizard2c

 

[edgeboy]

Im going to take my hand held video camera. I will get it in oh yes.

 

[njelevation06]

Yeah bobola is right, you can take your camera as long as it is not a professional camera. They were very loose about this rule during elevation. I'm sure there will be little problems this time around especially because everyone has digital gizmos. I'd love them try to check everyone's devices to make sure they are not professional!

 

[BWU2Buffs]

Speaking of digital devices -- I keep waiting for the show where some fan gets dragged up on stage and Bono hands him the mic to either sing or say something, then the fan breaks out with -- "Sound check for the bootleg taper. Sound check. Hi Mom, it's me... told you I was onstage"

 

[eirebrat]

My husband has a camera phone. We are going to try to sneak that in.

 

[bizkit34]

i had GA's for the New York City MSG shows just after sept 11. I had to go through 3 metal detectors to get to the floor of msg. i got in one of those disposable kodack cameras. it really took nice pics.i have an awesome shot of Bono with the American flag at the tip of the heart.

 

[Zoomeranger]

Haha. This reminds me of the Nov. 2 show in Philly on the elevation tour. We were all lined up and around 2pm these event staffers came to tell us that we couldn't bring any camera in with professional lenses because "pictures of Bono's crotch ended up on the internet and he must be lacking in that department because their management told us to be strict with this rule." I think those pictures were actually on PLEBA or something!

 

[She Is Raging]

Elevation was really good about letting cameras in. I had a Canon rebel witha detachable lens, and I had no problems.

http://community.webshots.com/user/shelsraging

I also had no problem getting "press passes" either...

 

[LaceyM.]

Thanks to everyone for responding. I think I am going to try, the worst that can happen is they will tell me "no cameras" and I will have to take it to my car.
By the way... great pictures She Is Raging!
I don't think I have the nerve to try for press passes though!

 

[reneedo]

I also had no problem getting "press passes" either... [/B]

Nice pictures. How on earth did you get press passes?? I would like to bring my slr 35 mm in, but I'm just concerned about it getting confiscated.

 

[jammin909]

The worst that can happen is that they tell you return the camera to your car. They wont take your tickets or kick you out. I will have my digi with me for the Philly shows.

 

[She Is Raging]

I wrote a letter to principal management basically telling them that I had a fan site and would like a pass for pictures... no harm in trying right? Never expected it to work, but it did. But most of those pictures are just from being in the heart with my camera. That's just my basic lens, not a telephoto.

 

[ladywithspinninghead]

Nice pictures. How on earth did you get press passes?? I would like to bring my slr 35 mm in, but I'm just concerned about it getting confiscated.

Me too and if I'm doing GA and don't have time to return the camera to wherever, it'll be very frustrating.

I think I'll bring a disposable camera to their first gig in case that scenario presents itself, in which case I can just throw it away.

 

[U2Acrobat8]

Hey all! Here is my concern about cameras this tour. On the Elevation tour cameras were actually allowed and nowhere on any ticket stubs did it say "no cameras or video". However I have noticed on the tickets for this tour that is now posted again on the tickets. The tickets were the same for popmart and we had to sneak them in. Who knows the band could allow it again anyway no matter what the ticket stub says but I just found that interesting.

 

[reneedo]

I wrote a letter to principal management basically telling them that I had a fan site and would like a pass for pictures... no harm in trying right? Never expected it to work, but it did. But most of those pictures are just from being in the heart with my camera. That's just my basic lens, not a telephoto.

Really? Ok, I'm excited now--I want need details!! Did you actually have a website? Did you call them? Email them? How long before the show did they get back to you? You got the pass in the mail? With a press pass, I'm assuming you can't bring a guest, right? What city did you go to? And with press passes you're allowed in the heart? Did you show up right before the gig, show your pass, and walk right in? Where you able to still buy tickets for other shows? Did they want copies of the pictures after the fact? I did the press pass thing once for a concert festival called Cornerstone. That was great, so I can only imagine how you must have felt!
Sorry for all the questions, but I never thought of doing that. I could represent my hometown paper. Anyway, I would obviously REALLY love it if you could let me know the details! If you don't want to discuss all these details on the forum, please email me directly at karenreneedo@hotmail.com.

 

[uuu222]

I'm a professional photographer who has covered many events including big acts such like Britney, Aerosmith, Collective Soul, and Toby Keith, (if you call them big acts)
Press passes are limited for events, especially a large one as big as u2. I don't suggest everyone who has a website try to get a press pass.
Usually the rules for these events don't allow for the photographer to post the images on a website other than the newspaper, magazine or media outlet you are affliated with. And it certainly doesn't allow the photographer to sell the images without written consent from the promoter.
In fact, press passes are good for normally the first three to five songs, and after that they run you out like sheep. (News channels can only cover somewhere around 15-30 seconds of video)
If you get a press pass and want to catch the show as well, you better have tickets. (Unless you have an authorized reviewers seat)

And yes, it does take time, but promotion companies will often check back on you.

My suggestion: let us worry about the yellow tape, and enjoy the show.

 

[reneedo]

Fair enough!
I will refrain from doing anything problematic. I still hope I can at least bring in some sort of camera. If not, I'll let the real press do their thing.
Thanks uuu222

 

[Pop Artist]

Haha. This reminds me of the Nov. 2 show in Philly on the elevation tour. We were all lined up and around 2pm these event staffers came to tell us that we couldn't bring any camera in with professional lenses because "pictures of Bono's crotch ended up on the internet and he must be lacking in that department because their management told us to be strict with this rule." I think those pictures were actually on PLEBA or something!

Well that's stupid, if you're on the rail in the heart/egg, you're close enough to get photos of Bono's crotch even without a professional lens.

 

[RicoT.O]

If your going to the ACC Toronto Show, don't bring a camera, if you do cover the flash. The ushers at the ACC are real assholes, I went to see Madonna at the ACC and they really check all over to see what you bring in. I manged to put my digicam in my pants and covered it with my jacket. I was soo luck I didn't get caught. So then the concert starts, I covered the flash with black tape, and started zaaping away. As I was taking the pics, I saw they came out all blurry, so I took off the black tape and started zapping away. All the sudden I had this mean ass usher lady yelling and pointing at me to put the camera away or she will take it away from me. I was "silence woman and gave her rude look" she continued yelling and pushing her way into the seats to get me. So I put it away. A LOT of people got kicked out of the ACC for cameras. Its not worth it. Just go and enjoy the show, it really sucks trying to play cat and mouse, and being on the look out for the arse's at ACC.


Cheers!!

 

[reneedo]

Thanks Rico. Regardless, I will enjoy the show, but it sucks that we can't bring cameras. What if I ran into the band after the show or something? (Just saying--what if) I'd have no pictures to fondly remember the occasion! I remember the last U2 concert at the Acc didn't have much security. I could have brought in my camera. This time around they're probably going to be more uptight because many cameras can record things.
Oh well, I'll check on this forum after the show to see all the pictures from people who hid cameras up their bums...

 

[RademR]

Both times I was at elevation i didnt have a problem.

The first show in DC, I brought a disposable one but I was in nosebleeds, so they were shit anyway. But the second show I had lowers on the side of a stage and brought a nice camera. Pictures came out awesome. There weren't THAT many staff people around, but enuough to notice me taking pictures. I think it all depends on the venue.

As for being stopped at the security/detectors, I plan on bringing in a good camera to the D.C. and Philly shows because I'm driving there. If they tell me no cameras allowed, I'll walk to the parking lot and put it away. If I miss some of "Kings of Leon" because of it, so be it.

For the shows I'm coming into town for (basically means I'm taking a cab to the show), I'm going to bring a disposable camera and sneak it in. If they stop me and tell me its not allowed, i'll tell the security to throw it away then.

 

[BlueStar]

During Elevation, I went to all 5 NYC shows. 2 of those times I was front row in the heart. I never had any problems getting my camera in (and I didn't hide it either) and I never had any of the staff tell me I couldn't take pictures.

Generally, when it comes to cameras, it is according to what the band says, not the venue. So, it doesn't matter what venue you will be seeing U2 in...all that matters is what the band is going to allow this time around.

 

[BlueStar]

On the Elevation tour cameras were actually allowed and nowhere on any ticket stubs did it say "no cameras or video". However I have noticed on the tickets for this tour that is now posted again on the tickets.

This is exactly why I am worried about no cameras being allowed this time around.

 

[RicoT.O]

Thanks Rico. Regardless, I will enjoy the show, but it sucks that we can't bring cameras. What if I ran into the band after the show or something? (Just saying--what if) I'd have no pictures to fondly remember the occasion! I remember the last U2 concert at the Acc didn't have much security. I could have brought in my camera. This time around they're probably going to be more uptight because many cameras can record things.
Oh well, I'll check on this forum after the show to see all the pictures from people who hid cameras up their bums...

I went to the Elevation tour in Hamilton and I got a camera in with no problems. It could be that just because it was "MADONNA", they were strict. I don't like Madonna, just went with my gf. The GA's at the Madonna show at the ACC where seats, so they had TONS of security going up a down the floors.
I think for U2 there won't be any problems with cameras, we will have to wait for THE FIRST SHOW IN 2 WEEKS, and read the stories.