dslr's & concert venues...

DonnaDarko

im attending a concert in the ambassador next month and was just wondering would i be allowed bring my DSLR (400d) in to the gig with me?
if not, will they take it off me, or make me put it in the cloak room or whatever?
i asked because i am staying in a hostel and do not trust to leave it there. i would like to take it into the gig and take a few photos but i dont know how strict the ambassador security are..
i did try taking it to a gig once last year in the *******,the security didnt say anything,infact one of them came up to me and asked if i was alone,when i said yes he invited me to go up front to the pit!!
any thoughts??

kensutz

More than likely not a hope in hell. You got lucky in that other venue nobody is allowed to mention.

peter1892

You'll see a lot of camera phones & compact cameras at gigs these days - but SLR's, well security usually see them as 'professional' cameras (regardless of whether or not it actually is a pro camera) and can refuse entry to the venue.

The 'venue on Dame st. that dare not speak it's name' has always seemed a bit more relaxed to me, but I've never brought a camera to a gig there. I was at a gig in the Manchester Evening News Arena last year & didn't get searched at all going in (I had a compact camera with me).

I've always been searched going into gigs in that big place beside the East Link (don't know if I can name it here!) but I did manage to get a camera in there about a year ago (and the security guard knew rightly that I had it with me, just turned a blind eye).

xshayx

Think you usually require a photo pass for ambassador - may differ depending on who's playing?

RCNPhotos

Ambassador are pretty strict in my opinion. Again it depends who's playing but really, I think you'd need a pass. What gig is it? If it's the one I think it is yeah, you'l need a pass. While we're on the subject of gigs though, I'm gonna be getting an NUJ card soon, albeit a student one. it's a different colour but doesn't actually say student as far as I'm aware. But my question is, does anyone know the situation with press people going to gigs in the ambassador etc, do they just show up on the night, show the card, or would the venue know ahead of time. Just curious.

xshayx

RCNPhotos wrote: »

But my question is, does anyone know the situation with press people going to gigs in the ambassador etc, do they just show up on the night, show the card, or would the venue know ahead of time. Just curious.

In my experience, the promoter/agent/tour manager usually has a list of people needing passes - photos/interviews etc...

King Eric

Ive seen a few dslrs and bridge cameras in the ambassador, so maybe they are not so strict as regards checking bags searching you etc. then again it cud depend on the person that does it.

Have seen 4 people get told to stop shooting in there, they put away the camera and the security guy is happy.

Seen a girl at a gig recently with a D200 push her way to the front (politley) and then snapped a few shots. I thought it was funny to watch cos she was using the pop up flash from miles out. Which meant crap shots and security spotted her straight away. But again it was stop that and put it away.

iamnothim

you need to be pre approved by the promoter (ie. they who shall not be named) to shoot any gigs in either venue x (dame street) or venue y (parnell square) no matter what kinda press card you got. you could get lucky with the bouncers on the door - but it's extremely unlikely you'll be let in the pit.

Aaah, now to relax with my house photographer accreditation for both unmentionable venues...

melekalikimaka

the event controller in the ambassador is a strict one, might get awy with it at the back tho. apply for a pass, they hand em out like candy these days

pete4130

I blagged my way into an Ian Brown gig a few years back on a Saturday night at a Dame St. Venue. I was shooting the support band on the Friday and Saturday but didn't make it down early enough on the Saturday to get my pass. Luckily I had a blank pass from the Parnell St. Venue from a few months before when The Hives played there with the same promoters. It was a different colour (It was purple) than the Ian Brown night (which was gold/yellow) but it was blank and I just walked up with my F100, battery grip and flash in hand and walked straight in past the bouncers on the door flashing my wrongly coloured pass. Once inside I was stopped and said I was with the band and showed them my worngly coloured pass. The bouncer got his boss, who then apologised for me getting the wrong coloured pass for that night and allowed me up to the changing rooms where I met up with the band I was shooting.

They couldn't believe I managed to blag in with the wrong pass as one of the band members had difficulty getting in themselves as they were late too.

Brass balls is what it takes and be prepared to check you camera in if you take the risk.

After the gig we went to the after show party in Spirit and all smuggled in our own cans to the VIP area......classy or what!?!?

DotOrg

RCNPhotos wrote: »

But my question is, does anyone know the situation with press people going to gigs in the ambassador etc, do they just show up on the night, show the card, or would the venue know ahead of time. Just curious.

you have to contact the promoter before the gig or have somebody contact them on your behalf (eg the magazine you work for)

even if you know the band, they have to contact the promoter as it it is them responsible for letting everybody into the venue and ensuring venue security and safety

some tips on getting passes here

SOL

Are we talking about an MCD event?

melekalikimaka

SOL wrote: »

Are we talking about an MCD event?

no

unreggd

Are we even allowed talk about talking about an EmSeeDee event?

RCNPhotos

Oh no, I know about gettin passes and that but I was curious about say the photographers from Independent Newspapers etc who would have NUJ cards and that, that you always see in the pit, one in particular, remember that Director gig Enda, when he nearly got us all kicked out of the pit? Although I'm not sure which paper he's from or anything.

DotOrg

RCNPhotos wrote: »

Oh no, I know about gettin passes and that but I was curious about say the photographers from Independent Newspapers etc who would have NUJ cards and that.

they still need their publisher to contact the promoter to organise a pass

the promoter gives this list to the bands tour manager who decides which press people get in.

i know some tour managers who will let every photographer in but some others i know (for example razorlight, oasis) are generally a bit more picky. this decision is based on the pr company the band use, their management and their tour management

Fajitas!

unreggd wrote: »

Are we even allowed talk about talking about an EmSeeDee event?

Not a whole pile

Oriel

DonnaDarko wrote: »

one of them came up to me and asked if i was alone,when i said yes he invited me to go up front to the pit!!
any thoughts??

You must be quite attractive. That's half the battle won.
/edit - what do you think he would have said if you had said "Yeah my husband's just away to the bar there, wait, I'll be back any second".

440Hz

Fajitas! wrote: »

Not a whole pile

And that would be a rather small pile, almost non-existent in fact.