press pass

kevinhalvey

hi i am wondering about trying to get a press pass to gain access to concerts and sporting events . but have no idea where to start . could anybody help me on where to get one .

note: i am not working for press but photography is a great hobby of mine

Borderfox

To get a press pass you need an outlet for your pictures, news/media/magazines/papers

kevinhalvey

oh thanks for that i was reading about the company below but they were american thought i may have been able to get one

http://picturestock.com/phpcode/web/press_pass.php

PCPhoto

no offence intended but the hint is in the name - its a press pass for working press.

(like borderfox said .... you need to get an outlet - someone to tell the organisation/organisers that you are taking pics for them at this event and they intend using them)

for the big gigs - its national newspapers only and some dedicated music magazines.

for sports events - depends on the organisation - some allow freelancers.

I assume you have little or no experience.... but would like to start at the top ??? learn how to take photos at smaller gigs, try to sell your images to the bands or the pubs..... build a portfolio and in time - show some of your best images to a picture editor and ask if you can cover a gig for them sometime.

There is very little money to be made from covering the big gigs/sports events.

EDIT: Do you have much photography experience ?

I shoot soccer every weekend for the Star, I shoot concerts for the Examiner, Sun, Mirror, Indo etc etc.

EDIT2: As for the company you mentioned - that is simply an ID badge for someone who wants to pretend to be a member of the media - you dont need a press card to take photos at a big event - the pass is arranged before the event - in some cases weeks in advance.

Borderfox

It depends on what sport you want to photograph, big events have procedures to go through in assigning passes. Concerts are even harder to gain access to, best to start at grass root level in sport or concerts and try and work your way up.

Would I be right in thinking that, lets say, you did get a press pass sorted by lying through your teeth or having a friend of a friend at a newspaper get you in the doors of a major event; once taking photos, realise you're in over your head, and as a result your images were all pretty poor, that you'd never be touched by a newspaper again?


Would you be finishing yourself off before you even got started?

joepenguin

KKV: Yeah you'd look like an aaaawful twat :pac:
OP: Just start out at small events. You'd learn just as much at a local sunday league game as you would if you were given a press pass at the aviva honestly, and have just as much fun. Start local, you will have pretty much all the access you want and often the players / musicians are more greatful for the coverage.
As said previously you will then have a portfolio and can look to cover bigger events in time. Do you have anything particular in mind? Like a certain sport or music genre?

AnCatDubh

Good advice above for you Kevin.

I don't do them myself but there have been / are a number of posters on this forum that cover the smaller gigs and stuff. It appears that these can be a bit of rough and tumble, but a start is to 'befriend' bands and make them offers - the offer being usage rights for free (do retain your copyright if at all possible - who knows 20 years time and you could be a millionaire )

You will earn nothing immediately from such offers except if you value getting whatever experience you would gain. Start out going to some gigs that don't discourage / disallow photography from the audience -- even those in a public space. Get images of the band as best as is possible. Send those images to the bands management, asking them for assistance at getting a pass to their gig in return for usage rights to whatever images you take (again, try retain your copyright).

You won't get rich with these. Start small, try get published -- again, hustle your way to the photo editors and publishers of web sites or publications, and grow, and grow. It's organic. Try facebook befriending smaller acts. It's surprising, but you can get one to one talks with lead singers and band members. They might be an intro to their management or a "i'm with the band" kinda pass.

Expect to be screwed over (its been reported many times) in terms of what you might think you would get from the experience. Most of such bands won't be overflowing with cash and have a dozen people in the same position as yourself trying to break into the market offering to do what it is that you want to do, and they probably won't be paying for anyones services. But then again, beggars and choosers spring to mind.

You'll earn next to nothing until a point where you might start doing the kind of work that PCPhoto does which he's described in detail on other threads. If you search out what he's previously posted you'll see its damn hard work, little or no time off, but perhaps a reasonable living doing what you love. It always stikes me that you need to be very dedicated and really enjoy what you do to do what PCPhoto does, day in day out, and to put the effort in which he does *hats off to him*.

Paulw

AnCatDubh wrote: »

You'll earn next to nothing until a point where you might start doing the kind of work that PCPhoto does which he's described in detail on other threads.

I think even PCPhoto will admit that he's not getting rich either from what he does, and he works damn hard to make it work. It takes a lot of work, dedication, never mind expensive equipment.

As others have said, there are many sites that sell "press passes", which is only basically an ID card. These cards are totally useless. You can't exactly turn up at the door, flash an ID card and expect to get in.

In most cases, with sport, for large events, you need to submit an accreditation request. There you need to give details of who you supply images to (what media outlet), and who your editor is (so they can confirm you supply to them).

Many organisations too require proof of insurance (PL insurance). Some specify how much you require (eg Heineken Cup rugby require a min of £5m cover).

If you want to cover big events, be prepared to have everything in order - insurance, media backing, etc, before you even apply.

Start small, shoot local sports. Build your portfolio, build your reputation, build your skills. Over time, work your way up. Make contacts as you go.

mrboswell

Paulw wrote: »

In most cases, with sport, for large events, you need to submit an accreditation request. There you need to give details of who you supply images to (what media outlet), and who your editor is (so they can confirm you supply to them).

Many organisations too require proof of insurance (PL insurance). Some specify how much you require (eg Heineken Cup rugby require a min of £5m cover).

If you want to cover big events, be prepared to have everything in order - insurance, media backing, etc, before you even apply.

This is becoming the case across the board. It wasn't always like that - to be honest the easiest major sporting event to get in to cover is the International football as the FAI haven't been that strict. The result is that the place is crowded with photographers and space is at a premium.

Other sports are a lot tighter - take the GAA for example - regional matches and county grounds are one thing but try getting into croker on a big match day without serious support and its a major NO!

Take on board the fact that agencies will complain if they are getting crowded out and I know that for a fact.

Long story short - its def. getting tougher every year.

mehfesto

Just to go against the grain here - you CAN get access to gigs/concerts without a media outlet behind you.

There are loads of people doing it. The Baz (a poster on here) does it a fair bit and I have a friend who e-mails every concert promoter asking for access. His success ratio is about 1/15 he says. Which given that he copies, pastes and adjusts the one email isn't much work for the pay off. That said it's usuallt only the smaller gigs (The Academy, Button Factory, at a BIG push the Olympia)

It can be done, but you won't be shooting starts straight away!

melekalikimaka

i have an nuj card, never use it ever. for gigs, olympia/academy, not so much o2, its doable to get passes with nothing to back up request. email promoter or band

PCPhoto

Thanks PaulW and An Cat Dubh !!

I do work hard to earn my money .... even when photographing the "top level" of concerts there is very little money made - in terms of working for the newspapers.

In recent years even tougher restrictions have been brought in - which means its almost impossible to make money from concerts - in most cases photographers have been asked to sign disclaimers restricting the usage of the images - ie. for a specific publication on a specific day.

Even when you are taking pics at concerts (for a newspaper) - its not like you hang around afterwards, in general you are allowed to photograph for the first three(3) songs ...no flash is permitted and after the first 3 songs you are escorted back out of the venue by the promoters.... and most of the time you need to send pics in ...asap....its high pressure....as most of the newspapers will goto print around the time that a headline act goes on stage.... so they dont have time to put the pic into the paper if its already gone to print.

For anyone starting out there is actually more money to be gotten from actual bands paying for the photographer.... you get to know the band members and get closer and get more of a personal approach, when a band is starting off you can get some money from them (even if its only a few quid from each member).

its better to build from the start - think of it this way..... if you photograph every starter band in the country .... and one of them makes it big...or wins an award ...or are at the center of a court case.... your image could be worth money.... photographing rising bands is a good thing - I have pics of Kings of Leon from 2005 where they played as part of "Budrising" ....the long hair.... dodgy !!! .......but if they ever make it big ...lol !!!

twowheelsonly

Paulw wrote: »

As others have said, there are many sites that sell "press passes", which is only basically an ID card. These cards are totally useless. You can't exactly turn up at the door, flash an ID card and expect to get in.

.

I work on the doors/gates of most big events and venues in the country and you'd be amazed at how many people do just that!!!

More than a few of them also give the 'I'll destroy you in the media' line when they're refused entry.
Most wouldn't have cameras but would just be journalists - simple answer for them is usually to advise them to go to the Accreditation tent/office/room where they can pick up their acccreditation. Surprisingly, very few of them ever do!!
Paramore concert last week a foreign guy arrived - Nikon D40 with 18-55 kit lens and a red card with MEDIA in big white block letters on it. No ID, no info, nothing. Highly indignant that he wasn't allowed in, was going to spread it all over the media in France about what a dump The O2 in Dublin is.... :eek:

PCPhoto

apologies for the state of the pics - just had a quick search through online archive to find 2005 pics....and found some from 2007... will prob do them again in December...and again at Slane next summer.

heres one from 2005 (August)

and two from 2007


he's changed a bit hasn't he !!!

Paulw

twowheelsonly wrote: »

I work on the doors/gates of most big events and venues in the country and you'd be amazed at how many people do just that!!!

I could well believe it.

I have 3-4 genuine press IDs. I can't say I've ever used any, aside from them being proof of ID when collecting accreditation.

Usually, if you're name's not down, you're not getting in. Simple as that.

I've never done concerts, but for sport, it's getting harder and harder to gain access. It was much easier when I started off, but I can now see the reasons why it's getting harder.

PCPhoto

Paulw wrote: »

I could well believe it.

I have 3-4 genuine press IDs. I can't say I've ever used any, aside from them being proof of ID when collecting accreditation.

Usually, if you're name's not down, you're not getting in. Simple as that.

I've never done concerts, but for sport, it's getting harder and harder to gain access. It was much easier when I started off, but I can now see the reasons why it's getting harder.

totally agree with this - and its the same for concerts !! .... a few years ago ...it was a phone call and an email.....for sports events....

now, I can't earn money from major sports events - so don't bother going - unless I am asked to cover it by a newspaper - and them days are long gone - INPHO/Sportsfile have ended them days..... Even earning money from Airtricity League (League of Ireland) .... is difficult.

money is extremely limited from concerts.

John

I do reviews for an online magazine for niche/experimental music and never have any trouble getting into gigs in Dublin with my camera. The Button Factory sometimes asks about the camera but are usually satisfied if the promoter has heard of the website.

Whenever I go to England, I always go about getting a photo pass as they're a lot stricter, even for the obscure bands as the venues tend to be corporate jobs (like the HMV Forum). I just email the promoter or the band and explain the situation and things usually turn out rosy.

irish147

Paulw wrote: »

I could well believe it.

I have 3-4 genuine press IDs. I can't say I've ever used any, aside from them being proof of ID when collecting accreditation.

Usually, if you're name's not down, you're not getting in. Simple as that.

I've never done concerts, but for sport, it's getting harder and harder to gain access. It was much easier when I started off, but I can now see the reasons why it's getting harder.

Paul is 100% right its getting hard for people to get into sports events, I think you have to take local sports events, then move on to the next stage.....