Gig Photographer Access?

Oriel

Hi Folks,
What exactly do you need to get access to gigs for photography reasons?
I'm thinking of getting a decent profolio started, and gig photographs seem to be a good, and challenging place to start.

But what do I need to be able to get into the gig, to save me from being turned away when I turn up?

Cheers,
S.

Jim

I assume you need to get in touch with the organisers of the gigs. MCD, Aiken etc... and they'll probably give you some sort of pass so you can get passed security with your gear (provided of course they let you take photos).

bucks

Yep you will need to get in contact with the event promoters. Get in touch with them well before the gig but if you dont have a press pass you may have to do some sweet talking.

Id try aiken first as there are a lot nicer to deal with than mcd.

Shrimp

He cant exactly try aiken if mcd are organising it?

Yeah, and is there any charge/copyright laws.. like u cant sell any pics u take.. etc?

Jim

Shrimp wrote:

He cant exactly try aiken if mcd are organising it?

Yeah, and is there any charge/copyright laws.. like u cant sell any pics u take.. etc?

I think bucks meant that since he doesn't seem to be too picky on which gigs he takes photos at he'd be better off trying an Aiken gig since they are in fact don't reside in one of the circles of hell.

I imagine you can sell the pictures, but will have to pay the promoter a certain royalty per sale. Not 100% sure though.

Shrimp

alright... cool thanks.

bucks

Jimeatsmenu wrote:

I think bucks meant that since he doesn't seem to be too picky on which gigs he takes photos at he'd be better off trying an Aiken gig since they are in fact don't reside in one of the circles of hell.

I imagine you can sell the pictures, but will have to pay the promoter a certain royalty per sale. Not 100% sure though.

Thats exactly what i meant, thanks jimeatsmenu.

Sinecurea said nothing about getting access to MCD only events.

DotOrg

there's no point going to mcd or any promoter if you're not shooting for someone other than yourself. build up a portfolio by going to small gigs of unsigned bands and you'll work your way up the food chain. it's taken me about three years of constant work to get to where i am today

DotOrg

I imagine you can sell the pictures, but will have to pay the promoter a certain royalty per sale.

not a chance would they get a cent. if you are unofficially taking photos you are breaking the conditions on your ticket and the band themselves could probably stop you selling the images

if you are taking photos for a publication or newspaper or whatever you can generally sell the pictures to whomever you want. very few bands try and stop this but queen, moby, the spice girls and the darkness are the only ones I've ever heard of doing this.

acquiescefc

DotOrg wrote:

there's no point going to mcd or any promoter if you're not shooting for someone other than yourself.

So you wouldnt say you were doing it for yourself then? SO who do you say you're doing it for?

I mean I would assume you cuold only request a pass if you were either with a publication or some affiliate of the band.

DotOrg

you can't do it foryourself, you generally have to be working for somebody who will use the pictures. Sometimes for bands at a certain level you can get a pass by contacting the bands management and offering them the photos you take.

But yes, in 95% of cases you need to be shooting on behalf of a magazine or some publication.

GASUN

Good discussion - Dotorg has more or less depicted the gig photo scene very clearly indeed as I myself experience it when trying to cover various concerts/events. You must be willing to keep making that call and over time you can build up various contacts that can be helpful. Aside from seeing each act that you photograph as the biggest band in the world and trying to capture what they are about, you need to also work with some longer term objectives in mind. If you enjoy the Music Photography Scene eventhough you may be operating 'outside all the big gigs', thats important in itself. Regarding MCD, I have found that when photographing MCD shows/venues that the venue managers/staff are most helpful and obliging to me.
GASUN
www.gasun.net
Concert Photography
'its your gig' :eek:

Gone West

You will not be let into any sort of area to take photos anywhere at any sort of big concert without media identification(press-pass). They let the press take photos, becuase increased media-coverage = profit! Not a chance will they let any unattached photographer in.

*edit* Unless you are an attractive woman, and use a bit of social engineering!

wideangle

I got a press pass for the Cork jazz fest a few years ago.And i told the person in charge Im a freelancer..I got away with it too...free gigs and ten rolls of film in four days!!!you could try the "im a freelancer "number. :cool:

Gone West

Even freelancers have press ID.
Mabye some of the smaller concerts will be easier to get into, but I doubt Oxegen/slane/etc would let you.

DotOrg

Even freelancers have press ID.
Mabye some of the smaller concerts will be easier to get into, but I doubt Oxegen/slane/etc would let you.

I'm shooting gigs in the bud rising festival every night for the next few nights and i've no press ID but through lots and lots of work and making lots of contacts i've managed to get into these kind of events.

Oxegen and Slane are tough to get into for freelance people but I got into Oxegen last year though sheer willpower and making enough contacts in the right places:

http://aaaphotos.org/oxegen/ <-- my oxegen 2004 photos

DotOrg

my latest concert shot:

rymus

need an apprentice?

acquiescefc

My latest shot: (thanks for the advice James,helped last night)

kjt

Nice pics DotOrg, but lol at the pics of Muse. THey look so ugly and disfigured.

DotOrg

an apprentice? like a robin to me being batman? hmm... not at the moment thanks...

and acquiescefc, the next stage is to master photoshop....
a quick edit which may slightly improve your shot

acquiescefc

Ah yes, photoshop. That is the next stage I guess, jeez this photography lark isnt all P&S is it!!

I only have the camera software so must look into photoshop. People say its the dogs bowlocks. Is there any basic freeware or do people generally buy the full thing?

DotOrg

try out this first:
http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/

it's a a freeware program that is similar to photoshop but doesn't cost €600

i've not used it but it's meant to be very powerful