Gig Photography advice or tips please

Hopkin Green Frog said:
Yeah, that's the case with all gigs at 53 Degrees, the venue where I do most of my shoots.
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Yes, most SLR's (or "professional-looking" cameras) are banned from most venues I go to, even some of the smaller ones require passes of some sort.

How do you get your passes for the 53 Degree's? I've always fancied trying to get a pass for the Cockpit in Leeds which I believe is a similar-sized venue, but never been too sure how best to go about it...do you go for the promoter, band management, venue management...?
 
I actually came on here looking to see if there was a gig forum as I am hoping to maybe photograph Snow Patrol on Sunday and Oasis next week.
 
Post a new thread then you'll get help. Its not the topic of conversation here. Music photography not what camera you need for sports.
 
lucasthekopkat said:
Yes, most SLR's (or "professional-looking" cameras) are banned from most venues I go to, even some of the smaller ones require passes of some sort.

How do you get your passes for the 53 Degree's? I've always fancied trying to get a pass for the Cockpit in Leeds which I believe is a similar-sized venue, but never been too sure how best to go about it...do you go for the promoter, band management, venue management...?
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I got lucky really, I was seeing a girl who worked in the production office, and a tog let them down at the last minute - she knew I was learning to wave a camera and they rang me up and asked if I fancied doing it... then I made sure I processed the pics quickly (some of their togs were taking two months to turnaround the photos) and from there I kept getting gigs.

Venue management might be a good idea with the Cockpit, I've forgotten the dude's name, but he was involved with setting up The Mill in Preston, and he's a really nice and approachable fella, just give em a call and say hello.
 
I'm associated with one band in particular and I often shoot them for free if it's just a normal gig. But when they want promo shots, album/dvd artwork, etc. they pay and are happy to do so. The freebies work out for me because I get to travel around with them and do a bit of marketing, etc. I always shoot the supporting band(s) and will sell them a CD of web sized images for £50 which covers the costs but I wouldn't want to make a living from it.

I know a few togs who shoot for free and just enjoy being part of the scene, one in particular shoots everything with flash. His shots aren't so great but all the bands use them because he gives them away and the truth is they'd rather have a crap free one than pay even £5 for a stunning one.

Earlier this month I was doing a commercial job at an awards bash, the band got in touch beforehand and asked for some shots. They said they'd asked other togs when they'd played but because there was 11 in the band it was a problem. On the night I made sure I got shots of each, plus the seperate sections they played in and then headed up to the lighting box to get shots of the entire band with the punters dancing. They loved it and were happy to pay £50 for a CD - not much split 11 ways after all. But it was nice, for a change, to be approached by a band expecting to pay for the shots.
 
I'd llike to add some things to this thread.

Unless a band has specifically asked you to photograph them, why should you expect them to pay for your photographs?

If you get asked to take photos and you want to earn money, you should be upfront about any fees and agree them first.

I've got into gig photography recently, I'm no expert but I've captured shots that amateur bands are happy with, and if they get used on a webpage or myspace then I'm very happy.

I'm also in a band, we would not consider paying for photographs as at our level it will not help us. What would help would be decent quality recordings of our tunes which if we had money.........would be directed there.

Yes we all have good full time jobs but our money is used on mortgages and other more important things.

We seldom make money at gigs and if we do get paid we pass that on by selling our tickets cheaper.

A dedicated music forum would be a good idea:clap:
 
i'm coming at this from a slightly different angle.
i'm the other half/second tog at the wifes photography biz.
i know a few peeps from a few local bands.i ve done two or three gigs for bands as freebees or for peanuts/a pint/free tickets etc .
made a few good contacts on myspace too.
just got our banner/links up on their sites in return for a cd with the best images on it.
we have done a couple of (paid) studio promo shoots as a result of this.
i'm under no illusion that gig work will ever make me any money. its done as an interest by myself rather than as part of the biz.
it doesnt hurt to get the name of the biz about, and if we get some studio biz from it, all the better.
its good fun though.
dont know if theres enough interest to justify a gig photography section .
 
pxl8 said:
I'm associated with one band in particular and I often shoot them for free if it's just a normal gig. But when they want promo shots, album/dvd artwork, etc. they pay and are happy to do so. The freebies work out for me because I get to travel around with them and do a bit of marketing, etc.
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This is pretty much what I do. I'll ask a band if they mind me shooting at their gig, they inevitably say yes. I give them photos (with my name on 'em) for their website/myspace and get my name known. If they want to use an image on a poster or an inlay, we can talk about a bit of cash. If they want promo work doing, they think of me and are willing to pay. Works for me anyway.
 
Really? Interesting. I've got a pass for them at Rock City next week :D
 
sakura said:
yes i read that too

but it was Funeral for a Friend when they played Liverpool 2 weeks ago

they were angry with the audience
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There is no need to get angry with the audience just because your crap! Haha!

Bands really are a funny bunch of creatures!
 
sakura said:
yes i read that too

but it was Funeral for a Friend when they played Liverpool 2 weeks ago

they were angry with the audience
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I shot them last week and they seemed pretty cool with the crowd, the lighting was pure sh*t for them though! Cancer Bats supported them though and they were a blast to photograph!
 
sakura said:
Funeral For A Friend also have you sign a photography contract (copyright grab) - its not as if they are say Elton John or something...they do a few odd things as a band too...
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Im literally just after reading the contract on a thread on flickr, i didnt have anything to sign for them. I guess i got lucky! Anyone shooting this tour though, get your ass down early for Cancer Bats, he crowdsurfed twice during the first three so your guaranteed kick ass shots, make sure you attach your flash before they come on, your going to need it!
 
sakura said:
Funeral For A Friend also have you sign a photography contract (copyright grab) - its not as if they are say Elton John or something...they do a few odd things as a band too...
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Really? I was going to be shooting them this week, but passed the shoot on to another tog at the venue because, well, I can't bear their floppy haired emo nonsense. Sounds like I should be glad I did!
 
Ouch. Sod it, just take a G9, once the photos are taken there's nothing they can do. Sounds like over zealous management anyway.

Oh, and they're not emo.
 
the_doctor199 said:
Cancer Bats supported them though and they were a blast to photograph!
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sakura said:
Cancer Bats are brill!
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the_doctor199 said:
Anyone shooting this tour though, get your ass down early for Cancer Bats, he crowdsurfed twice during the first three so your guaranteed kick ass shots, make sure you attach your flash before they come on, your going to need it!
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This makes me feel happy as im shooting CB this saturday at a headline gig in Peterborough!
 
MJ Stebbings said:
This makes me feel happy as im shooting CB this saturday at a headline gig in Peterborough!
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Your going to have a ********* brilliant time shooting them! The singer has a tendency to scream to the lens of cameras as well, i concentrated my efforts on him as he was constantly doing something!
 
pxl8 said:
Think they need to realise what side their bread is buttered. I'd point blank refuse to take a single shot of them. No scratch that, I'd take lots but they'd be OOF in the background with a pin sharp contract in the foreground :lol:
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I dont remember who the artist was, but i seen in a paper ages ago beside a review somethng along the lines of 'We would have had a photo of the artist here, but they asked us to sign a contract to take one' and a big blank box beside it lol
 
im going to see rancid soon, undecided weather to take camera and shoot, or leave it at home, get smashed and skank :D
 
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