Concerts

[MulberryLane]

So, I shot David Cook with a Nikon Coolpix (gag...) last weekend at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas. No cameras allowed, but everyone and their brother snuck in point and shoots. I am really wanting to shoot some more concerts- but with my actual "real" camera. I loved it! The atmosphere... just all of it. Does anyone know what venues around here allow this? Doesn't have to be big names... little local bands are fine. Just want some more concert shot experience.

(By the way- David Cook shots are on the ol' blog if you wanna see... www.mulberrylanestudio.blogspot.com)

[heathercaptures]

David Cook...not so much.....but the Palladium was cool I bet!!! I saw a few shot on the blog :)

[MulberryLane]

lol Heather... I'm a David Cook fanatic. ;) Thanks for checking out the blog.

[lscottpht]

I love David Cook, that's cool! The Palladium is cool to shoot in, as long as you are not IN the mosh pit, but I doubt they did that for him. They have great stage lighting there. I shot there for the Star Telegram, Taking Back Sunday. As far as what venues, hmm, I know Gypsy Tea Room used to allow it, but it's no longer there, unfortunately. Going to check out your photos now.

[toverman]

The Majestic Theater in Dallas actually allows flash photography (double gag) with real cameras. But the last concert I attended there I purposely didn't take any gear. I was there, oddly, for the music. It was beyond annoying all the cell-phone goobers and dim bulbs flashing the stage at random intervals.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Most of the clubs in Deep Ellum used to allow cameras (works out especially well if you know at least one of the bands playing that night) or if you had shot there in the past and the staff knows you. But since there are not many in Deep Ellum anymore not sure what the current policy is and especially on a named touring act if they have photo restrictions in their contracts.

Anybody know what House of Blues policy is? It can be all over the place in New Orleans.

BTW use the fastest glass that you can wrangle so that you can make full use of the stage lighting in your shots.

[thedaddymike]

House of Blues policy is first 3 songs, no flash, and you had to have a pass to get in front of the barricades(right by the stage). Shot there a year ago for a band (Dropkick Murphys) and the band got me the pass. Even after the first 3 songs, I had to move behind the barricades, and still was able to shoot all over until the show ended. The lighting in there is kinda difficult.

[fortworthphil]

I've shot a bunch of times at the Granada Theater in Dallas without flash. Took photos last night at the Mountain Goats show there. Some of the bands don't allow photography (Cat Power had a no camera policy at their show at the Granada). House of Blues Dallas has made me check my camera every time I brought it - so I don't even try anymore.

[Crushn421]

Camera policy for most the bigger venues in Dallas is "no professional." However most of the venues in Deep Ellum "The Door" included will allow them, unless the band is restricting them.

The Granda Theater allows professional cameras alot of the time, unless the artist has specifically asked them to not let them in. If they artist hasn't asked then they generally allow them. If it's a larger artist playing there, expect them to be restrictive ie: Adele, Cat Power, etc.

House of Blues is no professional without photo pass, and if you do have a photopass and they catch you shooting past the first 3 at a show where the artist is being really anal, they will take your gear away and check it in.

Same thing goes for the other larger venues like Superpages.com Center, Nokia, AAC, Bass Hall, etc.

I actually shot that David Cook show with photo pass, he was killer to shoot majorly playing it up during the first 2 songs. Which was what we were allotted to shoot. I was also excited to see he was using the spots. I've shot there many times and he was the first artist to actually use the dang things.
Here's one of my shots.


Even if you're going to a show at a venue that doesn't allow pro cams, I encourage you to learn to utilize your point and shoot's manual controls. I've shot some great stuff on my point and shoots, and sure it's a tad noisy but that's what they invented noise ninja for right?

for example this was shot on a point and shoot, just to show you the results you can get with some practice.

[caglejohnson]

if you are serious about getting into concert photog, befriend a local band and start small. get a decent portfolio than start hitting up publicists and editors to do work for magazines. if you arent going to be doing this seriously, stay out of the photo pit and make life for music photographers like me easier.
at warped tour i had 23409240598 little kids with point-n-shoots in the press pit because they got in with one of the small time bands. makes life annoying. nothing like swatting them in the head with a 70-200 and telling them to gtfo. haha

[Crushn421]

Hey no need to be rude to her. I'm pretty sure if she had a photo pass and was actually in a photo pit she'd be using and SLR. There's always going to be someone new in the photo pit and you just pray they know pit etiquette.

I know how frustrating it is to get in a photo pit and have someone in there with a point and shoot. But that's something warped tour is notorious for. Because it's one of those tours with so many up and coming bands that its an easy pass to get. If you don't want to deal with that, then just don't shoot it. It's always a possibility that you'll end up behind someone at a show who's in the photo pit holding up a point and shoot and its ruining your shot. If this is the case MOVE AROUND THEM.

Don't come on here and chew out someone who is trying to break into shooting concerts. Myself and Janik are 2 of the most dominant live shooters in DFW. I shoot 100's of shows a year, big ones, not just small local bands, and I'm not here to lecture anyone I'm here to encourage.

I never went the route you suggested really, sure I shot a couple small bands built a bit of a portfolio, but me getting in with some major local pubs is just stupid luck. It's all about timing and if they need a shooter. If they don't, it doesn't matter how good you are or aren't.

Also I will say this, it's incredibly difficult to make a living off shooting live music alone, so don't make it your only focus.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

BTW the lighting at most Deep Ellum clubs in non-existent at best.
Trees- some lights and if the band has a lighting guy with them it can be good (this is based on what they had before closing up-saw some pics of the reopened club and it looks about the same.
Curtain Club- has great lights but you need a light guy working the boards-if it is one of the House guys get to know him and you can sometimes get him to work with you on leaving certain light cues a bit longer. As mentioned above most lead singers on even newer big bands do not know how to hit the mark to work the spots right.
Reno's Chop Shop- better to get three guys with flashlights to light the stage.
Dada- CLOSED for now- when open before no real lighting other than getting some light on the stage areas.
Door- not sure but at their old location it didn't exist other than to put something on the stage.
Sons Of Herman Hall- strip of lights and a couple spots but since the room is a bit brighter than most places you can set near the stage and shoot reasonabley well.
Liquid Lounge- minimal lighting
Prophet Bar- have not been in there in a while but the lighting before was poor not sure if they upgraded or not.

General Lighting in Deep Ellum Venues C-

Would love to be able to set up some remote flashes in a couple these places to try to shoot in them again but usually it won't work out. (If you could you could have different setups on different channels-like one with certain gels on one channel another set without gels and maybe a third with a different gel set up)

[MulberryLane]

Thanks Rachel. :)
Did you by any chance get any shots of The Script? I'd love to see those. We actually met that night. I was standing behind you at the back gate.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

[janikphoto]

Hey, Rachel. Glad to see you joined up here! I was just about to give her the 411 on local concert shooting, but I know she's in good hands with your advice.

As far as what I can add to this thread: Start going to local music concerts at places like Trees, Curtain Club, The Cavern and The Granada. Local band shows are the most loose with their camera policies, because local bands don't have management and labels to get in the way.

[Crushn421]

Originally Posted by MulberryLane

Thanks Rachel. :)
Did you by any chance get any shots of The Script? I'd love to see those. We actually met that night. I was standing behind you at the back gate.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I wasn't by the back gate, so It must have been a differn't Rachel. I booked it after the show lol. I did get some shots of the script but I haven't even touched them yet as sad as that is. Sometimes it takes me a while to get back around to editing opening act shots.

And psh Janik you know about 10000x more than I do about live shooting.