requesting a photo pass

[stacy]

I want to take photos at a concert so I contacted the office for

this band (a well known band). I have to fax over my information-

including what the photos will be used for. I don't think my "just

for fun" page will fly. Help me think up some wording- not lying-

but a good way to say they are just for me and still get the pass.

Impossible?

 

Anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

[rich_dutchman1]

Say it's for "The Newgent News Agency."

 

"The Dutchman News Agency," as well as "The RD Stock Agency," gets me into (almost) everything. Other times I just write freelance.

 

I assume you are in contact with their PR firm. If you've sold images to any publication in the past, you could let them know who your clients have been.

[nick_breedlove1]

I work for a newspaper and do photography. I do shoot of bands for work and in my free

time. Bands don't like it when you shoot for yourself or a place that resells the images and

profits from them.

 

I would say go with a newspaper as an excuse. A local one at that, in your same area code,

so if they had to contact you, it would at least seem semi-legit. If they call the newspaper,

all that will happen is they'll say they've never heard of you. You could always change your

outgoing message on your cell phone to be "Hi this is Stacy, photographer at New England

Times (or insert local paper name). Leave me a message after the tone." Change it back

after you get your press pass.

 

They just don't want you taking pics of the band and making money from them.

 

Also make sure you find out the stipulations with shooting. Every band is diff. Some don't

want flash, some will only let you take pics during the first 30 seconds of the 3rd song,

you name it everyone is diff.

 

Also, don't do it last minute...that looks suspicious. If they ask what the images are for,

use a broad blanket statement, like "My editor wanted me to get some shots for a summer

concerts photo page" and gave me a list of things to shoot.

 

Good luck.

[al_kaplan1]

Stacy, check your email.

[watermelon]

http://www.presscard.uk.com/ in case you happen to be in the UK. Probably highly regarded elsewhere if you can bragyourself one.

[stacy]

Thanks you guys- I'm hitting some walls here. I actually do freelance for a local paper once in a while- so I called them first...nope. I've also called a few other publications and nobody is being very helpful so far. Luckily the show is not until September so I have some time to work on this.

 

And if I can't get a pass- then I'll go with Al's plan...when you can't get a pass for the headliner try for the opening band! Smart!

 

And if I still fail I will go to the show and drink and dance and not have to worry about my camera. Yes- that would not be so bad- but I'm not giving up yet :)

[Spearhead]

Newspapers often don't get passes for shows, but buy photos from freelancers. Freelancers get their passes from the venue, from the band, from the recording label, from the promoter. You have to try all of these and push for the pass.

<p>

Assuming this is a well-known band and the venue is larger, you want to stay away from the "photo pass," which most larger places now use. Most venues restrict shooters with photo passes to the first two or three songs. It used to be three, but it appears it is now two. I have seen the photo pass rule enforced strictly in some places. What you want is a "VIP" pass or the equivalent. VIP passes allow shooting anywhere (including from the side of the stage and backstage) and anytime during the show. For major acts, the label will often have some VIP passes that can be given out. Bands usually give them out to friends.<p>

 

It's a lot easier to build up a reputation by shooting lesser-known bands and smaller venues (very easy to do, sometimes you can just show up and chat with the band before the show) and giving photos to the band and looking for publication with them. After a while, the bands will help you secure passes through the label or the venue and some venues will see you enough that they just let you shoot, although the larger ones (capacity>800 typically) will require a pass. I shoot about twenty or thirty shows a year (two this weekend) and never get turned down for a pass, the result of a number of years doing it.<p>

 

<center><img src="http://www.spirer.com/roots/images/roots8.jpg"><br>

<i>The Roots at the Fillmore, Copyright 2004 Jeff Spirer</i></center>

[wendyholden]

Awesome link, Andrew. I have been trying to figure out a way to get up close and personal at the Ellensburg rodeo this year. A UK pass will impress everyone sufficiently.

 

Thanks.

[al_kaplan1]

Stacy, I was sitting in the outdoor (legal to smoke) patio of my local Starbucks about 5 feet away from a guy I'd seen there many times before, but never from this close. Picture a well dressed thirty-something black man, a few stray dreadlocks hanging 12 or more inches in front of his face, but most gathered into a thick ponytail behind. He had a lap-top on the table and a head-set phone. I couldn't help but overhear bits and pieces of his conversation. I was marveling at the way he was effortlessly switching back and forth between British English, American English with just a hint of Jamaican accent, and fluent Jamaican patoise, when I realized that what he was doing was making arrangements for a concert tour in England for a Jamaican reggae group, setting up flight reservations, hotel reservations, etc. for next month. Unfortunately I had to leave before he got off the phone but you can bet that next time I see him over there I'm going to introduce myself, business card in hand!

[figurephotos]

Does anyone here have a press pass from the National Press Association (http://www.nationalpressassociation.org/#presspass) and does it really get you in?