MJPerini

Here is the real problem, no matter what you surmise or were told over the phone, you are somewhat at the mercy of the check in staff at the venue. If they say no, what are you going to do with your camera?
You may be able to walk back to your car if it is not too far.......
Even if you get it in your vantage point is unlikely to be very good and people will be standing up etc

The rules are all over the place, most define anything but a point & shoot as a "Professional camera"
( it is almost all about size) You might get lucky, you might not.

There can be venue rules , and particular artist 'rider' rules (Don Henley is a strong 'Artist's rights advocate)

I'd say, enjoy the music

CKAlbion Loc: Mendocino, CA

I've always asked the venue and/or the event organizer first. Some of them will allow it, but you might be confined to a specific area or have a certain time span when you're allowed to take photos. For example, at Celtic Connections, I could only shoot during the first three songs and the venue dictated where I was allowed to stand.

levinton

It is a good idea to know exactly what they expect. My experience in NYC is quite variable. Beacon Theater concerts usually prohibit cameras but many people pull out their cell phones (pretty annoying, if you ask me). But it would be unfortunate to be rejected by security as you enter with a bit camera rig, so good to find out. My own experience: many cell phones fail to get good video under the lighting conditions of a concert (my iphone 13 usually fails) but others work well. With experience cameras can work well, but....you miss the concert's intimate live feeling and will you watch the videos in the future? (my experience..not really, except in a one-in-fifty situation). So stills are the great thing for me and
they don't work unless you are close....not typical for big ticket concerts. My advice, leave the stuff home and enjoy the thrill (turn on cell phone for a few seconds if you can but then turn that off too). Life will be more immediate.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

The OP says the venue only said no flash on their web site. But I wouldn't take that to mean large cameras are permitted. He was correctly advised to call the venue to confirm their actual policy on what cameras you can bring in. They could mean no flash with phone cameras.

birdseyeview Loc: Indiana

If you pay the big bucks they charge for some of these concerts it gets very annoying when some jerk feels the need to stand in front of you and block the view for a few pictures they feel they need to make themselves feel special.
Just sit down and enjoy the show!
I have been at venues that the ushers will ask one time to stop then escort you out.

Side note I have taken a few pics at concerts with my phone but I don't try to document the entire show.
One or two then I sit.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I believe the rule about no cameras is very short sighted. It seems good photos would go a long way in advertising the show.

I understand not wanting someone with a 500mm lens — basically anything that would distract or interfere with someone else’s enjoyment of the show, but a short zoom and a camera that could be set to noise free, shouldn’t be a problem.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Shes still alive and doing concerts? I liked her with Fleetwood Mac but now it seems like another “rockers on walkers” tour.

Depending on the artist and venue, there is great variation in what is allowed regarding photography. Check the venue’s web site for that concert for specific photography rules.

OddRockerPhotography Loc: Virginia

I applied to professionally shoot her Baltimore show last month and her publicist said Stevie is not allowing photographers.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

security folks at concert venues and ote places where "professional" photography is prohibited are not necessarily or usually photographers or photo enthusiasts. If they see you with an impressive camera and lens- they consider you a pro.

The images of famous entertainers are a commodity and the performers and the agencies and companies own their images and want to control them, get paid for them, or place them where THEY want them to be placed or published. Thereis all kinds of legal mumbo-jumbo but they have the right to restrict access to photographers.

Venue and talent managers are also concerned about photographers getting into the line of sight of audience members or causing a disturbance.

I have a revolutionary idea. If you are extremely interested in shooting a particular concert- GET PERMISSION! Go to your local newspaper and volunteer to cover the event for them- you may get a one-time press credential. If it is a municipal arena, go to the city hall or mayor's office and offer a shoot for them. I have done these things and gained access, In one case I got to shoot a full rehearsal.

Network with the lighting supplier, write a letter tothe management, well in advance, and indicate that you are a big fan and will not commercialize the images.

If all else fails, just go and enjoy the music- shoot with your cell phone- I doubt if anyone will bother you.

Years ago, I shot in some Montreal Jazz Clubs- big names. The performers needed new pictures and I scored an album cover and hundreds of lobby (glossy) prints. Grover Wasington Jr., Art Blakey, and Charles Mingus, to name a few.

Last sho a 2 AM- everybody is into it- you could run across the stage half naked witg a caomera around your neck and nobody would notice you- well maybe the bouncer!

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

..I'm thinking you got some shots, yes? Can we see???

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Good advice. Meanwhile, go watch Mexican rock band, The Warning. Since 2013, the hardest working sisters in rock.

https://youtu.be/7hbBa1-1p7M?si=GrlshiHGNsxwy2oI

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

I did, posted one.
I need to find the rest in my archive.
I once posted them with scratches and all. On the negatives from years in a box.
Everybody loved the “old school” look.
Thanks for your interest!!

User ID

Simple ! If its banned then it is one.

User ID

Judy Collins should most DEFINITELY bar photography. I dont know if Nicks has the same problem :-(

(Download)