Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Memories you can enjoy again if you took some shots.

Rich43224

There are concert venues, and artists that allow photography. Length of lens seems to be the biggest issue. House of Blues in Vegas is a good spot. Wife and I sat 25 yards from the stage for Santana concert. D600 with 24-120 f4, and I shot close to 200 frames, without interfering with my watching the show. Outdoor festivals are usually good. Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach and Capital Jazz Festival in Maryland allow 70-200 zooms. I usually have a shorter lens mounted when I enter during the inspection, and change to the longer lens after I am in.

autry Loc: Ashland, VA. - Center of The Universe

Can’t use a cell phone at Sheryl Crowe outside venue. Willie Nelson same venue different date I used my D 810 with Tammy 18-300.

Rich43224

That was likely Crowe's doing. Fraze Pavilion here in Ohio allows based on what the artist requests.

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Love your work on these...

Gort55 Loc: Northern Colorado

I think it depends on the artist. We went through the metal detectors at Caesars Palace with a MFT camera, and Rod Stewart said, "Screw the rules. Take all the pictures you want." Other artists at the same venue say no photos.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

I shoot at every outdoor concert I go to. But they are just locals and don't care, and I've often given pictures to the performers.

BJW

Press passes are easy to get. I shoot for a local sports team and send the photos to a local newspaper, which is hungry (and gratefgul) for decent shots for their sports pages. I have several press passes and here’s what I did to get them:

1. Contact the editor of the local newspaper and ask for a letter designating you as a free lance photographer on behalf of the newspaper.
2. Contact the venue and send them a copy of the letter. That will alert the venue and they generally will let you in. The venue usually does not issue a press pass to you.
3. Go to a local Sir Speedy or other such printing shop. Bring a good photo (head shot) of yourself. Ask them to make you a Press pass, which they can easily do on PhotoShop. They should put the photo on the front of the pass. The pass should obviously say ‘PRESS” on it. Look on the internet for samples of Press passes that you can buy by joining various organizations on line. I don’t encourage you to join or buy their passes. Just look at the pass they offer to sell. Without copying their passers, this give you some ideas and will help you to design a pass for yourself. (I can’t vouch for thebona fides of these vendors, except that they sell what look like press credentials). By looking at them on line, you can get an idea of what a real-looking Press pass might look like. Then, just design your own. To make your press pass look genuine, have the Sir Speedy or whoever, reduce and copy the letter from your local newspaper on the back of the pass. If it’s too big, then just take an excerpt of the letter and the editor’s signature. The Press Pass should designate the name of the newspaper that gave you the letter.
Have them laminate the pass and put a punch hole on the top. Insert a laniard to put around your neck. Poof! You got a press pass.

So long as you have a letter from any legitimate news outlet—however local or small, you should consider yourself “legit”. Even if you publish your own blog on line, theoretically, your freedom of press or speech rights should give you the right (subject to the venue’s permission and compliance with their rules) to bring your camera in. (Not giving you legal advice, though.)

Will it be honored when you get to the venue? That’s another question. But I have never been turned down admission and if you “connect” with the venue’s official photographers, once you get pass security, they may even invite you to join them in the press box right next to them.

Have fun buddy and shoot away.

PS:
1. Don’t use flash. So you’ll need a fast (2.8 or wider) lens and a camera that’s good in low light. Don’t bring a tripod so you don’t tread on the turf of the venue’s photographers.
2. Your camera should have a silent shutter option so you can avoid making any distracting noise when you shoot. (You’d be surprised how disturbing the click of a shutter can be).
3. Make sure your Live View screen is “Off” so the light from it does not disturb the patrons.
4. Be courteous. Be discreet. Remember, you are a guest at the venue—even if you purchased a ticket full price. If you are challenged by any security people, comply with their requests. Don’t fight them. It’s not worth it.

aaciolkowski Loc: Sugar Grove Illinois

I used to shoot jazz concerts in Chicago in the 60s and 70s. All I had to do to get in was stop at a local diner buy some cups of coffee go to the stage door. Show the guard the coffee mention one of the artists. Not only did I get in free I had complete access backstage. Oh for the good old days.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

This is all much of what I did to get my shots here. You should follow through and deliver some shots too.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'm of the mindset that if I go to a concert, I'm there for the concert. I'm not there to take photographs. I enjoy just sitting back and listening. I can still see in my memory the concerts I've attended. I don't need photographs of them.

I've been paid to photograph a few, and that's an entirely different situation. I can hardly remember the concert but can recall the photographs I took.
--Bob

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I'm a big fan of Richard Thompson, an English folk rocker who plays small to medium venues. I found out I could request a photo pass from his webmaster. I didn't always get one, but I have gotten quite a few. The deal is, only the first three songs, and no flash (which I wouldn't dream of anyway). I would always send some photos to the webmaster, who has a fan photos section. And a couple years ago I got a request for using some of the photos on a CD cover, which they paid me for. I don't know if many other musicians sometimes give photo passes to fan photographers, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Robert R Loc: Indianapolis and Naples

My wife and I attend concerts at The Pallidium in Carmel, indiana. I have used my DSLR there many times, never used flash, I do not believe I bothered anyone. Then recently I was stopped at the entrance and was told I could not use a camera with interchangable lenses. So I took the camera back to the car. I have since used a small P & S camera without any problem, no flash. This past summer I attended a Neil Diamond concert. I called the venue, and they said no photographs, so I left the camera at home. Before the show it was announced no photos or sound recording of any kind. We were seated toward the back of the venue, and I was amazed that during popular songs you could see the cell phones light up, making picture and sound recordings. It was so obvious that any security could not miss what was going on, yet there was no effort to stop anyone. I do believe in following the requests of the artists, and for me it was a distraction from the show. Not long after that it was announced that Mr. Diamond was cancelling the remaining tour dates due to the diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease. My wife and I were very happy to see one of his last shows, such a great entertainer. I wish him well.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

A silent camera on a tripod from a place like the sound console area works great for chamber music or other relatively quiet concerts where no distractions are acceptable.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

You need to contact the place having the concert and find out what they will allow. I was able to take my D500 minus the grip and my 24-120 lens to Queen when they played in Cleveland. They didn't allow lenses that extend more than 6". Got some good shots as well.