OK, now THIS one I'm a bit excited and proud of.
On October 3, I got an email from the promotions person where I work. He had two tickets to see John Hiatt & The Robert Cray Band in West Sacramento, where our company is. I immediately responded and said YES I want those tickets!
I also asked if I could have the name of the person he got the tickets from. My thoughts were, hey, here's an opportunity, so I may as well try to get in to take pictures.
CONTACTS
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Did I mention this was Friday at 3pm? The contact person he had was a promotions person from the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce. After talking to her, she referred me to an events coordinator with Raley Field, the venue.
I called this person but got voice mail, so I left a message saying hello, I'm a freelance photographer and would like to know what's necessary to take pictures at the show. At 4:30pm, she called back and said you need to talk to artist management for that sort of thing. She gave me two separate contacts, one for each group.
I called Robert Cray's management and immediately got in touch with someone. He said I would need to send him email explaining who I was, and who I had taken pictures of in the past, plus any publications that I have worked for. I got his email address and wrote a message, specifically referring to NYI Photoworld, and mentioning that I planned on offering the images to the Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Magazine, Sacramento News and Review, and the Appeal-Democrat (my local newspaper).
Next, I called John Hiatt's management. Nobody was available, so again, I left a voice mail.
The next morning, I went to my aunt & uncle's house to take their pictures. We did some outdoor ones, but my uncle wanted my help putting up an awning on the side of his house (isn't family great). In the midst of this, my cell phone rang.
It was the tour manager for John Hiatt! I explained to him who I was, and that I wanted to take pictures of the show. He asked which publications I took pictures for, and again I mentioned NYI Photoworld and the other publications I had name-dropped earlier. He said ok, I'll leave a photo pass for you at the gate, and that I had permission to take pictures of the first three songs without flash. No problem, thank you very much, sir!
A few hours later, the guy I sent email to regarding Robert Cray called back and said I had permission to take pictures of him too! I could take pictures of the first song, with no flash, and again, thank you very much, sir!
THE SHOW
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At Raley Field, I went to Will Call. The woman had ONE ticket and ONE photo pass with Robert Cray's picture on it. There were supposed to be TWO tickets, and I had brought my wife along. This was not good!
I talked to the person in charge of guest relations. He wanted to know who I got the tickets from, so I mentioned the promotions guy from work. I also said hey, this pass only mentions Robert Cray, not John Hiatt. He went back inside and came out with two tickets! He also told me the pass would work for both John Hiatt & Robert Cray.
My wife and I took our seats, and I took my camera up to the front to get the lay of the land. As I approached venue security, they said who are you? Why are you here? You know there are only two photographers in the entire venue who have permission to take pictures! I said yes, and I'm one of them. One guy said wait here and went off to talk to someone.
He brought the person back, and I exchanged business cards with him. I said yes, I'm a freelance photographer and have permission from the tour management of both artists to take pictures tonight. I also mentioned that if there was any problem, we could go talk to the tour managers, and mentioned them by name. He said oh no problem but you should really talk to that man over there, and pointed to the venue's head of security.
No problem, so I went up to the man, and he was quite friendly. He reiterated that I could only take pictures during the first 3 songs of John Hiatt and the first song of Robert Cray. I told them those were the instructions given to me by management, and he said ok, you're fine.
I also made one last visit with the venue security guy, and asked specifics about how much I could be in front of the stage. He said it really didn't matter because people would be dancing... at this particular show, the entire front part of the stage was cornered off and TABLES were set up. People were eating a catered dinner there, and the security guy said that once people started drinking, they wouldn't care where I was.
So once John Hiatt started, I began taking my pictures. Not only did the audience members not mind, but the band didn't seem to mind either. A few times they smiled when I was taking their pictures, and obviously they enjoyed what they do.
About the third song, I was stopped by one of the guys I had talked to previously. Who are you shooting for, he asked again. I said once again, I'm freelance but specifically I shoot for NYI Photoworld and gave him my business card. He left and I finished the task at hand. When the third song was over, I took my seat.
When Robert Cray started, I did the same thing, only for the first song. No hassles here, either.
FINAL COUNTS
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Contacts before show: 4
Contacts during show: 5
B&W Photos taken: 96
Color Photos taken: 24
I offered photos to the Sacramento Bee and Sacramento News & Review, but neither one was interested. One person during the show approached me and asked if I would be selling photos, so I gave him my business card.
OK so for others who are looking to do the same thing, here are my suggestions:
* Get in touch with band PROMOTIONS not MANAGEMENT. They are the people in charge of this sort of thing, and hassles can be avoided by doing this.
* Be courteous, kind, and do whatever they want you to do. You're on THEIR turf, treat them like kings. Not only do they hold the keys to your success, but they can eject you and confiscate your film if they so desire. They can also back away from their word and not allow pictures at all.
* Don't stumble on whatever you tell them, and don't lie. Above all, act professionally. You're SUPPOSED to be there, so act like it.
THE PICTURES
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I wish I had more to share, but my flatbed doesn't do color negatives the greatest in the world, much less B&W. To save a bit of money, I had them print contact sheets instead of prints, which saved me probably $50.
That said, here is one of each. John Hiatt:
Robert Cray:
Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY. Will I try to take pictures at other events? Again, ABSOLUTELY. This was one of the greatest, most exciting experience I've yet had taking pictures.
Greg
