How to get permission to shoot bands live
Blog by Marianne Harris under Creative & Branding, Music Training & Careers
Or rather the art of acquiring accreditation (nice piece of illiteration there). Or if you’re REALLY new to this whole thing, how to get photo/review passes. If you’re a seasoned, or half seasoned, music photographer there’s probably not much in this blog you’re going to find useful. That might save you a lot of reading, 'cus this could go on a bit.
As with almost everything with the music industry there are rules with gaining accreditation. And just to make it even more difficult (confusing) they’re generally unwritten rules. And they don’t always follow what you expect them to. Some are obvious though - if you want to shoot Linkin Park or Metallica the chances are that unless you’re asking as the editor of a known publication the answer will be no. So let’s start a bit smaller. And with the basics.
There’s a kind of rule of thumb, that applies in most cases. I won’t say all cases. Most cases. It’s to do with venue and/or band size/status.
If the venue is small, and/or has no barrier up, and no security, there are quite likely no photography restrictions either. You can take your camera into a show there and take photos at will. Having said this though I know of a few venues in my area that have barriers up and security, yet for most shows still have no rules/restrictions, and I know venues that are small with no security that still require you to have the necessary permission to take photos. And I know venues that are small, usually have no barrier up and no security, no restrictions, and yet for certain shows you need a pass. And I know bigger venues that should, when following these rules, have restrictions yet don’t. Are you confused yet? As a quick point of reference any chain of venues i.e. Barfly/O2 Academies have restrictions, even in the smallest rooms. Independent venues not so much. If you’re not sure, ring the venue before the show and ask.
Then as we work our way up through the bigger venues, the more likely there are to be restrictions and the need to gain accreditation through ‘official’ channels. By ‘official channels’ I mean press agents or labels.
And that’s where the confusion really begins. Because let’s face it - in the smaller venues you can ask the promoter or the bands, if they mind you shooting or if they’ll put you on the guestlist for a show. Easy. Job done. But who the heck do you ask for the bigger shows?
Sometimes finding the right person to ask is the hardest thing about the whole process. Press agents sometimes only do one release, or one tour, and then the next time round someone else has been employed to handle the press. And this information is often not easy to find. Then to make it even more confusing, some bands have different press agents for online publications, printed publications, ones handling national press, ones handling regional press. And some labels do all their own. This is where using your initiative comes in handy. You might have to do some research. Google will become your new best friend. But did you look on the band’s Facebook page or website first?
Even if you do know or find out who you need to ask, you still have one more hurdle. You have to have credible reason for requesting accreditation. The bigger the band, the more credible reason you need. Reviewing or shooting for a publication of some kind is almost always a must. After all, a press agent’s job is to get publicity for their client. And photo passes certainly are usually limited for each show. Not to mention that sometimes the band’s label has to pay for press/guest list places. When a publication is involved in the equation typically it’s the Editor of that publication that needs to ask for the accreditation. ARGHHHH! Look around for online magazines and music webzines as they often appreciate the extra contributions, although they do usually like to at least see some degree of decent live photos in a portfolio first, and if you’re still trying to build yours up to the point where you have something to show people it can be more difficult.
No one said it was going to be easy. Be cheerful in the knowledge though that there are plenty of indie UK labels, as well as press agents, who seem quite happy to hook up photographers, who support uni magazines and webzines just starting off, and that sometimes, despite the general rules, there are still anomalies. If you can find them. And sometimes plain luck’s just on your side.
If all else fails…and this is what I generally advise people who email me looking for magic answers…you can do what I did and start off by not aiming too high. Get out to local shows and shoot the smaller bands first. Not only is it perfect for practice, and a great experience building opportunity, but those are the bands who may well eventually turn into the bigger ones. And who may well keep hooking you up. ;)
LINK TO:
The etiquette of music photography
LINK TO:
The etiquette of music photography
Tags
music photography, music photographer, marianne harris, live music photography, gig photography, band photography, photo accreditation, photo passes
