How do you folks get a media pass???

[sadowsk2]

Is there any way a regular Joe, such as myself, can get a media pass for shooting concerts? I am going to a Kenny Chesney show next month and wouldn't mind getting up close to snap some shots if there is a way.... Any possibility?

[skifurthur]

The simple answer is to be working for a media outlet...magazine, newspaper, etc.

[ACDCROCKS]

or connections

[RodBarker]

Or make your own in photoshop and be confident :)

[InspiredGraphix]

Or make your own in photoshop and be confident :)
Ahahahahahaha :D

Rob

[gmen]

Or make your own in photoshop and be confident :)This is really bad advice. At best, it's highly unethical... at worst, you could be even be arrested for fraudulently trying to gain entry to an event. Best avoided.

As per skifurthur's post, media credentials are for the working media. If you're serious about this, work hard on your portfolio and start to contact papers/magazines/agencies with a view to getting a commissioned shoot.

Good luck.

---- Gavin

[Steve Parr]

I've gotten credentials, primarily, through the bands I've shot. That seems to be the easiest way when not connected to a magazine or other outlet.

Making your own in PhotoShop is, at best, a crap shoot. Some venues, such as House Of Blues, change their media credentials daily. The first time I did a shoot there, the credential was yellow. The next time it was blue. Then, it was yellow. If you could even duplicate theirs (it's a fabric stick-on), you'd have to successfully guess what color they're using that day, and it's completely random. I've shot there three days in a row in the past, and the credentials were the same color all three days.

Contact the band and the venue. The former has worked well for me in the past, and the second has worked after the venue has gotten to know me...

[narlus]

Contact the band and the venue. The former has worked well for me in the past, and the second has worked after the venue has gotten to know me...

that's always the best advice, but it always seems that people who come looking for advice on how to score media passes always want to shoot Joe Blow Superstar who is playing in the Enormodome, and not Mr. X who is playing the tiny club.

i've been at this gig pretty hard for the last 12 months, work routinely for two small media outlets, and i still think my chances of getting a pass to shoot an arena show are tiny.

good luck to someone just starting out.

[johnstoy]

Yeah, ditto that...

[skifurthur]

You also can't underestimate the power of networking at all times. Some of my best contacts have been made at shows of lesser known bands where I struck up conversations with A & R people, managers, technicians for other bands, etc.

Always present yourself in a professional manner, not the agog fan looking to get something for nothing. As with most things in life, you have to put in a lot of effort to get where you want to go.

If you promise some photos to someone, deliver within the deadline. That way you establish yourself as responsible as well. When working with lesser known bands, remember that it is always possible that they will become larger, so the impression you make in the early days carries through.

As for fake media credentials...bad idea because you will ultimately get caught and, when you are, the chances of you getting legitimate credentials in the future just went out the window. It's a small world and word gets around quickly.

[goforphoto]

As for doing your own credentials, You can do this but you should do this only for identification purposes and not to gain access to an event. Now on the other hand if you run a website that is "news" related you can wear your media tag then contact the event handlers and advise them you are shooting for "insert web site name here" and would like access to the event. Most important is to have a reason for being there, not just to snap shots for your personal album.

[sageone]

I've had success contacting the venue and telling that I'm a freelance photographer who has worked with "XYZ" publications. It's honest and sometimes works. Mostly though, you need to be legit in terms of having a connection to a pub.

As a former reporter for the Boston Globe, I used my press pass to get into Red Sox and Pats games for free all the time!!! (miss those days...)

[Nidz]

It's not who you are, it's who you know.. :P

[ThomasOwenM]

Originally Posted by RodBarker
Or make your own in photoshop and be confident

This is really bad advice. At best, it's highly unethical... at worst, you could be even be arrested for fraudulently trying to gain entry to an event. Best avoided.

I'm sure he was kidding.

I have a friend who was an exchange student from Switzerland and showed up to a Dodgers baseball game claiming he was from a Swiss newspaper and wanted to cover the event. Of course since he's actually from Switzerland, his accent sounded very authentic. When asked for his credentials, he said they didn't use those in Switzerland and he therefore didn't have any. They let him in to cover the game.

So ........ How good can you do an accent? (JUST KIDDING!)

[woman4life]

The way I am able to shoot concerts as a hobbyist is basically to go to a lot of shows and talk to a lot of actual band members. Of course, this is what I normally do anyway, and I love it. I don't go to network, although it has worked out that way. Sometimes I just ask on the net, or ask who I contact and that has worked. There are two or three bands that are starting to get really big now that I can usually get a pass for. It helps to be on good terms with the venue as well. Here there are a couple of smaller venues that will let me take my camera in if the bands o.k. with it. I usually have a ticket to the show already and I go really early. Sometimes that has worked.

I'm sure he was kidding.

I have a friend who was an exchange student from Switzerland and showed up to a Dodgers baseball game claiming he was from a Swiss newspaper and wanted to cover the event. Of course since he's actually from Switzerland, his accent sounded very authentic. When asked for his credentials, he said they didn't use those in Switzerland and he therefore didn't have any. They let him in to cover the game.

So ........ How good can you do an accent? (JUST KIDDING!)

Yea, I was pretty sure that was intended to be a joke and not serious. LOL Funny story about the Dodgers game, though. :)

[RodBarker]

I'm sure he was kidding.

I have a friend who was an exchange student from Switzerland and showed up to a Dodgers baseball game claiming he was from a Swiss newspaper and wanted to cover the event. Of course since he's actually from Switzerland, his accent sounded very authentic. When asked for his credentials, he said they didn't use those in Switzerland and he therefore didn't have any. They let him in to cover the game.

So ........ How good can you do an accent? (JUST KIDDING!)

I was kidding :) , many many years ago I went to a Jeff Fenech world title fight at the Melbourne tennis centre , I had bought a ticket that was middle of the stands , I made a badge that said my-com Media and pinned
it on my shirt , with that I walked bold as brass through the security looking straight into eye contact and just nodded on the way through and flicked my badge at them , went and sat down at the judges table and watched the fight from no more than 3 ft from the ring apron , true story :)

Rod

[mtndew]

One thing to remember more Bigger name concerts in a large venue only allow the media in for a short time to get there photos and off they go. Rarely do you see any of the media photographers their til the end of a concert unless it for a document film or book.

[shesgotthepic]

with that I walked bold as brass through the security looking straight into eye contact and just nodded on the way through and flicked my badge at them , went and sat down at the judges table and watched the fight from no more than 3 ft from the ring apron , true story :)

Rod

ANother true story here.

Years ago, having a lammie from one tour (that was active and in the area) you could get access to another tour. Professional courtesy, I believe.

I was in a town on some time off and the tour I was on was on it's way in the next day. I happened to know the band playing a venue with a different promoter. I simply walked up to security during soundcheck, flashed my lammie and in the broadest american accent I could muster (closely resembling a Texan) said "Hi I'm from NN tour. We're playing in town tomorrow. I need to speak to some people inside." Security couldn't accomodate me fast enough. I went inside, chatted with the guys, left, came back a couple of hours later for the show, same guy at the door. Didn't even blink when I came up - just flung the door open, no questions. I was on the guest list by now but he didn't even ask.

Security is much tighter now.

[Steve Parr]

As for doing your own credentials, You can do this but you should do this only for identification purposes and not to gain access to an event.

Keep in mind, too, that a credential isn't necessarily a pass to the show. All it denotes is that you have permission to shoot. Many venues, such as House Of Blues, require that you have a ticket (unless, of course, someone puts you on a guest or crew list)...

[thelightofsound]

but it always seems that people who come looking for advice on how to score media passes always want to shoot Joe Blow Superstar who is playing in the Enormodome, and not Mr. X who is playing the tiny club.


i don't understand this either. 9 times out of 10 mr. x puts on the better show anyway.

[DwightMcCann]

I make a fair amount of money shooting concerts. I have no credentials because I either work for the venue or player management. So let me reiterate what has been said here several times: NETWORK, get to know people, NETWORK, invest yourself in getting involved, NETWORK, don't expect things to work right off. It took me over 35 years to get the right combination (I'm 62) so don't give up!

[stasber]

(unless, of course, someone puts you on a guest or crew list)
Yeah, make sure you don't end up on the screw list :lol:

I started off really enjoying gigs and bringing my camera long as I really wanted to take some pics. I chatted to the bands and told them where they could see the pics online in a few days time. Business cards work better than scouring for a pen & paper every time. Regular venues got used to me and now I'd be chatting with the sound or lighting or management people, and staff know me on nodding terms. The right non-expectant attitude helps too.

One band I photographed, the singer/lead guitarist owns a media group and happens to like my work. He's pushing clients my way and is doing a web site for me free of charge (work in progress... not a priority from his pov understandably - I don't mind). At another gig (which was a freebie entry and I wasn't taking pics, the freebie was a thank you for previous pics I took) I met another promoter who gave me a (paid) job 2 weeks later.

Instead of photographing in pubs now I'm photographing small theatres and places with better lighting outfits, or bands with a slightly higher profile, or more 'photogenic' situations. I've the support of at least one music mag that recently went national (and the chief editor has put me on his first refusal list, and would give me a reference if ever I need one for a media pass). He approached me at one of those pub gigs that he reviewed that night and published a pic with the review.

The story here, like others have said too, is to invest time, go enjoy gigs and take pics. Then take better pics and show them to bands or venues. Keep up the momentum and things can only grow from there. If you ask a promoter, agency or publication and have something quality to show them, they might surprise you by saying 'yes'.

Walk first, so that when you want to run, you'll run fast.

Good luck!