Do You Ever Feel Burned Out Shooting Concerts?

[DwightMcCann]

I've been shooting concerts about once a week for 3-1/2 years now and am beginning to feel a little burned out or detached. I still really enjoy and am excited about actually shooting, but I find I have less energy for post processing and still less for getting a gallery up on my website and posting here in POTN. I have more energy for my new Glamor Project where I am learning to shoot models in a glamor/fashion style. With the models I have artistic control whereas with the concerts I am but a spectator. And I am no longer as excited to see the work of other concert shooters ... while much of the work is superb, it seems so repetitive ... any one band gives the same show for two or three years at a time while touring. And the talent is so detached ... up on the stage, often just going through the motions and making noise. Perhaps it is the difference of shooting big names rather than new talent emerging in bars and small settings. Anyway, I have been feeling this for a while and wondering if the rest of you have lulls in your energy levels?

[René Damkot]

Anyway, I have been feeling this for a while and wondering if the rest of you have lulls in your energy levels?

About once or twice a year I'd say. And I don't shoot PA exclusively.

Some change of subject / style sure helps, as does a short break...

Season's almost over here, which is a good thing, since I'm about 2 months behind in processing ;)

[narlus]

And I am no longer as excited to see the work of other concert shooters ... while much of the work is superb, it seems so repetitive ... any one band gives the same show for two or three years at a time while touring. And the talent is so detached ... up on the stage, often just going through the motions and making noise. Perhaps it is the difference of shooting big names rather than new talent emerging in bars and small settings. Anyway, I have been feeling this for a while and wondering if the rest of you have lulls in your energy levels?


i think you've touched on something there, dwight.


i get tired, but only tired from getting home at 1:30 and needing to wake up the next day for my real job.


i got into shooting music solely because i am a huge music fan, and since i choose my assignments, i never feel like it's a chore to go to the show.

[René Damkot]

True, that does make a difference: I find the bigger venues fun, every once in a while, but the smaller clubs is *way more* fun IMO.

Now if only the smaller clubs could have the "bigger" lighting rigs ;)

[DwightMcCann]

I think even the bigger names are more alive when for whatever reason they wind up in smaller clubs as happens often in Nashville (where I have never shot!) But, yes, what we need is bigger names and better lighting in smaller venues!

[bndgrl]

i get tired, but only tired from getting home at 1:30 and needing to wake up the next day for my real job.


i got into shooting music solely because i am a huge music fan, and since i choose my assignments, i never feel like it's a chore to go to the show.

+1

Although, I've just started shooting nationals recently so I'm still geeked out by every show I get to shoot.

I have pretty much stopped taking out my camera to local shows though. There's a local band that I adore and go to every show they play but there's only so many ways to find creative shots after shooting them for the 2 or 3 years I've had my camera.

[bacchanal]

I shoot primarily to document local and diy music in the smallest of venues and this can get just as redundant as anything else. I keep myself interested by shooting "big" names every so often as well as shooting other genres. Also it helps that I cover a pretty wide variety of lighting situations, so I can't always just go into auto-pilot mode. As Tim mentioned, it certainly helps if you're a music fanatic and only shoot artists that you can stand to watch or listen to, but I think the real key is variety.
Dwight, in your situation I can see how you're getting burned out. You've covered that venue so many times you've surely tried every angle that you can think of and things have just become routine...it's more of "just a job" than creative and exciting. I think you're doing the right thing by branching out. Keep cashing those checks from Chumash and explore other areas of photography in your "free" time. I think when you stop learning/finding new things to do is when you get burned out.

[DwightMcCann]

Drew, yes, I think your last statement is the key. I'm finding myself spending time looking at new lighting equipment and am even toying with adding medium format digital in support of my glamor/fashion interests. And I certainly know the casino showroom/stage top to bottom. Although I could stand to reshoot Paulina Rubio any number of times! :-) I guess most of the events are simple musical performances rather than 'Shows!'

[taygull]

.......so you must LOVE photography......yep......until I started getting paid!

Once this became my full time gig and the excitement of seeing my work published each month came and went I had to find something else to do for "fun".

www.friscoblackhawks.blogspot.com

Read the article if you get a chance, there is a link in the top right corner. A couple of cool shots as well.

I spend my fun time learning to play hockey at the age of 43!

[Metalphotographer]

i get tired, but only tired from getting home at 1:30 and needing to wake up the next day for my real job.

i got into shooting music solely because i am a huge music fan, and since i choose my assignments, i never feel like it's a chore to go to the show.

My thoughts exactly. I've also been going to less and less weeknight shows when I have already seen the bands multiple times and have plenty of decent images in my archives. It cuts down on my photography income somewhat but at my advanced age the extra sleep makes it all worthwhile and my "real job" still gets the bills paid :)

[pakololo]

I dont shoot concerts but i know that the grass isn't always greener...

[skifurthur]

Interesting topic, Dwight.

I get burned out all the time and have found that it is up to me to break that burn out by trying new things. I will experiment with different shot settings or finding an odd shooting angle. I figure it is my job to capture the passion of performance. Some artists are made more passionate than others. The less passionate depend on me to add my passion to the mix.

Travel and processing is my burn out point mostly. In the past year I have stayed in too many hotels, worked all night for deadline and filled up the car at too many truck stops. Luckily I shoot Bruce Springsteen a lot. He almost always brings it, being unique in each show. I could see how a less energetic performer would be a bit boring. I'm spoiled.

Still, when I get a break, I find myself wanting to shoot another show...actually search them out sometimes. I recently shot Dark Star Orchestra, which is a band that does amazing covers of full Grateful Dead shows. It was in a club, they didn't want anybody in the photo pit, so I had to move around a lot. That night I decided that I would try to give them the "big name" treatment, so even though it was a non-paying job, I worked hard enough to leave after the first sets each night. Missed Mike Gordon of Phish-fame both nights. Sometimes you roll the dice and you win, sometimes not. I executed my plan and got what I wanted.

[earplugsrequired]

i think you've touched on something there, dwight.


i get tired, but only tired from getting home at 1:30 and needing to wake up the next day for my real job.


i got into shooting music solely because i am a huge music fan, and since i choose my assignments, i never feel like it's a chore to go to the show.

I too got into this because I'm a huge music fan. I used to shoot soccer (U.S. National Team) and just began this by bringing my camera to concerts where it was allowed. I was hooked! Being that I run my own music website, I choose who I shoot and who I go to see. Sure there are some nights when I have set something up and just not feeling it but then there are the nights when I go and I absolutely fall in love with some new band. For me, it's more than just shooting a show..

Oh and getting home at 1:30 am, try 4 am Friday morning and having to be at work at 7. I was out seeing a band that I currently love at a small venue 2 hours away. Totally worth it!

[DwightMcCann]

Well, I guess everything has its peaks and valleys and sometimes I think maybe being older (62) and a heart patient (oh, that sounds odd) and a bit overweight (I've lost about five or six since Christmas) lessens my energy level. But then Marna and my assistant, Marcella Kligman, a Brooks Student, went with me to shoot Brooks & Dunn last night. Their usual totally amazing show! And while I had lots of logistics to deal with ... delivering prints and DVDs from Engelbert Humperdinck and Jan & Dean shows, coordinating Marcie, dining with Marna (oh, that's my wife), touching base with my boss about invoices and coordinating with Doug, who manages the models for Ring Girls and casino floor events, on some models shoots ... it was quite marvelous. To top it off, Julie Downs, one of the backup vocalists, had contacted me a month or so ago about using some of my images for a CMT sponsored blog. We agreed that we'd try to also meet at this concert, but I never heard from CMT or Julie so I forgot about it. But I decided to at least let Julie know I had been at the concert so I gave a business card to one of their stage people and explained my connection ... as so often happens with country music, the guy's face lighted up and he said he'd give her the card and have her come meet us right after the show at a stage door where I have access. Immediately after the show, here comes Julie hopping down the steps with a huge smile and turns out to be a bubbly, vivacious, petite beauty. The three of us chatted and then she noticed Marna had a handful of streamers as a souvenir and she said, "Wait here and I'll get you something better than that!" She zoomed off and back in a 30 seconds with a drumstick ... "I stole this from the drummer's kit!" It is embossed with Brooks & Dunn and when we get back from Mexico next week Marna is going flaunt her All Access Badge and drumstick around work! She was ecstatic! Now it's really hard to feel burned out after a great show and making Marna so happy!

[narlus]

dwight, cool how things work out like that.

here's what keeps me going (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=516131)

[bacchanal]

dwight, cool how things work out like that.

here's what keeps me going (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=516131)

Right on, Mudhoney is one of my absolute faves!

[johnstoy]

I'm wondering about that burn out feeling. After often doing two shows a week in recent years, and post processing each show for another several days... I'm currently taking my sweet time to print and mat the results... I'm also working on marketing and promotions and booking a few local weddings. :D

The local venue is the only place I choose to shoot shows... Since in recent years, I've seen and photographed most of the acts, I'm laying low... The head honcho at the venue thinks my work is top of the line and uses some of my work in their promo ads and web site... He also offers to call me when needed... However, the reality is that the parent company of the venue owns the four county, local daily newspaper... They have a full time staff of photographers on payroll... and although none of them shoot more than one picture at the shows for their paper, that's all they need for now.

And since I'm retired... shooting at crowded places, out of pits, late into the night, just doesn't thrill me much... I've gotten stiffed a few times by small name and big name bands too... Having to dabble in legal matters seems to spoil this business... If it's going to be fun, and comfortable, I'll probably venture out to a couple of the local resorts down the road... I already have a year long promo tied in with one of the local resorts for my photography business... However, it's not specifically show oriented. We'll see how things develop in the near future. :D

[Jonni]

Since I don't get paid to shoot, but do because it is part of the whole music experiance for me when I see all our local Texas band, I have had a burn out feeling at times. With the price of fuel keeping us away from music more than normal, I had not shot in awhile. Got out to a show last week, and had that excitement again of working with crappy lighting, and having my mind spinning with watching for that great timing of lighing, artist movement etc. all lining up for great shots. So, nothing great that night (did I mention crappy lighting?) but I had a little of that old feeling of really enjoying shooting again. It does seem getting away from a particular subject matter for awhile and shooting something different can be like a reintroduction when you return.

[bildeb0rg]

I didn't get burned out, but I did realise I was missing the concert!
It got to the point where friends were talking about songs or stuff that happened, that I had to look at a set list or programme to recognise.
I would say take a break, get hammered before the gig, and make complete fool of yourself (to the point of getting thrown out), and then see how you feel.

[DwightMcCann]

I didn't get burned out, but I did realise I was missing the concert!
It got to the point where friends were talking about songs or stuff that happened, that I had to look at a set list or programme to recognise.
I would say take a break, get hammered before the gig, and make complete fool of yourself (to the point of getting thrown out), and then see how you feel.

Well, there's no alcohol at my venue and they're paying me a lot of money to take the pictures so I guess I'll pass on this suggestion! :-) Of course, the 'fool' part is a given!

[DwightMcCann]

OK, I'm taking the good part of the advice and I'm off to ClubMed in Cancun with wife and daughter until about June 17th. You guys take care and don't mess with the Mods!