First concert shots for critique

[Oli-G]

Hi guys,

I picked up my first DSLR a few weeks ago, a 40D with a 50mm 1.8, and a Tamron 17-50 2.8. Heaps of fun.

I've done a couple of concert shots for friends, and I mostly shoot in b&w - I have a lot of researching to do and haven't quite come close to nailing the "colour thing" in dim/concert light. I think it probably owes to not setting a white balance to skin tones? Either way I feel like I need to shoot a lot faster, and the colour is often quite washed out, or just amatuer looking. Don't feel like I'm coming near to getting the most out of the camera.

Would love some critiques on the good and the bad below.

From the sets here: FLICKR (http://************/o4t6t8)

Some that made the cut:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3621603682_e592ca0975.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/3620781685_6dffa0a767.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3621885200_b280cb4065.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3620784987_4fe20fabb5.jpg

And some duds that might best illustrate some of my difficulties with colour:

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/3953/67349384.jpg
http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8476/23568817.jpg
http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8562/10931098.jpg

If anyone can suggest some "names" for the problems I'm having based on the results above, and what they might be symptomatic of, that'd be great :). I'm currently lining up 2-3 shows a week on average now in order to get the hours up.

Cheers

[DerekSimon]

A lot of shots, but my favorite would have to be the first one. The black and white conversions maybe would look better if they were slightly brightened up some what, not sure but they're too shadowy for me.

[Oli-G]

No b&w conversions, all off-camera :)

Cheers for the feedback mate, I love the first one too, and yeah my b&w shots tend to be quite heavily contrasted, probably need to work on getting a more even spread.

[PhotosGuy]

No b&w conversions, all off-camera Geeez! Don't do that! Now you have this problem, "my b&w shots tend to be quite heavily contrasted" & no full image file to work with. I think it probably owes to not setting a white balance to skin tones? Set it to Tungsten (Indoors). Never use AWB indoors:
Gray card: Why your meter may be lying to you! (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54281)
Notice that the very last exposure in the 2nd group was of a gray card.

some of my difficulties with colour: The color is what it is, & you can't fight the filters on the lights very much. You just have to watch what's happening & choose your shots. Shooting RAW would be a plus, too.

A few "posters" of bands from the last year. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=631210)

[Bobster]

welcome to gig photography, soon as the show starts, everything is stacked against you! :)