First time shooting at a club--seeking advice

[Christopher Steven b]

I've been approached at the last minute to shoot at a club and though I have a decent amount of experience with events in general, I was hoping to get advice specific to this kind of shooting circumstance.

The environment: upper floor is a lounge; lower floor has the dance floor. Lighting will be club dark. Venue will be packed--300+ folks. 1001 nights / bollywood theme. My duties are to capture the guests--as many as possible--in various stages of merriment.

I have a 5d classic and my basic approach would be to shoot at ISO 800, f/5, 1/60 with the 440ex bouncing (from the relatively short ceilings) in E-TTL mode. I'm thinking of taking only the 17-40 and using that most of the night but may also take a 50mm.

Does this sound reasonable ? Any tips ?

[m33p33]

Hope for a white/light color ceiling for bounce.

Wear a white shirt just in case.

If the floor is a lighter color don't be afraid to bounce off of it.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/415600515_565ab9c530.jpg

for fun effects get flash off camera if you can.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1301/540658410_49a3d0037a.jpg

Wide angle will be your friend, I would be surprised if you use the 50mm much.
(@17mm)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/3718079099_07eb706f53.jpg

If it's really dark, set focus to manual infinity, tighten up the aperture and let the flash do the work. E-TTL will help some but don't depend on it working every time. Lots of movement and club lighting will throw it off and you'll miss shots.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2514029642_6993f9585b.jpg

With the above settings you can forgo looking through viewfinder for every shot. Get the camera high above the crowd or low to the ground for perspective...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/540658254_ec8202df29.jpg

Prepare for a lot more throw aways take more shots than you think you'll need.

[Christopher Steven b]

I really dig the look of the bounced light in 3. I'm hoping the venue will allow me to do something like this. #1 looks totally unique--and I don't mean that in the bad way (which would apply to my first and only attempt at bouncing from a floor).

re: ETTL--I once had an experience when it nearly ruined a series of shots because of a mirror located just behind the subject. It miscalculated because of the reflection and underexposed a couple of frames. I went to manual for the rest of the evening and only later figured out what happened.

Thanks a lot for the advice. As simple a suggestion as it is, I think the last is the most significant. Shoot more, shoot more and shoot more. I can't be as deliberative as I usually am.

[HastyPhoto]

Take an assistant with you and have him walk next to you with a flash on a pole. Just tell him where to aim it and the distance and to watch for ceiling lights, ceiling fans etc.