etiquette shooting live bands in small pub

[canadave]

I'm an amateur just getting into photography a little bit as a hobby. I live in a small town with a small intimate pub (seats maybe 60 people if they cram them in at tables next to each other), and the pub hosts live music acts. I'm an acquaintance of the owner btw (she knows who I am, I know who she is, we say hi if we run into each other there), but I wouldn't call us "friends."

I'd like to try to get some photos and/or videos of bands that come through, but I'm not sure what the etiquette is, both in terms of dealing with them, and dealing with the pub owner, not to mention the patrons or whoever's in charge of the bar at that particular time. There's not a whole lot of room to stake out a spot...I'd almost certainly be in someone's way, even if it's just being in the way of the waitress as she goes back and forth to the kitchen in the narrow walkway. And do I need to ask the band's permission? The pub owner's permission?

How do you all deal with this kind of thing?

[ImCBParker]

I have shot many small venues, the key is be unseen and unheard (IE, if it is small intimate set no one wants to hear your shutter through-out the performance).

First up, ask the owner if she minds you shooting. Then find a spot (or two) that you will not be in the way of other patrons. This maybe at your table, off to the side, or to the back. Stick to that spot. If there is another spot, perhaps switch in between songs (usually second and third for me). Shoot for three to four songs, then sit down and enjoy your drink and the music. In a small venue it is hard not to be noticed, so I do not recommend trying to shoot the whole set.

Second, have business cards ready where the band or venue can see your work. Shooting in venues like this have got me more EPK gigs than anything else, so have cards ready.

Lastly, how is the light in this venue? Most small bars have awful lighting, and your lenses are going to struggle to capture anything. You should be able to get by with the 50 assuming the AF works via your adapter.