My first concert photos - Please C&C

[cory1848]

Hey everyone,
I shot my first show this weekend and would like some feedback on how to improve, what is good, what is bad and the like. All local bands. I use a Canon 30D and my 50mm 1.8, my first couple of shots I tried at 3200 ISO which came out way too grainy, so I dropped it down to 1600, which improved the shots greatly, but the grain was still very visible. I problem I had was metering...I shoot everything manual but with all the changing lights, it was pretty much a guess at every shot. So I mainly kept the aperature at 1.8 mostly and adjusted my shutter speed to an average of what I was seeing as good shots. I hate that I was just guessing at this, so if anyone has any tips that would help out greatly.
I previously have read up on Dwights sticky and that helped a lot. This was a small club where the edge of the bar and the edge of the stage leaves about 20 feet, half of that filled with people, made it tough to get around. A zoom would have been handy, but I dont own one fast enough, does anyone use a zoom for concert photos? and if so, which one?

Please feel free to critique these, if they suck, thats ok, but tell me why they suck...Looking to get better so I turn to your all for that.

Thanks
Cory

Full gallery can be viewed here... http://fixedfocus.zenfolio.com/f757603539/


1. 50mm 1.8 1/100 Manual 1600 ISO



2. 50mm 1.8 1/100 Manual 1600 ISO




3. 50mm 1.8 1/100 Manual 1600 ISO


4. 50mm 1.8 1/100 Manual 1600 ISO



5. 50mm 2.0, 1/100 Manual 1600 ISO



6. 50mm 1.8, 1/125 Manual 1600 ISO


7. 50mm 1.8, 1/250 Manual 1600 ISO