College Campus Concert Photo Pass

It's the Spring season and many college campuses hold free or nearly free ticketed events for some major label artists. Has anyone ever obtained a photo pass for one of these events?

I'm new, but would like to try to take advantage of these concerts to get some good pictures in for potential marketing opportunities and as some major "first steps." Who would I attempt to contact? The school organizers? The artist's booking contacts?

Any advice is welcome.

Talk to the University group that is putting it on. They will put the request to the artist.

I shot a couple of concerts put on by local colleges recently. When I spoke to the student box office about getting a photo pass to the events, they just looked at me like I was crazy and said I could bring whatever gear I wanted into the show.

I know it's not going to be that easy for all campus concerts but from my experience, security is pretty lax at these college shows. If you bring your gear in, people working will usually assume you're shooting for someone and they won't hassle you and will let you hover around the front and side of the stage. I'd still check first about getting a pass though. If they say no, bring your gear anyway and just play dumb if they give you any hassle.

So as long as you confidently walk in as a press photographer, they may let me pass? Hah, seems worth a shot. I've tried e-mailing the university newspaper, but no response quite yet.

When I was a student (in England), such perks were reserved for the Student Photographic Society. My guess though is that each college has its own protocols. Try the students union president's office or equivalent.

Not the UNI newspaper, generally they will reserve any press passes for their own shooters. There is always a group that puts on the events. Ask them haha its pretty easy.

At UT Austin, there are multiple groups and its a simple email that gets you access

You need to contact the university's entertainment organization. At my university, it's usually limited to actual press (or at least those who would be able to get a pass under normal circumstances) in terms of pit/backstage access, but generally they're not as strict on general access in terms of bringing in an SLR. They usually just request no video be taken, but it depends on the artist as well, some are stricter than others. I would guess a smaller university would be more lax in terms of its rules and enforcement.

just shot @ Brandise spring show: DOM, of Montreal, Far East Movement. I've never been in a more crowded photo pit (photogs, and college "security") or seen so many cameras in the audience. Real cameras, real lenses. In fact, I'd argue that getting some quality shots at these kind of events, especially the outdoor ones without tickets, is a great way to build up a portfolio.

Also, try the college radio station as they usually have a big part in the event. They're the ones who often give away tickets or even book the bands. Contacting the band is a dead end as they have no vested interest in whether anyone shows up or not; still getting paid!

Here at UCSD, almost all of the larger events prohibit "professional cameras", and some people have gone as far as sneaking in their gear in their pants.
For our Sungod Festival (biggest event of the year), only 1-2 photographers hired by the event committee are allowed alongside 1-2 shooters from the school newspaper.
I'm an officer of the photo club so I often get asked to shoot events anyway, but for most concerts they're not too lenient on letting just anyone shoot as they please.