Roof access?

Hey all. I'm headed to Minneapolis this weekend with my girlfriend... and I'd like to take some shots from the roof of the hotel we're staying in. Have any of you ever asked for roof access and been granted? How'd you do it? Did you "slip 'em a $20"? I'm curious at the various methods to get this done.

Thanks!

aepoc wrote in post #14252925
Hey all. I'm headed to Minneapolis this weekend with my girlfriend... and I'd like to take some shots from the roof of the hotel we're staying in. Have any of you ever asked for roof access and been granted? How'd you do it? Did you "slip 'em a $20"? I'm curious at the various methods to get this done.

Thanks!

For me as long as I'm polite, have my 5D Mark II with my 70-200 f/2.8 on, and have a model with me, I feel I stand a pretty good chance.

As odd as that is I feel that when people see a giant camera lens they assume that you're a professional and they don't want to be the person to tell you no.

If you have trouble with someone you can always ask to speak to their manager and ask them. If you go this route I would try to flatter them a bit by mentioning how much you like the hotel and how you hope to stay their in the near future or something to that extent.

Sorry if this is a bit jumbled.. Best of luck!

Good thinking on having the camera out and everything. I can throw my battery grip on the 7D, but unfortunately my 70-200 f/2.8L is on loan right now to my dad, so I can't look SUPER badass. Hopefully my 35L will suffice. Thanks for the ideas!

I'm guessing the answer will be no, for liability reasons.

crn3371 wrote in post #14254073
I'm guessing the answer will be no, for liability reasons.

I am going to guess that this is probably the answer that you will get. You might be lucky enough to find an employee that will take your cash and let you up there but you and the employee are probably putting their job on the line. To do it right you should pre-arrange this with a manager. We've gone this route for some commercial work where we wanted a vantage point above another structure that we were shooting and it took both myself and the agency I was working for to contact the manager of the building that we wanted on. I would definitely have a backup plan.

crn3371 wrote in post #14254073
I'm guessing the answer will be no, for liability reasons.

This is something that recently happened with a shoot I've had. The manager of the hotel first said yes, but then the day of shoot when we arrived said he had checked with corporate offices and they said that they would require Liability Insurance taken out prior to the shoot for up to a $500k. So we had to change the plans of shooting on a rooftop.

Yup, if you ask, you're probably going to get a no due to liability.

Bummer. Thanks for the replies though all, it helped.

You might try bypassing the manager and talking directly to the building Chief Engineer, or even the engineer on duty at the time you want to shoot. He is in charge of the building maintenance and mechanicals, and the engineering crew usually has keys to practically anyplace in the building and they know the building inside and out. Tell him you think the city is awesome and want to take some "above average" pictures and would like to from their roof, and would allow one of his crew to accompany you so there would be no chance of you getting into something you are not supposed to. Maybe you'll get lucky and the guy/gal is a photographer too.

If the roof is not possible, perhaps they may let you shoot out of a upper floor window of a vacant room or two.

aepoc wrote in post #14254805
Bummer. Thanks for the replies though all, it helped.

You might as well ask, but as the previous reply is, I think health and safety is likely to be the issue (i.e. liability)

I've done it in Hawaii, at a hotel I've stay at 4-5 times a year.

aepoc wrote in post #14252925
Hey all. I'm headed to Minneapolis this weekend with my girlfriend... and I'd like to take some shots from the roof of the hotel we're staying in. Have any of you ever asked for roof access and been granted? How'd you do it? Did you "slip 'em a $20"? I'm curious at the various methods to get this done.

Thanks!

Which hotel are you staying at? It wouldn't happen to be the "W" hotel downtown, would it? Because that's in the Foshay tower, and the observation deck is $8, open until 8PM I believe, and offers fantastic views of the city..

Otherwise, just act like you know what you're doing and like you're supposed to be there - and head for the high-level elevators. You can probably find a floor with a window on one of the top floors, at least.

The person who can usually get things done for you at the hotel is the Concierge, usually at a little desk near the entrance. Tip him.

schmalpal wrote in post #14261015
Which hotel are you staying at? It wouldn't happen to be the "W" hotel downtown, would it? Because that's in the Foshay tower, and the observation deck is $8, open until 8PM I believe, and offers fantastic views of the city..

Otherwise, just act like you know what you're doing and like you're supposed to be there - and head for the high-level elevators. You can probably find a floor with a window on one of the top floors, at least.

You nailed it, that's where we were. I had no idea it had an observation deck at all. Since we stayed there, the deck was free. Some decent pictures too, when they're processed, I'll try to add 'em here.

Thanks again for all the replies!

good tips in this thread... the "walk like you know where you are going" worked for me recently in New Orleans. Ended up going to the 16th floor of a hotel and finding a rooftop pool / bar and shooting from there. No room keys required!