Was this my fault?

Alright, half of this is venting, and half is becasue I feel like this may be my fault... at least partially.

I was supposed to shoot for this band Skillet at a venue tonight. I made arrangements about 2 weeks ago with management. I was told that I had a photo credential and a complimentary ticket waiting for me. I got to the venue, and the staff did not know what they were doing. I got to the venue about an hour ahead of time to scout my spot and set up my camera, etc. There were a few hundred people in line already. I approached the will call window and I told them I had credentials to pick up and they told me I had to wait in line like everyone else. I was pretty shocked. So, to the end of the large line I went. Once again, I got to the will call window and told them I had a photo cedential and complimentary ticket waiting for me. They said they don't handle that type of thing. Yes, the will call window told me this. I was told to step aside. I was getting pretty upset as I watched concert goer after concert goer take my potential spot. It eventually got down to the last 10 people in line and I told them again. They would not listen to me. I had to end up buying my own ticket. I got inside and I was all the way to the back wall of the venue. It was PACKED. Thus, I ended up not getting a single photo.

I feel very unprofessional about this, even though I feel I did what I was supposed to. And now I have to email the bands management and explain the scenerio.

Anyone have a similar experience? Comments and advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry this happened. I don't have any real experience with this situation, but i think you tried to do the proper thing. Maybe if you had the phone number of the person you had organised it with you'd have been able to get in as you planned. But it's not your fault that you did not get any photos.

I see. I was just extrement frustrated. This was my first time getting credentials outside of a festival and I was really looking forward to it. I had the number in an email. But the staff did not even want to give me the time of day, I honestly don't think they would have taken the time to work it out. Thanks for the reply.

Brandon... It's best to keep copies of your emails and bring them along... It's also good to call in advance and let them know to expect you...

They messed up, cause of poor mgt...

i get to events like that around 2-4 hours early, during sound checks. i also meet the promoter at that time, and get the all access pass or whatever I need.

I have been in similar situations where I turn up and my name is not on the guest list but I have always managed to sort it out by knowing who the right people to contact were.

John's advice of keeping emails is a good one. Also make sure you have the name of the person who organised the pass for you and their phone number if possible. If you are having hassles at the will call or box office - ask to speak to the venue manager etc.

I disagree with Michael's comment though - often you cannot gain access until the doors open, some shows you have to meet the publicist outside and be marched in with the other 'togs to shoot the first three songs and then marched out again. It's very rare that you can gain access to a soundcheck unless you have made specific arrangements eg - doing some band shots or gear shots for magazines.

Yeah, I've found that venue employees can often be pretty incompetent. They're often not even full time employees and sometimes just hired for one event with no experience.

Congrats on getting the deal with Skillet though. Great band.

blackshadow wrote in post #3838543
I have been in similar situations where I turn up and my name is not on the guest list but I have always managed to sort it out by knowing who the right people to contact were.

John's advice of keeping emails is a good one. Also make sure you have the name of the person who organized the pass for you and their phone number if possible. If you are having hassles at the will call or box office - ask to speak to the venue manager etc.

I disagree with Michael's comment though - often you cannot gain access until the doors open, some shows you have to meet the publicist outside and be marched in with the other 'togs to shoot the first three songs and then marched out again. It's very rare that you can gain access to a soundcheck unless you have made specific arrangements eg - doing some band shots or gear shots for magazines.

Same here... The will call window often doesn't get the paperwork and files from the band, till about the time the doors open anyway... Mind you, the band is usually arriving late or is in rehearsal inside and can't be bothered...

Let them keep you in the Email "loop" as the venue and band communicate about your creds... and keep the copy for reference. Names and phone #'s are essential, and cell phone calls might get you through at the last minute...

DanC922 wrote in post #3838704
Yeah, I've found that venue employees can often be pretty incompetent. They're often not even full time employees and sometimes just hired for one event with no experience.

Congrats on getting the deal with Skillet though. Great band.

It's best to know the venue and be known by the regular employees...

Ah...in case you aren't aware of it, the business side of rock, with a few exceptions, doesn't run on the rules of business otherwise. The one thing I know from many friends on the road is that time is always messed up and hurry up is the order of the day.

I want to second having the e-mail trail and getting to know regular employees at a venue. Often when I know that I am totally legitimate, I have gotten the "you are not on the list" runaround. Knowing someone at the venue is key in getting it straight. Knowing band or crew helps sometimes. Often they are too busy to make it right. It's all part of the game.

Now for a tale of two situations that illustrate this, neither of them photography releated but they do show that even knowing people doesn't always help. I am friends with a senior VP of a record conglomerate. When I moved to Denver, he often asked me to check out "his" bands on the road for updates as to performance, how the crew is acting, if band members were getting into "trouble" and such.

The first gig I went to was OzFest at Mile High Stadium. It was the year that Black Sabbath played. I showed up at the will call window to find out that I wasn't on the list. I asked to speak to someone in charge and told them my story...naming my friend. As if by magic, tickets were pulled for me and an apology was offered saying that word sometimes does not get to them. This was obviously an "old hand" in the rock world.

About two weeks later I went to another concert in downtown Denver and I was not on the list. They would not let me speak to a supervisor, didn't know me from Adam and I was told the hit the bricks. The same person put me on both lists on the same day. Somewhere wires got crossed. I left without **** and moaning.

The lesson is no matter who you know, you will sometimes be left in the lurch and to be a professional you need to smile and chalk it up to rock n' roll. I wouldn't have it any other way.

i've had my share of cock-ups before (not being on the list, not having a ticket but only photopass, etc), but with the exception of having to pay my way into last year's Radio Birdman gig, i have always gotten them squared away, either by having the contact ph# of the tour manager, finding a member of the band to help sort it out, or by personally knowing the promoter and going that route.

the larger (and more professional) the band, likely the better organization and less hassles. but things do happen.

DanC922 wrote in post #3838704
Yeah, I've found that venue employees can often be pretty incompetent.

That's pretty short-sighted.

If the band failed to get the OP's name on the list, then the employee did nothing wrong. It's not their job to do the legwork when someone shows up with a camera and says "I'm on the list".

I've also shot in venues where the credential wasn't handed out at Will Call. That's not due to anything the employee does or doesn't do, it's the result of venue policy.

When I shoot a larger venue (ie: House Of Blues), I always have printed e-mails with names and phone numbers...

Brandon, this is a really hard experience but it does reflect the "state of the art" ... communications are very tenuous in the concert business. I don't have this particular problem at my regular venues (because they know me and at the casino I have passes and badges that unlock doors, etc.) But there are certainly other sorts of issues that rear their ugly heads from time to time. It is always a good idea to have the cell number of someone you believe will be present and in charge, preferably the person who approved you. It is important to remember that you are the flea on the tail of the dog out by the dumpster at concert time and nobody cares ... it is not personal. Always try to look at the situation from "their" perspective ... and ask yourself what you could do to make it work for them ... sometimes that is just packing up and going home. Another thing to do is take names ... in a nice way, "Could I have your name so when my client wants to kick my butt I can at least prove I was here and maybe I can make better arrangements next time?" Sometimes those absolute "NO"s can be turned around by simply acting as though it was possibly your fault and you would like guidance. Sometimes nothing works. I'd also advise that you be prepared to have this sort of thing happen at any venue and with any management that you are not established with ... maybe you need to drift down at another time and chat some folks up and ask what you can do to insure this doesn't happen again. Maybe when you get credentials approved you should ask for the Plan B if you are refused.

Not your fault! But it is the way of things and you have to take a deep breath.

most of the time, though, i've had my photo passes approved by a label or band publicist, and they are not on the road w/ the band. best to get a contact # for the tour manager (or if they don't have one, a band member).


it can get very frustrating though...there's one club i shoot at (Paradise) that doesn't have a photo pit so i like to get there early, and i've had couple of instances where doors have already opened and people are filing in, and the guest list hasn't been turned in to the will call window yet.

Nothing you can do about it... Sh!t happens.

I've been pulled out of a room once by security, when I was preparing to shoot the audience for an advertising of the venue. The venue informed the band and/or management, but forgot to inform the security. I only managed to talk my way out because I had prints of email conversations, a couple of names and a sketch of the advertising-to-be.
It also helped that I went along with the security, and indicated I didn't too much mind wether I got to take the shot or not: I was going to get payed anyway, since it wasn't my fault

I guess moral of the story is that it helps to know the name(s) of your contacts, have their mobile numbers, and even then, don't expect miracles.... They make the rules, you have to abide them.

So, when something like this happens, what happens to the pay you were supposed to be collecting for the event? Is a client who fails to actually get you admitted to what they're paying you to shoot still liable for the money they were going to pay you?