The Club scene SUCKS for photography!

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

03/06/2005 10:11:45 AM · #1

Last night was my shoot at the Croc Rock...... ugh. Let me tell you.... I was not all about the whole bar/nightclub thing. There was hardly any room to walk and I was so worried about my camera. Not to mention that I forgot to leave my fur/leather coat in the car...so I had that to worry about. And it's not a small coat either! Anyways...... Theory of a Deadman was playing. People were everywhere and so rude! Roar! So, I get to my post and stand in the sound booth. It was long, but quite tight. And with there being 4 or 5 people back there all ready, that made it worse. But, I found a small corner to wedge myself in out of the way and I started to snap some pictures. The sound guys tells me that no cameras are allowed in the show and I show him my pretty photo pass. He said that no one told him that there would be photos taken of his band (TOAD). I told him that I was there for the Croc Rock and the pics were for their website.... but, I would delete them if it was a problem. He smiled and said that it was OK. :)

So, there I am and TOAD is over. The nice guy left and I just stood there patiently while they changed sets. All of a sudden this stupid jerk comes up and looks at me and says, "Excuse me, I need to get in here!" I was like OK, and I moved. Then he comes over to where I was standing and says, "I said EXCUSE ME! You're in my way!" So I moved again. This woman that was sitting down got all cocky when I scooted to the bar and tells me that her friend with a bad back is sitting there once the show starts! I don't need to sit down!!!!! I just need to move out of this jerks way. All of a sudden the guy bumps into me and says, "You're gonna have to move! I need to be up here!" And I was getting really pissed off now..... I mean so mad I was choking up! I decided that this guy was going to be a jerk no matter where I stood or what I did, so I started to get my camera in my bag and get my coat and he keeps backing up and pushing into me. He almost knocked my camera out of my hands... I would've KILLED him! I wasn't going to be pushed around like that... So, I left!

I got in the car and Dave asked me why I was already done.... I wasn't supposed to shoot Breaking Benjamin until 11:00. I told him the story and tried not to cry. I was just so mad and I am still really worried that Steve is going to be mad at me when I tell him I have no BB pictures! Dave said he shouldn't be mad... it wasn't my fault. I had the clearance to be there and this guy was being an asshole.... hopefully Steve will complain to the group manager and something will be done about this guy. I may have to go back next Saturday to shoot them again. Ugh

It makes me think if this is where I want to do this type of work..... taking the camera into packed bars... taking myself into packed bars. Dealing with rude and stupid people. It makes it not any fun. I am going to talk to Steve and hopefully I will still have a job. :(

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

03/06/2005 10:28:49 AM · #2

Poor baby. Bet it was miserable. I was treated like that one time when I was a guest of the band and I've never returned to that city again. Maybe next time bring a body guard and assume an attitude that you are the most important person there. Bullies usually leave other bullies alone if you get my drift. No use being nice if the other person is going to use that to chase you off. Just my personal opinion.
Hope you have your job still.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

03/06/2005 09:31:02 PM · #3

Hope you have your job still

Yeah, me too! :)

Message edited by author 2005-03-06 21:31:42.

deapee

Kodak V803

03/06/2005 11:56:26 PM · #4

Just bring in a few #2 sharpened pencils and keep them in your pocket. When people get rude, pull one out and jab it into their side and turn around. Slowly, the morons will filter out of your bar and into the awaiting hospitals.

03/07/2005 11:06:08 AM · #5

Originally posted by deapee:

LMAO! That would take A LOT of #2's!

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

03/07/2005 11:12:22 AM · #6

Unfortunately when you're dealing with celebrities and their lackies that crap happens.. By leaving you totally let him push you around. Roadies sometimes have lots of attitude, you gotta stand your ground or people will always be pushing you around. Besides, it's none of the sound guy's business why you're there..I definetly would NOT have offered to delete the photos. I know you were super pissed about the whole thing but if you keep shooting shows it's going to keep happening occassionally. Stand your ground woman! Do what I do and walk in like you're THE shit and they should feel priveleged to have you there. If you want, I can be your body guard. :-)

grandmarginal

Nikon D500

03/07/2005 11:25:40 AM · #7

I've been shooting shows too lately so I know what it's like. Goldberry's right, you have to act like THE shit. It's funny because last week, I went to see a professional photographer to ask all kinds of questions about the profession. One advise he had for me is: "When you are shooting an event, YOU are the photographer, if someone bumps into you while you're shooting, HE has to apologize, NOT YOU!" Sure enough, that same night I was shooting a show and this guy just barely knocked me with his elbow. But still, I give him a real pissed off look and surely enough, he apologized and backed off. Photographer:1 Jerk:0

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

03/07/2005 11:47:29 AM · #8

LOL it's totally true. If anything, I've found that being a female HELPS me during those kinds of shoots since everyone else is male and aim to please. Last show I had the security guards infront of the stage holding my camera bag while I was shooting :-) I don't play the doe-eyed fawn card (better known as the damsel-in-distress card) but I do use my resources. The roadies never talk to me, however, so I make an extra point not to ackowledge their existence. It's like junior high all over again.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

03/07/2005 12:20:12 PM · #9

First of all, it's okay to cry...

Second, I try and live life humbly...but it's true that you have to act confident in these situations. You belong there, and you have a job to do. I would spend less time explaining yourself to those around you and more time asserting yourself.

Best of luck, and keep us up to date!

grandmarginal

Nikon D500

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

03/07/2005 12:21:16 PM · #10

LOL, you're lucky, being a male photographer, nobody's trying to please me. That's why I use my arrogance to get some respect (being tall and big helps too!) Yep! Just like junior high! :)

03/07/2005 12:38:17 PM · #11

and yes, it's okay to cry after it's all said and done. You can't change what happened but you can definetly learn from it.

:-)

Good luck!

03/07/2005 12:46:34 PM · #12

Good News....I talked to my "boss" and he wasn't too happy with that guy. He wasn't mad at me at all. He said that the guy had no right to act that way, the Tour Manager knew I was there doing my job! He is going to complain about it and let them know what this jerk did!

Also, he is going to personally walk me to the front and onto the stage for each show, that way I get better pictures and I have no one to push me around. No more sound booth for me baby!

Thank you for all the advice.... I tend to be a real push over sometimes! :)

03/07/2005 01:24:23 PM · #13

Do you mind if I ask how much you are getting paid per gig for the bar?