I’ll be honest I often dread shooting at a new venue for the first time. I’m the kind of guy that likes to be well prepared for a shoot. Ask any photographer if they should be well prepared for a shoot, or just wing it, and you’ll find the being prepared is at the top of the list. Shooting a venue I’ve never been at before often throws some huge unknowns at you and here are a few of those.
1. Parking
One of the first things on my list is to have ample parking. It doesn’t even have to be free parking, which is nice, but easy access to parking reasonably close to the venue. I don’t like to get out of a show at 1am in the morning then have to walk a long distance with my camera gear to some spot on the street.
2. Outside Will Call
This is a big one for me. In some venues, will call is inside the doors. So this means that when a show says something like “doors at 7:00pm” it means that the big ass line starts at like 5pm. Until I get that photo pass in my hands, I’m nothing but a fan trying to smuggle in a bunch of camera gear. Plus sitting around just to see if your pass is indeed waiting for you can be a waste of time. When the will call is out front, I can get my pass right in the beginning, and the moment the doors open, usually get security to wave me in. In the end, it will be what it will be, but when I see the will call box outside, I’ll admit to a little fist pump.
3. A Photo Pit
It is unfortunate to go through all the trouble of getting photo credentials to arrive at a venue with no photo pit. If its crowded you have a choice of getting smashed against the stage in one position most of the night, or gain maneuverability by staying further back. Plus if it’s the type of shows I shoot, there is a good chance for a mosh pit to form. I tend to like the option of going into the mosh pit, not getting sucked into it like vortex. The pit also allows for some opportunities for fan images.
4. Alternative Shooting Positions
After my three songs are up, and I have had a chance to say hello and make nice with security, there is usually no problem with me continuing to shoot outside of the pit. This is the time when I can willingly go into the crowd for some shots, or even the mosh pit if I dare. Hopefully however the venue has a few other good positions to shoot. I’ve had some that have some special seating areas on the side that are not always full and give a higher vantage point to the stage for example. If it has other places for me to shoot, it’s a big plus in my book. Just because the three songs are up, doesn’t mean I’m done working.
5. Lighting
The most important for last. Good lighting at the venue doesn’t mean the band is actually going to use it. I’ve seen shows with huge lighting rigs that still get boiled down into a few red LED lights and a strobe going off. However its nice to know when a venue is at least capable of good lighting. Some of the worst places I’ve seen have burnt out and missing bulbs that leave huge dark spots on the stage. I think everybody benefits from good lighting. Until the lighting guys start asking me ahead of time how I’d like the lights setup, I’ll just have to deal with whatever I’m given. Who doesn’t like surprises?
