Concert Camera People
Major Stake
I love going out and seeing bands play. It's what I do. Even I, though, will have to admit that there is probably nothing more boring than looking at crappy snapshots of a show you didn't go to. I don't want to be a complete wet blanket on those that absolutely need to do this(people with bad memories?), so here's a tip: When the band first comes on, snap off the whole roll of film and then put the camera away. Don't be one of those numb-nuts who waits until 'a good song' to take a picture. Why? Because they'll all look the same anyway- a bunch of guys standing on stage holding instruments. OK, maybe you might want to wait until the last song. This way they'll be a bunch of sweaty guys on stage holding instruments.
It's always the guy right in front of you, too. You're there, enjoying the show, and the band launches into a song. It must be his favorite song because all of a sudden he's excited. Yes! Yes! He's very excited, so much that he's goning to... stop and take a picture. Boy, you really know how to kill the moment. How un-Rock and Roll. What are they thinking? "Dude, this is a picture of them playing this song, and this is a picture of them playing my favorite song, and this is a picture of him doing his solo...shhh...listen to the photo..." IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SONG!!!
Worse are the ones who think they have a right to unimpeded access of the front of the stage just because they wave around a still camera or video camera. Thank you, you little rockumentarian. Boy thanks, what would the state of society be without you documenting the nostrils of bands. I guess I will buy your crappy fanzine or bootleg video of the show. This way I'll get to see what it was like to be at the show without having to stare at the back of a video camera or have a flash going off in my friggin' face every second!
Minor Stake
And by the way, TURN THE FLASH OFF! You're taking pictures of people on a theatrically lit stage. It's like shining a flashlight at the sun. If you're one of those dopes in the upper seats of a sports stadium taking pictures of the 'ants' on the field- if your flash is powerful enough to illuminate someone from that distance, than it's probably powerful enough to give the people in front of you a nasty sunburn.