Can I bring a digital SLR camera to Radio City music Hall for the Peter Gabriel Concert?
Most rock concerts i have been to do not allow u to bring a DSLR. However they will let you bring a point and shoot. But this is a chamber orchestra playing at New York City Radio City music hall with Peter Gabriel singing on May 2nd. Would anyone know?
If your attempts to obtain permission fail, you have options. I don’t want to steer you into high risk. Just consider this and proceed cautiously.
If your seat is inconspicuously located you could use the DSLR without any added disruption that a point and shoot would present. Be aware of the people around you and walking the isles. I have seen ushers using those laser pin lights to signal to people doing things they want to discourage.
Separate the body and lens so they are smaller and conceal them. They have become very lax with searches. It used to be nearly impossible to get a camera into some concerts like Pink Floyd. You do not see many photos from the 70’s shows when they were known to have the most advanced stage equipment of the time.
At a chamber orchestra they will be very strict perhaps not allowing anyone to move to and from seats until breaks between numbers. I would not expect the visuals to be as compelling however with the absence of smoking. They will be very strict about cigarette and pot smoking. Even though Gabriel could have smoke machines providing atmosphere directly on stage the areas further out will not have sufficient fog for lasers and Vari-lites. I am just preparing you for a possibility. I recall waiting for Paul McCartney’s show to begin as they pumped enormous amounts of fog into the arena from the stage, and they were tolerant of cigarette and pot smoking even though all smoking is illegal indoors here. We are fortunate that the fog used is safer and more affective than the early days.
I saw Peter Gabriel a few years ago and he is very strong as a performer. He has genuine charisma with a crowd. The sound and stage is the best. I don’t think you could be disappointed.
I’m afraid they will probably not. Peter Gabriel is a huge name in music, and only photographers with a photo pass will be likely to enter. Not even there.
However, I have often written to venues, large ones even, asking if I could bring my camera. Basically emphasising I won’t annoy anyone, only shoot the first three songs, and won’t use flash and won’t annoy anyone in the process. Emphasise in your email that this is a chamber orchestra, and you have no intention of ruining the ambiance, but you’d just like to take some pictures for your portfolio and possibly freelance for music sites. Most PR people aren’t evil. If you tell them you already have a ticket, they’ll probably let you shoot. Don’t immediately say it’s an DSLR though, say it’s a good quality camera instead. I hope it would work, I’d love to see Peter Gabriel myself once. I’d be thrilled if I could photograph him.
References :
If your attempts to obtain permission fail, you have options. I don’t want to steer you into high risk. Just consider this and proceed cautiously.
If your seat is inconspicuously located you could use the DSLR without any added disruption that a point and shoot would present. Be aware of the people around you and walking the isles. I have seen ushers using those laser pin lights to signal to people doing things they want to discourage.
Separate the body and lens so they are smaller and conceal them. They have become very lax with searches. It used to be nearly impossible to get a camera into some concerts like Pink Floyd. You do not see many photos from the 70’s shows when they were known to have the most advanced stage equipment of the time.
At a chamber orchestra they will be very strict perhaps not allowing anyone to move to and from seats until breaks between numbers. I would not expect the visuals to be as compelling however with the absence of smoking. They will be very strict about cigarette and pot smoking. Even though Gabriel could have smoke machines providing atmosphere directly on stage the areas further out will not have sufficient fog for lasers and Vari-lites. I am just preparing you for a possibility. I recall waiting for Paul McCartney’s show to begin as they pumped enormous amounts of fog into the arena from the stage, and they were tolerant of cigarette and pot smoking even though all smoking is illegal indoors here. We are fortunate that the fog used is safer and more affective than the early days.
I saw Peter Gabriel a few years ago and he is very strong as a performer. He has genuine charisma with a crowd. The sound and stage is the best. I don’t think you could be disappointed.
References :