1st gig help

que - depends if you are on the guestlist etc....

I never que, infact I jump the guestlist que at my regular venues.

Theres no set settrings, will depend on the venue/lights etc....
 
Thanks,

Does anyone ever get any trouble?
Walking out the club 1am, Alone with a grands worth of kit in your bag. hmmmm :|
 
Thanks,

Does anyone ever get any trouble?
Walking out the club 1am, Alone with a grands worth of kit in your bag. hmmmm :|

done it loads :thumbs: tend to try to walk with mates but I doubt I would have an issue without, last time it was camera bandolier style and kit in pockets/on belt - :D

shooting gigs is great fun, I use my 17-50 f2.8 loads unless its horrifically dark where I turn to my 50mm f1.4

I tend to shoot manual but Av could be better depending on the lighting in the club if the levels keep changing I shoot Av or sometimes just time shots for the same pattern of lights
 
Unless your on a guest list, the queue. Or do what I do and get there during the sound test about half hour before doors. Gives you a chance to get a good set up before first band comes on.

Settings entirely depend on the lighting conditions there but you've got good kit so you should easily get some good shots if not by skill, by luck ;)

I normally shoot manual or aperture priority. Keep your aperture as low as possible and change your ISO and shutter to suit. Dont be afraid to bump up the ISO - as long as you nail the exposure its fine.

James
 
Thanks,

Does anyone ever get any trouble?
Walking out the club 1am, Alone with a grands worth of kit in your bag. hmmmm :|

A grands not alot to be carrying about, try 4/5k then it gets worrying.

only ever had one bit of trouble but that person went for my wallet and ended up running off after shall we say being dealt with.

Just dont go shouting about the value of the bag etc...
 
ouchy nice to have that kinda contacts ***, will make enough cash to cover kit soon enough.

Wonder why insurance won't pay up?
 
seems dodgy as to why insurance wont pay up.

Considering the level he shoots at I would have expected alot of replacement spares to be in his armery as it seems to be his source of income.
 
Its enough, especially when your a poor student :lol:

I had my bag go missing at a festival last year with my 2.8 70-200 in it + a few other bits, yes I **** myself. Then went absolutely mental at the 'secuirty' who handed my bag to another photographer.

This year Im marking my bag up with all kind of silly ribbons lol!
 
get your name on the guest list and get there early
don't stand in the queue unless you have to. chat with the bouncers and ask!
make sure you have a photo/press pass ready on the door
you won't be allowed in the pit without it
take ear plugs
worried about being mugged?? take a monopod with you and go all erol flynn on them!! or hit them with a few bursts from your speedlite
 
I recently had my first gig shooting experience, see my thread http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=141000

I arrived at the venue about half an hour before doors opened, but was told to wait until official doors time, and also I confirmed that I was on the guestlist. Once people started queueing and doors opened, I was called first and let in before the rest of the fans.

Obviously there isn't really much you can do until the first support band come on, but basically if it's a small place then lighting isn't going to be great. Don't forget your earplugs, and try and find a nice position at the front and wait!

Settings wise, I used RAW, full manual, spot metering, ISO3200 (there was a small lighting rig) and wide open on my 18-50mm f2.8 lens. I had to keep adjusting shutter speed on the fly and it was kinda hit and miss, but I tried to keep above 1/125 sec. I did try Aperture Priority, but it went a bit crazy! Also I was selecting focus points manually to try and get the face in focus, otherwise at times I found it was locking on mic stands etc.

After reviewing my shots, about 40-50 out of 400+ I shot actually came out OK (see my Flickr- Blaze Bayley gig), which I think is not bad considering it was my first time shooting a gig! The advantage of RAW is that you get much finer control especially with regards to noise reduction. I was very surprised at how clean the processed ISO3200 images from my Canon 40D looked (similar to ISO800 from in-camera JPG!).

Hope this helps.
 
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