Taking a camera into a concert?
 

is it normally allowed to have a camera with you at a concert?
I'm going to see No Doubt tomorrow and am considering taking my digital camera

check your ticket. it usually says on there.

-Steve

Generally, no. Bringing in cameras and recorders is a pretty big no-no. You could potentially run the risk of having your camera confiscated, or they could tell you to take it back to your car. Providing that there's any kind of security. If they're searching people at the gates, they won't let you in with a camera. If you're going to attempt to take one in, I'd suggest using a one-use camera rather than an expensive digital camera.

Years ago, we -- my friends and I -- used to smuggle cameras into concerts, but we were never able to get the pictures to come out.

thanks for the info
I won't risk it

bring in one of those throw away camera, and do it discretely. Usually though there is a note at the front of the club informing whether or not it is permited. At a The The show I saw on my birthday in 2000 up in Philly there were so many people taking pictures that it became very distracting. Of the few times I took pics at shows I got some good pictures of Super Furry Animals (DC - Black Cat), and Travis (Chicago - Metro).

If the camera is fairly small you can get away with stuffing it in your pants hehe. They can't touch your junk when you get frisked so that would be the only place to hide it hehe.

if cameras are illegal, then why is it when you watch concerts on tv, when they pan out to the audience, a lot of flashes go off.

Depends on the performers/venue as far as if cameras are allowed. I know when I went to Farm Aid last year, you weren't supposed to bring in cameras. I saw several nice digital cameras and even camcorders in the first few rows. How do you hide a Sony 8mm camcorder in your crotch?

security has changed muc since 9-11. At the arena where I work, NO bags other than purses are allowed, including backpacks and camera bags, and all purses are searched, and that include media and most VIPs. check if it is no photography or no flash photography. If you do bring a camera with you, don't use a flash and you most likely will not get in trouble. A flash is the only way that you will get singled out in a crowd. If I catch a person using a flash, and then catch them a second time, I will confiscate the camera (disposable) or the film (non disposable). When I work the barrier, usually at least 1 person will give me a camera, and ask me to take a pic when the main band comes on stage. If I were you, this is what I would do.

Even before 911, I had never been to a concert that allowed anything but purses in anyway. Well, with the exception of the Dave Matthews Band show I caught about 10 days before it, which was the first show I had been to that allowed you to bring anything in you would like. They didn't even frisk me.

It all depends on the band..
Motley Crue for example..condones and asks the fans to take pictures, video and audio..

I would call the venue...

If you go the backpack route..hide in on the bottom with a jacket or Tshirt wrapped around it...

good luck

I have taken a camera (one of those auto every_Damn! thing) cameras into over 35+ concerts at different size venues. Never once have I had a problem other than the quality of the picture. My rule of thumb: Don't abuse the privilige. Remember that other people didn't pay these prices to have a flash going off every 30 secs.

Keep the flash off and there should be no problem with getting caught.

Umm..then all you will get is a black blur...

Had no problems taking my digital camera into the U2 concert at Staples Center in LA last year -- the security guys only seemed to care if it was a camcorder or not. And as far as the flash goes, what good would it do anyway? I doubt you're gonna be close enough that it would work properly, and then you'll get a nice dark blur on your pictures. At least with the flash off, the shutter'll stay open long enough to have a chance at a decent picture (though you'll obviously need to have steady hands).

I hear they light stages nowadays.

How good of a quality picture would a picture be? W/O a telephoto lens, I would think it would be of marginal quality.