Can't read | Won't read? -- Semi-Full gallery available here -- http://gtvone.com/jedward-at-indigo2/ My last post was all about "Is there enough room in music photography for everyone?" and, while there probably isn't, there really is - it all depends on who you are, as to how you answer. But see, I've been ridiculed over the last 24 hours because I went out and photographed Jedward... Yes, that Jedward!
So, I left home at about 5pm as there was a tube strike, it took me about two hours to get to the venue, iNdigo2 at the o2 Arena, I picked up my pass and a coffee and wandered into the venue... Nine times out of the proverbial ten I'm told before if it's a seated gig, as it's mostly a long lens show then, from the sound desk, well, Sam told me on the way in "Oh, it's three songs, no flash, seated..." I was like... oh my goodness, two hours to get here, now it's seated?!.. Smiled and went inside... The crowd, a very young crowd littered with parents and the occasional not so young person, were starting to fill the 2100 capacity venue, which I think has a slightly lower capacity when in seated config..
I popped my gear down and stood about with my coffee, Another photographer turned up from REX Features (Not Brian) we chatted (I asked him what he thought of music photography and new comers, too) and then took a few shtos of the support act, ShockOLady who I thought was quite cool, she comes from Russia (with love, people) and she's up there on stage gyrating through her set, a saucy little number.
Yep, so we make it through her set, and the lovely Jedward PR lady pops out (I'm really sorry, I've forgotten your name! was it Sarah-Jane?!) and let's us know that we can a. do the whole set, b. do it from wherever we like and, a little bit later in the piece, is very cool with me actually going on stage with Jedward to get a set shot of them in front of the whole audience... (as well as a quick edgy portrait back stage etc) so, I've been there the whole gig, I'm not paid for it, I don't sell any shots from it as I don't really have a path to market... So, my question to you, dear listener, is am I taking work from anyone else? Mr. REX was there, he was doing his thing and left about 3/4 way through...
Why were there no other "music photographers" there? Because it's Jedward?... because they had not heard of the support? I was there and I have to say, despite the tuning, despite the covering of other people's songs... those two lads held their audience and totally entertained them for the whole gig. No attitude, no faffing about... power to them... so there was space for a bloke from REX Features and for a freelancer with no hope of getting a shot in the paper as he didn't submit (yeah, me)
Here's where my (non) rant differs...
"Let's make a change to the way music photography works, or we'll lose it forever"
Why don't we, as music photographers, start our own (I don't know what) company? club? members program? and have the PR people approach us with work, rather than us go begging... let's regulate it ourselves? I don't have all the answers, I don't even know what, how or.. oh, no, I do know why... because if we don't start to educate the up and comers, there will be no industry in which you guys that earn from music / events photography to work...
I started into music photography as a bit of a self-test "can I get a gig in seven days?" and I did, and I've been lucky and I've tried hard, and I love shooting music - but it's not "what I do" I don't earn any cash from it - the odd shot sold here and there - and that's about it...
Is it worth taking this proverbial bull by it's 'horns in A minor' and giving it a darn good shake? Or do we just step merrily along to the sound of LiveNation's* drum?
*sorry Charlie, you were all I could think of without another cup of Nescafe's finest...
Sime