Camera policy question

[Montclare]

Since I'm so used to seeing pictures and video from concerts, it never even occurred to me that some venues don't allow cameras. I'm going to the show at the United Center tomorrow, and their website has no professional cameras. What defines a professional camera? I just have a pocket camera, no super zoom or anything. I'm hoping this is okay. I'm one of the few that doesn't have an iPhone, which essentially would take about the same quality pictures. Does anyone have any experience with this, especially people who have gone to concerts at the United Center?

Thanks!

[Erin]

They mean SLRs. You'll be fine with what you have. And I've been to the UC many times.

[olive]

for most places one solid piece ( no detachable lens ) you should be good

[Montclare]

Thanks you guys! I was starting to freak out.

[Dreamz19]

I wanted to know the same thing about Wells Fargo Center in Philly. I've never been there before and wasn't sure.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Dreamz19

I wanted to know the same thing about Wells Fargo Center in Philly. I've never been there before and wasn't sure.

I just saw this thread. I have never had an camera issue @ Wells Fargo in Philly. I was in the third row @ the last Philly show & I took numerous pics with my camera. I was never told that I couldn't by security. So I don't think it will be a problem. Now for this show, I'm in the lower level, so I'm not going to get floor quality pics, but I got a good zoom, so we'll see.

Lee

[Dreamz19]

Originally Posted by Lee

I just saw this thread. I have never had an camera issue @ Wells Fargo in Philly. I was in the third row @ the last Philly show & I took numerous pics with my camera. I was never told that I couldn't by security. So I don't think it will be a problem. Now for this show, I'm in the lower level, so I'm not going to get floor quality pics, but I got a good zoom, so we'll see.

Lee

Thanks so much Lee.

[AbbiJoy78]

yeah no one will have a problem at Wells Fargo in Philly! I have always taken my Sony Cybershot and never had an issue. they barely search a purse, it's like you hold it open, they take a peak, and move you along LOL.

[Dreamz19]

Originally Posted by AbbiJoy78

yeah no one will have a problem at Wells Fargo in Philly! I have always taken my Sony Cybershot and never had an issue. they barely search a purse, it's like you hold it open, they take a peak, and move you along LOL.

lol thank you for the response.

[TimeCastASpell]

I know this was basically resolved but thought I would pop in in case anyone else is still wondering because I did have an experience at a venue where a camera wasnt allowed (not a venue FM is playing this year but still).

I have a rather bottom of the line Digital- SLR (or D-SLR camera. If you don't even know what that stuff means suffice to say your camera should be fine at any venue ) and when my bags were checked at the entrance of the venue I had to go return this camera to the car. The irony is like I said, its nowhere near professional grade and does have detachable lenses but I don't even own any others than what it came with so can't even zoom the way virtually any point and shoot can. I also have always owned higher end point and shoot cameras with big zoom lenses- cameras that arguably if you know how to work them take photos as good as say a newspaper photographer. I've always, always been able to use those at shows though. I will say that the venue that banned my D-SLR (which also did not have any video recording capacity) caught me recording songs with my point and shoot and I got in trouble with security repeatedly and video is often not allowed even though there's a good chance your camera that will be allowed also takes video- I recorded a lot of Detroits FM show last year but was in a section with no security at all and had wished I'd brought in multiple cameras! If you want to try to video record, fiddle with the zoom or click the shutter, security can't tell the difference then between video or a fan just taking endless photos.

Seriously though, if worse comes to worse they will either make you return the camera to your car before the show and if they catch you during the show, they won't take it or anything- they'll just ask you to put it away. So no matter what I wouldn't worry. If you don't even know what an SLR (which takes film) or a D-SLR is, you're safe regardless, anywhere (and worth noting the kinds of cameras they ban are often several thousands of dollars, my lowest end Nikon D-SLR was probably around $500. Your average point and shoot is probably about $100 or maybe double to triple that if its higher end. If you don't know what your camera is that's a good guideline). Also, being a Broadway fan where photography is sometimes banned- unless they literally announce before a show that no photos are to be taken (have seen this with Broadway type shows for example) you're absolutely allowed to photograph as much as you want. These days with so many people having fairly high quality cameras even on their cell phones, I think venues and artists have loosened up compared to the not so distant past as far as photography goes (though I once had an actor from a Broadway show in Chicago follow me out of a show and make me delete photos of the show he saw me sneak with my cell phone! But I was in the wrong, they clearly stated no photography there...)

Probably over rambled but thought I would share what I've experienced. Think it helps too just to know no matter what they're not going to take your camera away and worst comes to worse there's always fans at seemingly every show, generally up in the front, who seem to graciously share their photos here or elsewhere online too. I think most would happily share with others who were at the show- I know I would. Hope you all have a blast and get some great shots. I've framed shots I took I took (with my "non-professional" but bet you couldnt tell the difference camera!) the show I saw last year.

[michelej1]

When I saw FM in England once, I had a camera with a zoom out lens. It was not detachable. I guess when it zoomed out it looked pretty big though. Anyway, they let me in in the venue without a problem (the zoom wasn't extended), but during the concert when I was using the camera, someone from FM's staff (not the venue's) came to me and told me I couldn't use it. I said, "But everyone else is using cameras" and he said, "not that kind. Put it away." His manner was abrupt and it bothered me because there were 1000s cameras all around me and I was the only one who couldn't take pictures. I was not using my flash.

Michele

[SadAngel86]

Originally Posted by michelej1

When I saw FM in England once, I had a camera with a zoom out lens. It was not detachable. I guess when it zoomed out it looked pretty big though. Anyway, they let me in in the venue without a problem (the zoom wasn't extended), but during the concert when I was using the camera, someone from FM's staff (not the venue's) came to me and told me I couldn't use it. I said, "But everyone else is using cameras" and he said, "not that kind. Put it away." His manner was abrupt and it bothered me because there were 1000s cameras all around me and I was the only one who couldn't take pictures. I was not using my flash.

Michele

That's a really interesting dilemma. My camera is a Sony Cybershot and it has a really long zoom lens for a point-and-shoot (which is why I bought it) and I was able to shoot a ton of video and pictures in the front row at the United Center as well as in the 100 level. Their camera policy states that "no cameras with detachable lenses are allowed" as well as no videotaping. I guess it just depends sometimes on the venue and what security you get that day. Well, and I'm only 5 feet tall, so I guess that helps too.

What I've learned to do is bring a bag that has an inside pocket, and if they're real strict about cameras, put a sanitary pad on top of it - that way if they feel the bottom of your bag they won't feel the shape of a camera in there, and with the pad guys will be less likely to check that pocket. I did this for a show in the Chicago suburbs last year and their security actually put a flashlight inside my bag and also felt up the bottom. Bag checkers tend to just check the big pockets and not the smaller ones.

[TimeCastASpell]

Originally Posted by SadAngel86

That's a really interesting dilemma. My camera is a Sony Cybershot and it has a really long zoom lens for a point-and-shoot (which is why I bought it) and I was able to shoot a ton of video and pictures in the front row at the United Center as well as in the 100 level. Their camera policy states that "no cameras with detachable lenses are allowed" as well as no videotaping. I guess it just depends sometimes on the venue and what security you get that day. Well, and I'm only 5 feet tall, so I guess that helps too.

What I've learned to do is bring a bag that has an inside pocket, and if they're real strict about cameras, put a sanitary pad on top of it - that way if they feel the bottom of your bag they won't feel the shape of a camera in there, and with the pad guys will be less likely to check that pocket. I did this for a show in the Chicago suburbs last year and their security actually put a flashlight inside my bag and also felt up the bottom. Bag checkers tend to just check the big pockets and not the smaller ones.

Michele, that's outrageous honestly! I've always used cameras with large zoom lenses, like I said I found it almost ironic when the one venue wouldn't allow my D-SLR when my point and shoot had a way better/bigger zoom and took video while the D-SLR didnt. I like the straight forward idea of "no detachable lenses" because there's a benchmark then to judge cameras by and distinguish what is and isn't allowed versus arbitrary decisions like what happened to you...

SadAngel- ha! Love the pad idea and so true. I got one better though not easily copy-able. I'm on IV nutrition (think feeding tub sort of but in my veins) anyway the IV bags are huge and have a portable pump I carry in a backpack so even though some bigger venues have all out tried issuing restrictions on size of bags allowed in they have to let me in! And no one will touch my bag but me so...

When I went to the Mac Detroit show there was a seperate wheelchair entrance and I couldn't go through the venues metal detector due to being hooked to an electronic pump. My backpack was hung on the back of my chair and they didnt even notice that and in my lap was a small purse and a large camera bag and all they checked was my purse. I found that pretty amusing because I turned around to grab my backpack but I guess they didnt notice? And then there was no security whatsoever in the accessible seating area and our seats as I mentioned in my other post were pretty awesome- people actually snuck over to our area and stood behind us I guess. And I remember saying to my friend that dang, if I had known the bag check and lack of security wouldve happened I'd have brought my D-SLR and heck a video camera too. Anyway, there's not many benefits to being sick/disabled but this one is kind of nice.

[Lee]

Oh, I might add here that I put my camera in another zippered part of my purse so that security can't actually see it when someone looks in there. The camera is small, but has a nice zoom on it which is not removable.

Lee