Camera Policy Part 2

I am sadly disappointed but not surprised. Three out of 7 venues e mailed me back and was VAGUE at best but all had one thing in common, that the ARTIST sometimes objects to cameras and maybe that's true BUT Def Leppard doesn't care, that much I know.

I know several other bands that don't also BUT at some venues I go to, they state that the BAND is the one that said it, NOT them. Every venue I attend, they have signs clearly posted that no cameras are allowed. They don't specify "No Professional Cameras" yet if you ask, they sometimes say "Just disposables or digitals are fine but no flash but a lot will evict you from the premises if you so much as take a pic with your camera phone.

Who wins here? What harm are people doing by taking pics of their favorite bands? If any band feels that cameras shouldn't be allowed, what does that tell us? Are bands like Def Leppard afraid what the pics will be used for or afraid profits will be made and they won't get a cut? With Def Leppard, I highly doubt it because Def Leppard is by far the NICEST of all bands I've met.

ALL bands, Def Leppard, Velvet Revolver, anyone is getting free publicity from this. Personal photos make up more than 50% of the photos found on the net. The FANS are the ones that need to worry about how their pics are used because someone might snag it and say "Yes, I took this pic" More and more, pics found on the net are watermarked but sadly, there are ways around that, with the help of photo shop, Paint shop Pro, etc.

Perhaps this is what worries the bands but I ask you What the hell is it to the venue? Are they pouting because they aren't getting a cut or being named as the venue where it was taken? Sometimes they are and if they are, THEY are also getting free publicity.

Or is it a simple power trip by making this stupid rule. I support NO professional cameras unless you are press or recording cameras unless you are making a video for them. There are some rules that are a matter of safety but no cameras is by far the most STUPID and if a fan gets thrown out and treated like a common criminal for simply wanting to take a pic of their favorite band, that security guard needs to lose his job.

If a band has a problem with pics and enforces this particular treatment, then that band will have one less fan and deservedly so. In a disturbing trend of pics being sold on ebay after being autographed or even not, it is understandable for the band to be skeptical but unfortunately one person's screw up, makes us all suffer because it is impossible to find the actual culprit unless they post for the world to see, name, address, phone number and computers IP address.

In conclusion, Def Leppard is one of the few bands I know for certain that doesn't care if you have a camera and don't let ANY venue tell you otherwise. Once more, if you feel you have been mistreated by any member of the security for having a camera and know you were told that you could have one as long as it wasn't professional, report them.

I don't care if they have a uniform and or are the police themselves, no one should be mistreated under any circumstances by security or police, even if the fan themselves are mistreating others, two wrongs don't make a right.

They need to edit their policies and specify NO professional cameras and no recording devices and let the rest be okay, not okay is where it becomes a problem. No one has ever died of having their picture taken but have the right to object and if they object, it should be respected, however, the bands themselves need to make the rules of no cameras, if that is their wish and make it part of their websites, instead of laying the blame at the venues feet and make it a part of the contract.

HOWEVER, if the band like Def Leppard has no problem with it, the venue needs to be told and the venue should not lie and say the band said no, when they never said any such thing. This is all for now