You might have noticed the lack of updates on the site lately. Since the Warped Tour in Scranton at the end of July, I haven’t gone to a show. That’s because I’m starting to cut back on shows, at least temporarily. It’s just too expensive going to all these shows where I currently live. Plus there are other factors as well.

It takes me an hour and half to get to NYC. Then you have to factor in gas prices (about $40 bucks for my car), bridge toll ($8), parking ($20-$40). Before you even SEE a band, you’re paying about 100 bucks just to get into the bloody city. I could take the train but it depends on the venue. It’s a hassle taking the train because then you have to take a million subway lines to get to the venue.

Then if I’m lucky, I’m on the guest list so I don’t have to pay for a ticket. That’s not always the case because there’s usually a mix-up at the door. “Sorry your name isn’t on the list.” It’s typical crap that gets me nervous before each show. It’s just discouraging right now for freelance photographers in the music industry. At least that’s the case with me, because I’m not getting paid for shit. I have been getting more exposure being on Flickr and doing a few show assignments for Prefixmag.com. But I haven’t really noticed too much since last year. I sold more prints to fans but that’s pocket change to me. I finally got a print offer to be published in a magazine. Then as soon as I mention the C-word (“compensation”); I don’t hear back from the person…not yet anyway. It’s really annoying to have to deal with people like that. People that expect you to give up your photos for FREE. The magazines are just gonna go down the list until they find some newcomer willing to give up their photos for free just to be in a local magazine. Or they are going to go through the record label and get a press photo. I’m a little more laid back when it comes to people wanted photos for a website. But for a print magazine, I want something for that.

I’m just quickly noticing that there is no money in concert photography or music photography in general. Just like any industry, it’s all about who you know and I don’t know anyone to hook me up with jobs. Plus, it’s just a little hard to get noticed when every photographer is working in New York City. But who wants to get noticed in Bumblefuck, Nebraska? There’s money in portraits and studio stuff but I feel like I’d have to go back to school just to learn how to do lighting, etc. Just not sure it’s worth it in the end. I could make more money doing 1 website design job on the side than shooting some bar band.  Maybe I’m just in a cranky, bitter mood right now, but feel like my concert photography work is never going to take off. When I move closer to city, perhaps I’ll try to shoot a lot more shows? But for right now, I’m gonna have to go to shows I just want to see & shoot.

Anyone have any comments, suggestions, opinions, etc.? Is anyone out there feeling the same way I am right now?

Tags: articles, Concert Photography, gas prices, new york city, no money, Photography, rant

This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 4:27 pm and is filed under Article, General, Rants . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.