Why Camera Bans At Concerts Aren't Insane, Just Misguided

You don't have to dive very deep into the internet to find arguments about the issue of camera bans at concerts. Zooey Deschanel's adorable indie rock band, She & HIm, asked that people please stop watching the concert through their phone cameras. Venues, festivals, and even artists are putting restrictions on the kinds of cameras allowed into live music events. And let's not forget about the "three songs and out" rule that's been applied to concert photographers for decades.

The arguments against the camera bans are compelling. Why shouldn't people be able to express themselves artistically? We paid for these tickets, why shouldn't we be allowed to bring our cameras with us? Who is it hurting if we take awesome pictures? Why are all these camera phone schlubs allowed to snap away when people with "real" cameras are subjugated? All valid questions.

But, in the rage of the internet, there are some subtle points that tend to get lost. They're worth considering, and thinking about them might actually help you out next time you're trying to bring a camera into a venue.

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If you're trying to get a shot of the band for your Facebook page, and someone crowd surfs onto you, busting up your gear, are you just going to accept the fact that it was your fault? You might. But, you might also go after the venue. It's happened, probably more times than you'd expect.

Past that, what if a waitress carrying drinks spills booze on your camera? What if you set it on a bar and a venue employee accidentally knocks it to the ground? Sure, they can post signs and make you sign waivers, but if a patron decides to try and recoup some of that loss at the cost of the venue, it's a process that requires a time and monetary commitment.


http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/07/why-camera-bans-concerts-arent-insane-just-misguided