I very recently went to the Shoreline Ampatheater in the SF Bay Area to see and hear the Dalai Lama...(he's not a rock group!)(posted 8326 days ago)In the pre-session info we recieved we were told that cameras were NOT allowed (and we were checked physically at the gate for cameras). They even made bullhorn announcements to drop all cameras in the trash bins or return them to your cars. Also, no recorders were allowed, and I had to drink my can of Slim Fast (my lunch) at the gate since no cans were allowed in. They even used metal detector gates and wands on us, right up to my crotch (nothing there, of course!). I was actually ready for a strip search! There were U.S. secret service agents with dogs all over the place.
While there, especially during the breaks (and this was a spiritual presentation) I saw so many wonderful photo ops of people attending, that I nearly went into a catatonic depression without my camera. No really good shots of the Dalai Lama himself, but great photo ops of the people there!
I can understand some caution, but this seemed rediculous.
At Shoreline, there were signs all over the place warning about what was not allowed: alcohol, recorders, lawn chairs, cameras, anything in a can, and so on. There were also very big guards to enforce this policy!
I have never attended a function there previously, and it's been many years since I've ever attended any concerts or major speaking events, and was very surprised at the extreme paranoia ("cautions?"). Even when the Dalai Lama was finished, a security agent by the exit said on her communicator device: "The dude (His Holiness) should split in about 20 minutes!"
There was one "official" photographer there...I guess she was "official"???...she was a young lady with one camera down front every day...no one bothered her. There was a 15 minute period on the "public lecture night" where all "press" photogs were allowed to photograph the Dalai Lama and then they were escorted out. There were secret service agents at all exits and aisles...and, yes, really, all wearing: black suits and dark glasses in 95 degree weather...all of them!
Question: is this a common practice at such "events," either musical or spiritual? How can a person take serious non-flash photos at one of these events nowadays? I have great photos from the Beatles at the SF Cow Palace concert in the early 1960's, and no one bothered me at all?
This was a moment I would have liked to have had the chance to take a few personal snaps...no such luck.
What has happened in the past few decades to cause such extreme caution regarding cameras and such, and is there any way around it? How about taking photographs at the Sex Mob concert?