When I heard that Crown the Empire and Pierce the Veil were going to play at a small local venue, I was pretty happy. These were pretty big bands playing venue that I had only been to for small local bands. It was pretty exciting, especially since this venue wasn't strict and didn't care if you brought a professional camera. I was really looking forward to trying to take some cool photos of these bands.
The venue was pretty packed, but I found a good spot off to the side that had some room to move around to be able to get pictures around the crowd. As the first band took the stage, I saw one of the crew members who was guarding the gap between the barrier and backstage that was created by the photo pit, talking to the people near him while looking at me. I got really nervous and worried that he was going to tell me I couldn't use my camera even though I was allowed to bring it in the venue. Instead he quickly walked over to me, told me to follow him, and led me to the photo pit. I told him that I didn't have a photo pass but he told me that they had an extra, took my bag, and told me to hurry up and get in the pit. I thanked him, rushed over, and started taking pictures of the opening band CONS. They were pretty fun to photograph. The lead singer liked to lay on the stage and run around the photo pit to interact with the crowd. It was exhilarating trying to get pictures while also dodging him and his mic chord. The one problem however, was since I had thought I would be in the back taking pictures like normal, I only had my zoom lens. This was an added challenge, but it was also kind of nice because it removed the pressure. I wasn't stressed out about getting a good shot, everything was happening so suddenly and I had all the wrong equipment. I liked these three bands, but they weren't my all time favorites, so I got to just have fun and enjoy the experience of being in a photo pit for the first time. I got to photograph two songs, got my bag, thanked the guard again, and then went back to my original spot.
I thought that was it, and he was just being nice since there was room in the pit for the lesser known opening band. However, when Crown the Empire started walking out on stage, he waved me over again to go in the photo pit. I was so excited, and felt so unbelievably lucky. The lighting was a challenge this show, but it was fun to have a trial run of what it was like to be in a photo pit. No one was expecting me to get photos for them, there was no pressure or deadline, I got to just see what it was like.
I found out during the long set change getting ready for Pierce the Veil why there was an extra photo pass. It turned out that the extra photo pass did technically belong to a woman who was sitting at the table against the wall next to this guard. Apparently she only wanted to use it for the headliner Pierce the Veil. The guard thought that was a waste, saw me in the crowd with a camera trying my best, and asked her if I could use it since she wasn't. This was incredibly thoughtful, and I am so thankful to that crew member. I thanked him yet again, and thanked her for letting me use her photo pass. Then I went back to my spot and waited for Pierce the Veil to start.
When they took the stage, I was waved over again, and he explained that since I got to be in the photo pit for 2/3 bands, I might as well be back in the pit for the third and final band. I couldn't believe my luck. I was thrilled when I got to be in the pit for the first band, and expected that to be it. Then it happened again for the second band, and I was even happier and expected that to be the end of it. Being waved over that third time was a feeling I can't quite put into words. I just kept being blown away, again and again. Pierce the Veil was such a fun band to photograph, and they had confetti which I love.
Before this concert I had never understood the hype surrounding photo pits. I had fun taking pictures from the crowd, and so I never understood what made the pit so exciting. But now that I was in a photo pit, I never wanted to leave. It all made sense now. It's not just the closeness and freedom of movement that makes the photo pit special, but there's also just a vibe you feel in it that just elevates the concert experience. Being in a photo pit also just made me feel like more of a professional photographer than I ever had before. This experience made me want to try even harder to get photo passes. I had always dreamed of getting one, but this gave me the motivation and confidence to finally give it my best shot. Now that I had gotten a glimpse of what it was like, I was even more in love with concert photography, and even more determined.
FUN FACT:
This photo I got of Vic Fuentes was featured on my first ever business card.
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