I didn’t have my camera with me for this but it inspired me to start doing some sneaky shenanigans with my gear since.
I was visiting Toronto for a week last year for a concert and decided to walk to Budweiser Stage from the opposite side of the city so I ended up at the venue like 4 hours early. They must have thought that I was a vendor but it was great because I was was able to watch the artist warm up for ~45 minutes before the head security person figured out I wasn’t supposed to be there. I was still allowed to hang around the event inside but just not by the stage. I got some free food and merch from helping some vendors set up since I had nothing else to do for a few hours.
Because of that I have started doing some light googling prior to going into buildings/events and printing out some fake buisness cards/press passes for news stations, advertising agencies, parent companies and more. The combination of that and a cheap safety vest has given me access to photograph a bunch of interesting places. If you plan to do this please be respectful, if you are asked to leave or are figured out just cooperate and leave quietly without making a scene. Also know that you may not be able to get back into the event even as a paying customer depending on the security personnel.
I didn’t have my camera with me for this but it inspired me to start doing some sneaky shenanigans with my gear since.
I was visiting Toronto for a week last year for a concert and decided to walk to Budweiser Stage from the opposite side of the city so I ended up at the venue like 4 hours early. They must have thought that I was a vendor but it was great because I was was able to watch the artist warm up for ~45 minutes before the head security person figured out I wasn’t supposed to be there. I was still allowed to hang around the event inside but just not by the stage. I got some free food and merch from helping some vendors set up since I had nothing else to do for a few hours.
Because of that I have started doing some light googling prior to going into buildings/events and printing out some fake buisness cards/press passes for news stations, advertising agencies, parent companies and more. The combination of that and a cheap safety vest has given me access to photograph a bunch of interesting places. If you plan to do this please be respectful, if you are asked to leave or are figured out just cooperate and leave quietly without making a scene. Also know that you may not be able to get back into the event even as a paying customer depending on the security personnel.