Okay…so there is always the question “what if they say no?”, and in this case, we are referring to a band and/or their PR or even their record label. There is one simple answer to this…and it is “Okay, so what? Move on to the next show”.
I cannot stress this enough that it will happen. And more times than you would like to think. For example, I have been keeping a log of which shows I have been applying to for media passes to cover since November of 2021 (this is Mid-May 2022 as I write this blog). Going with the dates and names of the touring artists that I have applied to, I also have on there where it is and if I was approved or not. Since November, I have 40 shows that I have applied to. I have been able to get a “yes” to about half of them, while a few have been postponed (and I am counting those in the grand total, and there have been seven that has been either postponed and/or passed on) and the rest have been “no”. And they have been a big shows too…from George Thorogood to Elton John, Slash to Korn, LP to Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Things happen, take it on the chin and get ready for the next one on your list. Never go through and let one show get you down. Hell, if it was up to me, I’d photograph every show every night, but even I need some time to sit back and relax, rest, and just say “tonight is a movie night" and turn off everything.
But yes…out of the 40 concerts that I have asked to cover in the past 7 months, I have been able to cover 20 concerts, 13 that have said no, and seven that have been postponed or I passed on. That is in 27 weeks total, I have photographed a concert on at least 20 of them. That means in total, that means seven weeks without a concert, that is almost two months without a show to shoot. That is a LONG Time. But it happens.
And even if you go through and have a confirmation for a show, it does not mean that you will be able to photograph the show. I know this the hard way. Prime example, two days ago, I was supposed to photograph a show in Kansas City, Missouri. Long story short, and not to get into it so much or to name any names, the band who I was suppose to be covering that night had just switched record labels, in the middle of their tour (which is VERY rare) which included their PR agents, which is even more unusual.
Issue is…that when the old PR agency turned over their approved Media List for the show, the new PR firm refused to honor the previous approved media. I had drove an hour to get there, waited about three hours (which included an hour after the show started) and then ended up driving the hour long journey home. This venue is someplace that I frequent a lot to shoot shows, about a half dozen in the time frame that we are talking about here, and they all know me pretty well. The ticket window gentleman even called the tour manager and a few other people to figure out why and if they were sure, because they know me and the work I do, and I had the emails from the previous PR agent for saying I was approved. I mean…the band just switched two days before the show, 48 hours…and all of the sudden, everything was turned on their head. So yes, it happens…to everyone. You will get a no…even at the absolute last minute, and even after you have been approved. It sucks, yes it does…pretty bad…but you have to take the noes that you get with the yeses and go on to the next show…because there will be another yes coming down the road, and if you have your cards played right, sooner rather than later. In my case, three days later.