I taped the Storm Large / Gilby Clarke show at the Capital Music Hall in Ottawa on Saturday night.
Not a very good venue for vid taping at all - very few good/safe spots. I taped Jeff Martin during his first solo tour and it did not come out well at all. I got there early for this show and got near the spot I wanted in the balcony. As it turns out, I knew the people who were in the spot I wanted. I taped Storm from my initial spot and it turned out OK.
Prior to Gilby coming on, I spoke with the persons whom I knew in the primo spot and they invited me to tape from their vantage point, which essentially looked right down on the stage. All was going well (except, for some reason my belt buckle became detached - that was a bit nerve racking as I could do nothing about it). I was keeping a pretty steady shot (no zooming) as I realized I was pretty exposed up there. The sound guy was directly accross from me over the stage, as well security was diagonal from me monitoring the front of the house and entrance to the back stage.
About 30 minutes in I felt a hand on my back, it surprised me but turned out to be a guy I knew form about ten years ago, just saying "Hi". I told him we'd talk after the show as I continued taping.
About 20 minutes later I noted that a second sound guy had joined trhe first and I thought they may have noticed me. I noted he left his perch as well. Strangely, I dismissed and forgot about it as I got back to work.
About a minute late, a much more firm hand was tapping my back. I was busted. I turned as the security guard told me to hand over the tape. I actually asked him to follow me to the bathroom, which he did. He probably thought I wanted to talk - I simply wanted to do up my belt
.
I was in a bit of shock but dutifully handed him the tape as I felt he caught me pretty red handed. I was only concerned he was going to have me turfed as well.
He told me that the red light on my camera is what tipped him off. I realized afterwards that this was impossible as the camera is INSIDE my sleeve - even tho there is a light on the side - it isn't exposed. the "tally" light on the front was turned off. In addition, the view finder can't be too much of an indicator these days, with all the cell phones and digital cameras constantly going off. My guess was that it was my stance. When zooming in and out and looking at the camera, rather than the stage, I probably simply looked like I was taping.
He stated he knows ALL the tricks as he used to tape as well.
The security guy took the tape (luckily I taped Storm's set on a second tape which was safe in my back pocket) and told me that he would give it to the band. He offerred to take my address and provide it to them as well. He stated they could send it back to me if they wanted to. I initially told him to forget it, but then decided "what's the worst that's going to happen". I provided my mail address (as It's just a P.O. Box anyway) and that was presumeably the end of this drawn out, overly detailed story.
Since I wasn't taping - I immediatly purchased an alcoholic beverage and relaxed and was able to simply enjoy the end of the show (It was surprisingly good, I thought). Caught up with the first guy that had tapped on my shoulder and spent a bit of time reflecting on getting caught taping. Not too bad of an experience and nothing that would keep me from trying again (but not likely at that venue).
After the show, my wife wanted to stick around and meet the Gilby Clarke. Very courteous guy, seemed very appreciative of his fans. My wife decided to inform him of the taping incident. Gilby stated "that's not our policy. We have a WIDE OPEN taping policy". He told me to speak with "Shawn the promoter he's been dealing with".
I asked one of the security guys if they could point out Shawn. I described him ("Bald / Chunky"). Imediatly they pointed him out - It was the security guy that busted me!!
I went up to him and told him what Gilby had said (who stood only about ten feet away - maybe less). He took on a pretty cocky attitude, and with a smarmy look on his face he told me he didn't have it anymore and said he didn't know where it was. I could tell pretty quick that I was in "Dick County" as he went to stand with the security guys (although I'm pretty sure they didn't care for him either). I asked him why he wouldn't just hand over the tape - he said he gave it to "that guy" as someone walked past and into the back stage. He told me, "If you want it, go get it - work for your tape" I told him I couldn't go back stage and that he was a fucking prick. He told me he he wasn't a prick. i told him that since I had been taping in an apparently taper friendly environment when he interupted and confiscated my tape, and that he now wouldn't simply get my tape back - he was obviously a prick. I was ready to walk away from the situation as I was starting to feel pretty hot headed - and I' knew I'd lose with all those security guys (even with just one of them). My Wife - mega Gilby fan - chose to go directly back to Gilby. He actually asked her if something was wrong when she returned. He told me her that he would meet us out back (as they needed to get the equipment out) with the tape.
Wife and I left - I shot "Shawn the Promoter Guy" one last "Stinkeye" and we left. We couldn't find the rear entrance very easily (you'd have to see the set up to understand), but eventually we did catch up with Gilby. And he walked directly toward me and handed me the tape!! Big thanks to Gilby - what a stand up guy!
Oddly enough too, "Shawn the Promoter Guy" did do exactly what he said he would, as Gilby also handed me the scrap of paper with my address. My guess that he was also full of shit regarding being a former taper as - when he realized that It was an open taping band - why wouldn't he just get my tape back?
Anyway - I got 50 minutes of an approximately 80 minute set (I think). My wife and I agreed that we felt that the cool experience with Gilby made up for the loss of the end of the show (although I missed their "My Michelle" tease, dammit).
If anything this will probably help my confidence when taping - but had I not worried so much about the zooms during that show - I probably wouldn't be writing this big 'ol story now.
Also, I did try to secure confirmation prior to the show that taping was ok (via Gilby's myspace) but did not get a response.