Topic: BUSTED!! Video taping DMB Philly last night

[todd e]

Well It happened I got busted video taping a DMB show.  Some girl narked on me right after Stay.  I am so pissed.  This security lady already had 2 african american gentleman that were quite large I might add coming from each side of the section.  She thought she was doing such a good thing and acted like I was a bad person or something.  I of course lied and tried to play off that I was recording with my phone etc. 

Meanwhile I am taken to a security office in the Wachovia Center and shaken down by the security and the Philly cops.  One guy, head of security I think,  tried to reach in my pocket and take my wallet out.  When I grabbed his hand and told him to stop touching my ass he said I hit him.  BULLSHIT.  The police then asked him if he would like to press charges for assault...can you fuckin' imagine?  Here I am not allowing my wallet to be taken and I am the assaulter?   Fucked up. 

In the end they stated that if I let them see my drivers license they would let me go.  I said I did nothing wrong and have no reason to give up my ID.  This 'head of security' stated that the police would search me and they would charge me with every crime they could for whatever was on me at that time.  I had a small amount of  C. indica  on me and the videos and chose the 'ill show you my ID route.  Plus getting out of this contrived assault charge was motivation too.  They copied my license and wrote down my section and seat number...It sucked now I am on file as a videotaper at god knows where.  What really sucks is that I feel like they share this information with other venues across the country and people will be looking for me and I will get busted running audio at taper unfriendly events.

Thanks for letting me vent.  Be sure to take some of my tix away because I got caught.

Peas,

dd

this is the real problem : I had a small amount of  C. indica

if you are going to video tape, be very careful.  you know that you could get pulled back to the office at any time, why run the risk of a possession's charge?
i wish you hadn't had anything on you, so that you could tell those fucs to bug off.  it's not like they wanted to actually do any paperwork, they just knew you were fold eventually.

-t for your troubles, sorry man.

[gngrbrdman13]

Well It happened I got busted video taping a DMB show.  Some girl narked on me right after Stay.  I am so pissed.  This security lady already had 2 african american gentleman that were quite large I might add coming from each side of the section.  She thought she was doing such a good thing and acted like I was a bad person or something.  I of course lied and tried to play off that I was recording with my phone etc. 

Meanwhile I am taken to a security office in the Wachovia Center and shaken down by the security and the Philly cops.  One guy, head of security I think,  tried to reach in my pocket and take my wallet out.  When I grabbed his hand and told him to stop touching my ass he said I hit him.  BULLSHIT.  The police then asked him if he would like to press charges for assault...can you fuckin' imagine?  Here I am not allowing my wallet to be taken and I am the assaulter?   Fucked up. 

In the end they stated that if I let them see my drivers license they would let me go.  I said I did nothing wrong and have no reason to give up my ID.  This 'head of security' stated that the police would search me and they would charge me with every crime they could for whatever was on me at that time.  I had a small amount of  C. indica  on me and the videos and chose the 'ill show you my ID route.  Plus getting out of this contrived assault charge was motivation too.  They copied my license and wrote down my section and seat number...It sucked now I am on file as a videotaper at god knows where.  What really sucks is that I feel like they share this information with other venues across the country and people will be looking for me and I will get busted running audio at taper unfriendly events.

Thanks for letting me vent.  Be sure to take some of my tix away because I got caught.

Peas,

dd

this is the real problem : I had a small amount of  C. indica

if you are going to video tape, be very careful.  you know that you could get pulled back to the office at any time, why run the risk of a possession's charge?
i wish you hadn't had anything on you, so that you could tell those fucs to bug off.  it's not like they wanted to actually do any paperwork, they just knew you were fold eventually.

-t for your troubles, sorry man.

Your right that was the real problem.  Anyone who knows me knows I would have put up a big stink but with the Philly police there and that little stash, I was silenced and had to give up some other rights to keep that hidden.  Lesson learned.

Fluffermother caught wind of all this and she is really mad at me.  I hate when she says to me 'fluffy you know better' I hate to dissapoint her shes been a good mom.

[gewwang]

Not to bring up a dead horse, but when I got busted at Wachovia Center by U2, the venue and the band took me backstage and I can tell you there was nfw I was going to "just leave".

[ianstone]

you're quite good at getting busted with that video camera, aren't ya dd!? 

[GNRArnold]

Not to bring up a dead horse, but when I got busted at Wachovia Center by U2, the venue and the band took me backstage and I can tell you there was nfw I was going to "just leave".

I know, I've been there myself but the reality of the situation is if they even touch you, thats assault and taking tapes is theft unless they have a written warrant. I try to keep this stuff in mind anytime I stealth so I don't lose my equiptment or tapes again.

[F.O.Bean]

at least you could get baked after this happened

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Bean! 

I was not searched when I was busted but it would not have mattered. One cop did open my eyeglass case when looking in my small gear bag.

Did you take any pictures?  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=47947.0

[bconnolly]

As far as video goes though, I've never appreciated it.  I guess if there were a good song or two, or a particularly interesting guest player, sure, but otherwise just get great audio.

I don't know... from an archivist's perspective I believe the video is just as important, if not more so, to get video as it is to get audio.  As an appreciator of live footage, though, video is something I'm a strong believer in.  There's something about seeing a band interact with each other in a live setting.  There's also a visual aspect of a lot of musical performances that is absolutely necessary in order to get the message.  RE: XBXRX

Beginning of the show:


End of the show:

[rdflash]

i prefer video to see all the antics.  however, i think that good audio provides a much greater worth than shitty stealth video, or shitty video from tripod if it includes the following:

1.  the band is all white, but since the lighting is bad it looks like the lil' scrappy show i went to couple months ago.
2.  everytime somebody moves and turns - it looks like the Disney Light Show every night at Epcot.
3.  ass-atrocious audio that sounds so bad, my old Play Skool recorder out does it (btw, i loved that thing)
4.  its so bad and blurry that it makes my head hurt and reminds me of staring into a keilidoscope for 2 hours or so (sp. on the 'scope and the time depending on actually lenght of the show).

**i like video, but not shitty video -- if its shitty, its a waste of time!

Also, DMB pisses me off b/c if they are so worried about getting pimped on Ebay and being able to release LIVE @ Central Park professional quality.  they feel if some lil' guy sells it -- they will lose money.  bullshit!!

Their ticket prices are generally around $40-50 for the worse seat in the house.

They tour all year and their new stuff is sub-par at the most.

By looking at all this stuff, I concure that they are selfish bastards who make a shit ton of money.  The end. by me. period

[Sloan Simpson]

no matter how gay the band might be and its narking fans.  This may be my last DMB show too. 

In light of this, why were you shooting video then?  Just to make yourself feel cool? 

[guitard]

Next time, just leave. They can not do anything to you - they will scare you, try to get information out of you, try to take a picture of you, try to take (steal) tapes- they can't do shit, just leave. Not to say I haven't made the same mistakes before but if I ever get nailed again there's no way I'm giving up my 7 dollar extra blank tapes plus most of the show so the fatass in front of the Starland Ballroom can enjoy a video. You don't actually think the band gets it? What actually shocks me is how the cop sided with them, technically videotaping a show is not illegal - all the venue has in its power to do is to make you stop or leave.

Depending on the circumstances, this is a lot easier said than done.  Some of the security guys think they are almighty and can do whatever they want to you (to include beating the shit out of you).  Sure ~ you might be able to actually press charges later on and make a big issue out of it.  But...

1.  You just got your ass beat.
2.  You have made your identity known to everyone - probably will even get your name and picture in the paper.  Good luck sneaking a cam into a local arena after that.

And in this case - as you said - the cops were on security's side.

I once almost got the shit beat out of me for sneaking into the GA section with a "borrowed" GA ticket.  Our group had two GA tickets and several non-GA tickets.  One person brought the two GA tickets up from the floor and one by one we all tried to get down to the GA section.  I can't remember how security figured it out, but they did and I just ran like hell.  They caught me and (one on each arm) and they were threatening to break my arms - and I've no doubt they would have if I hadn't begged for mercy.

Sometimes you just have to play along with the security assholes' game.

[guitard]

I've found asshole fans to be as, if not more annoying than security/managers/etc.  Seems they take it upon themselves to either annoy/report tapers, or hassle them for copies.

I love it when someone sitting near me "hassles" me for a copy.  The first thing I do is tell them that I'll gladly give them a copy - just provide me an email address.  And then I tell them, "It's really, really important that I don't get caught, or else you won't get a copy of the show.  So please be on the lookout for security and let me know if you see any coming because I need to concentrate on filming so I can get a nice shot."

I've had people go to great lengths to protect me after promising them a copy of the show.  One time a waitress saw me filming and immediately started heading for the secuity office.  A guy to whom I'd promised a copy of the show chased her down, bribed her with a $20, and a promised her nice tips for the rest of the night.  She gladly accepted.

Instead of looking upon them as adversaries - befriend them and make them your security guards.

[gngrbrdman13]

Bean! 

I was not searched when I was busted but it would not have mattered. One cop did open my eyeglass case when looking in my small gear bag.

Did you take any pictures?  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=47947.0

Freelunch you take the cake!   I am laughing so hard right now at the fact you took those shots!!!  Also they were threatening me with assault so I figured if I did go to jail they would search me.  If there is a next time I will take pictures!

gewang is right there was no way that I was running this time.   I have run before however, they got things figured out at the Wachovia pretty tight.  I had an entourage of security.

Sloan Simpson:  I dont need to do anything to feel cool..coolness exudes itself from my pores.  If you must know I was doing it because I like the rush of getting away with something I am not suppose to be doing.  Also, I know a lot of people dig DMB.

Mojomonkee:  I have not been fortunate as you to see one band member beat another on guitar however, it almost makes me want to retract my statement of quitting video.

Thanks to all of you for making me feel a little better about this situation!  Peace and dont get busted but if you do take pics like Freelunch...

[gngrbrdman13]

Freelunch you take the cake!   I am laughing so hard right now at the fact you took those shots!!!  Also they were threatening me with assault so I figured if I did go to jail they would search me.  If there is a next time I will take pictures!

Thanks. After things cooled down and they asked me to let them take pics of my gear, I was thinking "oh man, I just gotta get pics of them taking pics of my stuff for ts!"

Hey, note the nbox in the pics!  That's Swanny's old nbox.  Gotta love gear with a *history*.

I have the audio of the bust. I have been waiting a suitable cooling off period so my posting isn't an "in their face".

Freelunch:  You have the audio too?  You just gotsta share that when you feel right about it...Your post started off my day right thanks brah!  When are we going to run those comps?  We should figure some times out at the beginning of the year.  I just bought a V2 as well to add into the mix...

[GNRArnold]

Another thing I forgot to add is its always good to have somebody with you when stealth videotaping- not so much for looking out but if you do get caught, security is less likely to "beat you" since you have a witness with you.