Topic: Advice sought: convincing a festival to allow taping?

[shaggy]

If one band sponsors you and gives you an all-access pass to record them,  everything should be pretty wide open once you are there and you can then negotiate more on the spot with other acts, etc.

This is an approach I have taken while in Japan.  Best situation is to get some names and email addresses from people here on ts.com.  This way you will get your gear in, no matter what.

Sounds like taping in Oz is a pain in the bum.  I lived in Melbourne for two years (a block away from the Punter's Club and next door to the Evelyn Hotel) and I never knew anyone who taped.  Once they understand the culture of taping, maybe things will get better.  Be a diplomat, do not have the attitude of entitlement.  Can you imagine being able to tape Big Day Out?  What a dream that would be!

[whatboutbob]

Thank you everyone for your feedback thus far.  Am currently working on the band route.  The entire festival is already video'd by a audio-visual school (organised by the promoter).  Am also considering trying to get in with them.  Of all the bands listed above, does anyone have any "targets" they'd suggest i hit?

[MPB]

I may be there Friday & will stealth

[flipp]

If you get the opportunity, talk to Kevin Welch. He's very taper friendly and has gotten board acces for me on a few occasions. Kieran and Fats have had no problems with me taping them either. May be one way to at least get a foot in the door, so to speak.

< might be easier to talk to Kevin at one of his other dates before Byron Bay, check kevinwelch.com for his other Ausssie dates to see if he is playing near you >

[powermonkey]

If the fest is in Byron Bay, then I'd be surprised if it wasn't being recorded for both audio and video by folks from SAE - the School Of Audio Engineering, which has it's HQ in Byron Bay.

It's a bit random, but maybe if you got in touch with the folks at SAE you could blag a few students to help out (therefore helping wih the idea of approaching the organisers with a view to 'archiving' the whole event rather than just taping a few acts). I went to the SAE in London, and there were always students looking for opportunities.

Might be worth checking out!

[whatboutbob]

flipp: thanks for the info on Kevin - I'm hoping to catch his Brisbane gig just before Byron...so well see what happens.

powermonkey: yup...tis indeed SAE that records video (and at least some audio) for the fest. not sure how i'd go about hitting 'em up tho...?

[powermonkey]

flipp: thanks for the info on Kevin - I'm hoping to catch his Brisbane gig just before Byron...so well see what happens.

powermonkey: yup...tis indeed SAE that records video (and at least some audio) for the fest. not sure how i'd go about hitting 'em up tho...?

There should be some way of contacting the powers that be at SAE via their website:   http://www.saebyronbay.com/contact.php - ask nicely and I'm sure they'll get back to you and point you in the right direction.

[stevetoney]

For some reason, I can't figure out why, the fest is very against taping.  I just can't figure it out.

I think it stems from a paradigm that's propagated in the media that taping is inherently bad and also that by taping, you're supposedly automatically violating laws and copyrights.  So the organizers therefore take the easy road and publicly post their opposition so that anyone that may feel compelled in the future to 'kick ass take names' won't look to the festival organizers as being their scapegoat for whatever (insert reason).

To correct this I think we need to inform these organizers so they can get their head out of the sand.  I think it's mostly an issue of ignorance to the laws and overly conservative decision making. 

Maybe a good way to do it is to show them sites like All Good, where their web site specifically states that tapers are welcome.  I'm not sure if there are other festivals that encourage tapers, but if there are, then we should trumpet those festivals to other festival organizers as being well-informed and forward looking.

Another way might be to let them know which specific bands have policies that allow taping by showing them links to the specific statements, while also showing them the specific law in California (or wherever the festival is located) that states that if a band gives permission, then there are no copyright violations.

Of course, at the same time, as someone already suggested, there probably also has to be a commitment on the part of the tapers to somehow show good faith to the organizers that the rigs will be taken down when the bands that DON'T allow taping hit the stage.  That's not gonna prevent stealthing, but even having a policy prohibiting taping doesn't prevent stealthing, so there's really no difference there.

Steve

[huffy]

SHOW THEM ANYTHANG ABOUT WANNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OR BONEAROO and their ability to make any $ much less $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$;^)

Ok, so I realise I have next to no chance, but a guy's gotta try.

This coming Easter, for the 5th year running, I'll be hitting up the Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival (Australia).

The festival is not, and never has been, taper-friendly, despite featuring many taper-friendly artists year-in, year-out.  After only the first announcement this year there's already quite a number of taper-friendly artists that I'd love to record.  I've not bothered trying previously, but I figure it can't hurt to ask.

The one (thin) positive I've got going for me is that I've a passing acquaintance with some of the festival's organisers/promoters having taped some of their touring artists' gigs in previous years (with their permission).  This should mean my email will at least get read - but i'm not holding my breath past that.

So what should I write, apart from 'please let me tape, because taping rocks'...cos i'm sure that'll work?  Any thoughts and tips would be appreciated.

The festival faq has this:
=======================================
Am I allowed to bring a camera to the Festival?

Yes you can, but please note that only small lens still cameras are permitted, no video cameras, professional still cameras or recording equipment. You will not gain entry to the site whilst in possession of the above and will be asked to return them to your vehicle, tent or accommodation.
=======================================

More info about the festival available here: http://www.bluesfest.com.au , but the line-up thus far (split roughly into those artists i know are TF / unknown) is:

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Dave Matthews Band
John Mayer
John Butler Trio
Alo (Animal Liberation Orchestra)
Fishbone
Gomez
Xavier Rudd
Ben Kweller
The Roots
Gogol Bordello

Taj Mahal (maybe TF?)

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Missy Higgins
Wolfmother
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Bonnie Raitt
Bo Diddley
Tony Joe White
Lee Scratch Perry
Kasey Chambers
Fat Freddys Drop
Sierra Leones Refugee All Stars
Fred Eaglesmith
Kieran Kane & Kevin Welch With Fats Kaplin
Feist
The Waifs
Amos Lee
Flogging Molly

Wilco's also rumoured to be in the 2nd announcement...

[flipp]

Now that the festival is over, did you have any luck getting gear in and recording?

[whatboutbob]

Just got back from the fest. Didn't end up having any luck with any of the bands, direct to the festival organisers or through SAE, so I just wore my hat for the taper-friendly bands that I wanted to tape. Got a couple of Flecktones sets, Gomez, ALO w/ Jack Johnson guesting.

Will try again next year. *sigh*