Green Day n' Photography

[Spudderbudder]

Just received word from my venue's box office that they've changed the camera policy, albeit I received an e-mail earlier today informing me that only professional and video cameras were not to be permitted into the arena. Now they say that all cameras are not permitted, but the woman informed me that "...but ultimately it's up to Green Day whether or not they allow certain cameras." Ok, big question...in general, do our boys from Green Day appreciate and allow their fans to take photos of them when they're playing. I would think yes since I've seen several posted but I'm not entirely sure. Especially for those who get up front and are right in front of security.

I recall attending an Evanescence concert in the fall of 2006 at First Avenue in MN. The signs outside the doors said NO CAMERAS ALLOWED. My father and I risked it but somehow we managed to go by security no sweat...with a Canon Powershot S3IS (can I say...professional camera look-alike?). We didn't really try to hide it and I think others were allowed to bring their cameras in too. Should I take my venue's urgent change in camera policy and leave my camera in the car for the GD concert?

[permanent_insanity]

I'd say take a disposable camera or two in

[Wolfdemon]

I can't say for sure if the guys appreciate it or not..But I can speak from experience that cameras flashing all over the place get mighty distracting and a pain in the ass after a bit...

[Sharmellow]

The band didn't seem to mind when people were taking pictures of them during the show at Sask.

[farley drexel hatcher]

Billie actually tells people to put the cameras and phones away at the start of most shows, as he wants everyone to join in and not be distracted/worrying about taking photos. Also because "this is our moment" XD. Not everyone listens to him obviously and plenty of people have taken photos. But i'd say take a snapshot camera or disposable, anything that looks professional might make security suspicious.

[Sharmellow]

Billie actually tells people to put the cameras and phones away at the start of most shows, as he wants everyone to join in and not be distracted/worrying about taking photos. Also because "this is our moment" XD. Not everyone listens to him obviously and plenty of people have taken photos. But i'd say take a snapshot camera or disposable, anything that looks professional might make security suspicious.

He never told us to put them away. I kinda wish he did though, so many people had them out.

[TheBullwinkle]

Because I'm not willing to have my expensive camera taken away, I always hide a disposable camera in the crotch of my pants.

Some security guards will take cameras away from people on the floor, some won't. But judging from the crowd pictures we're getting from the recent shows, I'm going to say that you're safe to bring a camera.

[Spudderbudder]

Thank you everyone!

[Tripe]

I'd skip taking your expensive Canon and take a smaller one or a disposable if you must. It would be a shame to have to go back to your car with it if it is not allowed in at the last minute.

It's no secret that the band doesn't really love all the photo taking and videotaping. I have heard they heartily dislike people using a flash in their faces, so try to go without if you are going to be up front and if your camera will take a decent shot without. They very much want to see faces out in the crowd, real eyes shining and mouths singing along, not camera lenses and telephones. It's probably very disconcerting to look out to the crowd and see a sea of reflective lenses.

I think BJ especially dislikes the whole shared media/youtube thing. But I think they realize the publicity machine is a must and there have been professional photogs at least at every arena show so far. The photos from Chris Dugan have been excellent.

[fashionvictim86]

Because I'm not willing to have my expensive camera taken away, I always hide a disposable camera in the crotch of my pants.

Me too.

The last time I was at a Green Day concert (same venue as I'm going to this time) the security guards told us that disposable cameras were allowed.

[Jack96]

IM probably gonna take a disposable one and my dads N96 has a pretty good quality video recorder and camera so ill us etaht as well

[VivaLaAla]

I'm only taking my digital camera, which the flash broke anyways. And a disposable. Because I DO want memories from it and stuff, not just the professional camera pictures that people take on the floor. I want my own memories from it and stuff, because the last time I saw Green Day; I didn't even think to take a camera and my phone didn't have a camera at the time... and I forgot a lot of the concert because it was almost four years ago; and I lost my journal where I wrote everything down the next day. So I regret that.

But! At the same time, I totally respect Billie and the rest of the band and I sure would be sick of cameras, too. I love them to death, litterally. But you know, it's a hard choice.

But also, I think that Security Guards and the Arenas should allow cameras because people do it anyways and because they probably do the same thing when they go to concerts.

[Mechanical woman]

fist I saw this title I thought it is "Green Day n' pornography"

my dad want to bring his professional camera with him to the show in Vienna. I am also little scared if they allowed us to take it with us. but I must say I would never waste my time with taking photos at Green Day concert

[emmaILGD!]

fist I saw this title I thought it is "Green Day n' pornography"

Phew, I wasn't the only one XD.

I'm going to take my camera, so's my friend. I think we'll just have to do a good job at hiding them. Besides, I'm quite high up in the arena so I doubt anyone will really notice from up there.

[Nova-Caine]

I must be one of the few that doesn't own a camera or take pics at gigs, I get too involved in what's happening, Billie does seem to be getting more and more annoyed with this though, I don't recall him being this bad on the AI tour, anyone?

[Angela.]

I must be one of the few that doesn't own a camera or take pics at gigs, I get too involved in what's happening, Billie does seem to be getting more and more annoyed with this though, I don't recall him being this bad on the AI tour, anyone?

Trust me, you aren't the only one who doesn't own a camera. The more I've thought about it, the more I've come to this conclusion: there's always going to be somebody who can take pictures or videos at the shows. I'll leave it up to them to do it, and I'm just going to enjoy the show. I think BJ just wants to create a sense of intimacy at the shows, and it's kind of difficult to do that when tons of people are taking pictures and videos to upload on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other sites. I mean, try to think of it from his perspective. Back in he 80's and even the 90's, sites like YouTube and MySpace weren't around. Therefore, when BJ went to shows, I'm sure things felt much more personal and intimate for him. At that time, if you weren't at the show, you were out of luck. Sure, there were pictures. But it just wasn't the same. It's not like today, where people can record entire concerts and upload them on the Internet for everybody to see. Personally, I think Billie just wants everybody to enjoy the show and enjoy the music. He just wants everybody to live for the moment and to sing along to the songs and have fun, instead of worrying about taking the perfect picture or getting the best quality possible for recording a video.

[Zalex]

Definitely take it in. Hide it in your shirt or something... but then again I'm a bit biased being a photographer and what not.

[NowhereBound]

I'd say take the chance of taking it in.

[Isabel]

Personally, I love taking pictures at gigs. I know Billie Joe seems to have issues about it, but it really means alot to me, taking quality photographs of my favourite musicians, knowing they're my own. Photographs create the greatest sense of nostalgia for me, so I really enjoy having them to look back over. Professional photos printed in magazines or put up on GDC just isn't the same. I like the first hand results.

[Nova-Caine]

^^I can understand that but I think what gets Billie is that this is all some kids do the entire show, what's the point to the band actually playing music they could just walk up and down and stand still occasionally.

He wants people to enjoy the show, engage in it, get involved, jump up and down, not stand there missing half of it cos they're too busy messing with their camera's and phone's.

The man gives us his heart and soul every single night he plays, always has and always will, its where he belongs its all he understands, its his form of communicating with us. I don't think he does actually understand the age of the internet.

Last year I remember getting really pissed off with him and actually feeling quite hurt when he made that rant at Pinhead Gunpowder about 'this is our moment fuck em' but now I can totally see where he is coming from.

If I do manage to get there in Rocktober, (operaton allowing) I am going to savour every moment, I even close my eyes at certain moments of a gig and just take in the whole atmosphere, the band, the crowd everything, all the noise together, it gives me goose bumps I have so many memories from so many gigs since I was 13 years old and hardly any photo's. It's all in my head.

x

[Isabel]

I suppose.

But surely if he feels that strongly about it, why not just enforce a camera ban altogether?

[Nova-Caine]

Can you imagine if he enforced a ban? Christ the media would go to town on him, he doesn't make people put them away he just asks, 'this is our moment'. I don't think for one second he's the kind of person that would demand anything like that.