Audience members unconfortable with video recording

[guy n. cognito]

We can turn off our camera but we can't control patrons who video.

Maybe not, but if you do have some that you know, you might ask them to tone it down.

Also, a piece of gaffers tape over the "recording" light will make the camera blend in more.

 

[rtslinger]

We try to record the band performance, sometimes fans and people in attendance are included as happenstance.
But we do not set up a video recorded to just catch the crowd purposely.

 

[duff beer]

Can you imagine going to a bar as a patronand having 4-5 cameras recording you all night? I can't. My guess is that the volume of cameras makes it conspicuous and overwhelming.

I would expect that most bars have at least a couple cameras running...with, of course, at least 1 of them aimed at the till. It takes a high level of naivety/stupidity to operate a bar without security cameras.

That being said, I'm fine with security cameras, but I don't want to be in a band's promo video.

 

[gln1955]

I would expect that most bars have at least a couple cameras running...with, of course, at least 1 of them aimed at the till. It takes a high level of naivety/stupidity to operate a bar without security cameras.

That being said, I'm fine with security cameras, but I don't want to be in a band's promo video.

Sure. Security camera footage doesn't end up on the web, or on the evening news, unless something bad happens.

 

[sean_on_bass]

We use it primarily to record the band, but the space in fronto of the stage is in there too.

Funny, I started another thread awile back on band promotion and the consensus was that getting good video of the audience dancing was one of the beat ways to attract attention from clubs and booking agents. We don't have a person to video for us so setting up a camera is th only option. :-/

Yeah but there's a right way to do things and wrong way to do things. For one, you don't need to capture footage at every gig. You do it once, and if you get good footage, that's all you need. You would also have a professional person doing it for you, to get good angles that DON'T feature the audience.

If you are trying to get a real professional video made of the whole experience, you need to indicate that on the event ads/tickets(WE ARE FILMING THIS FOR A PROMO). The biggest part of the issue is that you may be using the audience, without their permission, to essentially be in your commercial. Wouldn't you want to know, and to consent to, being in a commercial on TV? I would.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Maybe not, but if you do have some that you know, you might ask them to tone it down.

Seriously? We are a little 3 pc band playing in a neighborhood club. So we are supposed to tell people not to video us with their phones cause someone else might get in the video who doesn't want to??? Did you think this all the way throiugh????

 

[Eric Swaim]

Personally I see nothing wrong with it as long as your not doing something wrong. If you feel you have to do something you don't anyone else to see, then stay home. Cameras are part of our life and will be for a very long time. I audio tape our gigs and rarely video, but when I do its always on the stage.

Good luck

 

[guy n. cognito]

Seriously? We are a little 3 pc band playing in a neighborhood club. So we are supposed to tell people not to video us with their phones cause someone else might get in the video who doesn't want to??? Did you think this all the way throiugh????

I sure did. If you're a 3 piece in a little neighborhood bar, but you have 4-5 cameras rolling all the time, it's overwhelming. It's ridiculous, actually. To the extent that you know any of the "videographers", you might tell them it's not necessary....

 

[HolmeBass]

If you are in public you cannot expect privacy. On the other hand you can't use someone's image for the purposes of advertisement without model release form. I think a quick shot of the whole crowd now and again, just to show people having fun, should be ok. But leaving a camera on them the whole time will just make them uneasy, and you don't want your audience to feel uneasy. And certainly focusing on any one member of the audience would be extremely bad form, and if you wanted to use an image of just one or 2 to 3 people having fun you'd need to get their express permission.

 

[dgrizzly]

It's a bit of a sensitive subject. We use a clamp attachment to set up a go pro above the audience, facing the stage. That way, it gets our full performance and some crowd enjoyment, but we're only filming the back of the audience's heads. Nobody seems to mind this approach.

 

[bassfran]

Can you imagine going to a bar as a patronand having 4-5 cameras recording you all night? I can't. My guess is that the volume of cameras makes it conspicuous and overwhelming.

Guy,
Not sure what it's like down in Nashtown but here in Chicago most every venue has security cameras on the door, bar, registers, offices, etc.. And the signs informing patrons of this are often tough to find if posted at all. You are likely being filmed at every show you play or attend.

(I know this isn't the OP's basic question, just wanted to point this out. Sry for the derail.)

 

[Bunk McNulty]

We can turn off our camera but we can't control patrons who video.

Whether people have rights to privacy in public places is not your problem. All you have to do is put yourself in the other person's shoes. Would you want to have all these cameras running at a place where you go to relax and have fun? I'm guessing you would not.

 

[gln1955]

It's a bit of a sensitive subject. We use a clamp attachment to set up a go pro above the audience, facing the stage. That way, it gets our full performance and some crowd enjoyment, but we're only filming the back of the audience's heads. Nobody seems to mind this approach.

This seems the best approach if you must shoot video.

 

[RichardW]

Trouble is a venue is NOT a public place.

I'm not a lawyer, but I think this is incorrect. Yes, a venue is not a "public space" like a public park or the sidewalk, but it is a commercial space that invites people in and so I think the expectation of privacy is different. I don't think anyone going to a venue could argue that they expected their attendance to be private. If one doesn't want to be seen with drink in hand, bloodshot eyes, and hanging on the shoulder of a hot chick, then one should probably not engage in those behaviors in a public place. The fact that every living soul is walking around with a camera in their pockets only exacerbates the issue. There's also a pretty high likelihood that the venue itself could have surveillance cameras capturing everything on the dance floor. Plus--think of every concert film you've ever seen. Do you suppose the film makers got permission from everyone in the crowd?

 

[guy n. cognito]

Guy,
Not sure what it's like down in Nashtown but here in Chicago most every venue has security cameras on the door, bar, registers, offices, etc.. And the signs informing patrons of this are often tough to find if posted at all. You are likely being filmed at every show you play or attend.

(I know this isn't the OP's basic question, just wanted to point this out. Sry for the derail.)

Yes, yes, even us southerners have cameras everywhere. We also have tall buildings and paved streets.

There's a palpable difference between discreet installed security cameras and 4-5 cameras and videographers spending the night video the band and the crowd. The latter is going to feel more obtrusive.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

I sure did. If you're a 3 piece in a little neighborhood bar, but you have 4-5 cameras rolling all the time, it's overwhelming. It's ridiculous, actually. To the extent that you know any of the "videographers", you might tell them it's not necessary....

Ok, so for short intervals (song length) at various times during our last show a number of different people recorded us and others. Absolutely nothing we can do or should do. If someone is uncomfortable then either get out of camera range or leave.

 

[JRA]

You are likely being filmed at every show you play or attend.

and when you enter the club, leave the club, walk home or to the parking lot, go to the grocery store, mail a letter, speed on the road.......

i think RichardW is on to the crux of the matter.

There's a palpable difference between discreet installed security cameras and 4-5 cameras and videographers spending the night video the band and the crowd.

that's why the OP makes the announcement on FB, twitter, yada yada, and at the gig: "hey we're videotaping tonight! yay!" the videotaping of the band, by the band, is not an infringement. indeed: it's an opportunity for everyone (patrons) to be a part of an 'event'.

If someone is uncomfortable then either get out of camera range or leave.

i think you've covered it!

 

[guy n. cognito]

Ok, so for short intervals (song length) at various times during our last show a number of different people recorded us and others. Absolutely nothing we can do or should do. If someone is uncomfortable then either get out of camera range or leave.

Ah...now it's for short intervals....

So, how many people are complaining? One time or ongoing?

 

[40Hz]

Regardless of our own opinion on the subject (which means absolutely nothing btw), there may be legal implications depending on where you're performing and/or what you're going to use the video for.

I'd definitely check on that. And if you do record, I'd still let people know you're videoing every so often just to cover your ass.

Last time I saw the Flecktones there was an announcement right up front from the venue that the Flecktones would be recording the show and that there might be some shots taken of the audience. They venue then said anybody who didn't want to entertain the possibility of being recorded during the course of the performance was asked to leave the theater before the show started and they'd be given a full refund of their ticket price.

 

[lfmn16]

At our last gig I received comments that some people were uncomfortable with being on video. We run a camcorder on a tripod off to the side and people take phone videos at various times. Are they out of touch or is this a legit gripe?

If someone is uncomfortable then either get out of camera range or leave.

Did you really want feedback on your question, or only confirmation of an opinion you already had?