Recording GnR at live shows

[Siamese Democracy]

In recent years there has been tons of fan videos uploaded to YouTube.  Some now are even in HD and are really are becoming more and more high quality.  My question is what is the bands official policy with this?   Part of me thinks it is stealing.  GNR are not compensated when these videos that are out on YouTube.  The other side of me is thankful I can enjoy shows I am not at.  I believe I have seen the GnR Facebook post fan videos from time to time.  Does anyone know the official policy in regards to this?

[Gavgnr]

Technically not allowed I think, but in this day and age with smartphones it's surely impossible to police

[Axlspants]

What gets to me is when someone spends all their time recording the show on their iphone and not enjoying a show. I went to see Kings of Leon and a bloke stood in-front of me the whole time recording the show on his phone, he didn't seem to enjoy it because he was absorbed in the recording of it.

Live music is about being in the moment. When I saw Guns at Leeds festival, I was sweeped off my feet (literally!) when they did WTTJ I was caught in a moment. This I Love was also a special moment and one that I wouldn't have enjoyed half as much if I'd spent the whole song looking at the band through my phone screen.

You can't capture those special moments but you can live them and then they will always be in your heart just not your phone memory!

[jarmo]

It's a lost battle if you're gonna be against people taking photos and/or video. Or even audio.

Small pocket cameras and mobile phones these days are capable of recording quality that is far better than anything that was that portable only a few years ago.







/jarmo

[ITARocker]

Personally watchin' so many people recording fuckin videos all concert long it makes me sad. Enjoy the show, I don't need to know you were there from your videos, pictures etc.. People nowadays seems like they do almost everything not because they enjoy it but because they want to have a story to tell.

One of the saddest thing I've ever seen it happened last april in san peter square where a bunch of people used their IPAD to record the pope on the widescreen  -_-(fuck. why would u need that if there's a fuckin worldwide streaming ?)

Anyway, people can do whatever they want...but i'll just never get it 

[Limulus]

an unofficial semi-professional recording (video + audio) is a very nice souvenir for a show you've attend or which is some important for you. keep in mind memories fade away over the years but video doesnt lie 
also "releases" for this band are such a rare thing anyway - which makes good quality recordings kinda needed for fans.

do we need crappy shaky cellphone recordings? i dont think so but thats the decision of the phone's owners.

[NaturalLight]

What gets to me is when someone spends all their time recording the show on their iphone and not enjoying a show. I went to see Kings of Leon and a bloke stood in-front of me the whole time recording the show on his phone, he didn't seem to enjoy it because he was absorbed in the recording of it.

Live music is about being in the moment. When I saw Guns at Leeds festival, I was sweeped off my feet (literally!) when they did WTTJ I was caught in a moment. This I Love was also a special moment and one that I wouldn't have enjoyed half as much if I'd spent the whole song looking at the band through my phone screen.

You can't capture those special moments but you can live them and then they will always be in your heart just not your phone memory!

Completely agree. I've recorded a few snippets here and there and convinced my wife to record a song or two, but quite frankly, I'm too busy pounding beers, cheering and generally rocking out to be screwing with recording a show.

[One.In.A.Million]

Back when I first started following GN'R in 2006, I used to record silly amounts of video and take too many photos, and I regret it looking back. So during last years tours in the UK and Europe I promised myself to cut it down and enjoy the show, and those memories are much more vivid because I actually "lived" the show. But I still have all of my media backed up on a few USB's that I'll treasure forever..

[Nightrained]

I must have about 100 GNR bootlegs stored on my hard drive, so I can't say I agree with you! 

Personally, I haven't taken any video except when Duff came out on stage with GNR in 2010. I take photo's though, but usually there's no point if im not near the front and even then it's during the more quiet songs like Nov rain, Patience, any other song there is no point and it'll get knocked out of your hands.

[banachkevin]

I've been to three gnr shows once in the front row and I have taken zero videos out of respect for the band I took one photo of axl's back while he played november rain lol.

[Siamese Democracy]

I have a GNR ticket stub from 2001 that says no cameras.   Digital cameras weren't very prominent then.   

[LIGuns]

It's downright annoying!,that being said I've been caught up in the moment a couple shows that I have been fortunate enough being front row..I snapped several photos and recorded parts of songs, but 98% o' the time I was enjoying the show ca,era free...

[dolphins]

I find it difficult to be able to move to the music when someone is recording as you bump into them which disrupts their recording. You feel you can't put your arms up or sing along as you're likely to end up on youtube with your terrible singing to their video.
While in the audience you can't hear your own voice singing, but it does get picked up by a recording next to you - kind of spoils how involved you want to get in the show. 

[jarmo]

Some people would rather watch their favorite song through the screen of their phone, same people like to get so drunk they won't remember the show the day after and some would rather talk to their friend all through the show... Different people, different preferences...




/jarmo

[Alan]

before camera phones became prominent I used to take about 40/50 pictures of each show I went to, then out of those there would be a few that were useable and i'd share them on forums like this.

I always found you don't need to spend a lot of time focusing on taking a picture at a gig, you just point and shoot and a fair few will come out looking good.

[jarmo]

I always found you don't need to spend a lot of time focusing on taking a picture at a gig, you just point and shoot and a fair few will come out looking good.

Sure, but it all depends what you're trying to achieve.

If you just want a memory of the gig or if you're actually after something else.


For example, if you want a picture of a specific kind of moment, and you don't know when it might happen, you'll have to focus the whole show waiting for it....





/jarmo

[The Wight Gunner]

I always found you don't need to spend a lot of time focusing on taking a picture at a gig, you just point and shoot and a fair few will come out looking good.

Sure, but it all depends what you're trying to achieve.

If you just want a memory of the gig or if you're actually after something else.


For example, if you want a picture of a specific kind of moment, and you don't know when it might happen, you'll have to focus the whole show waiting for it....





/jarmo

And if it's OMG then you'd be very disappointed. Forever.....

[Gunsguy]

I always found you don't need to spend a lot of time focusing on taking a picture at a gig, you just point and shoot and a fair few will come out looking good.

Sure, but it all depends what you're trying to achieve.

If you just want a memory of the gig or if you're actually after something else.


For example, if you want a picture of a specific kind of moment, and you don't know when it might happen, you'll have to focus the whole show waiting for it....





/jarmo

Hence the reason I take very few if any pictures at any shows, I prefer to enjoy the show myself

[raindogs70]

I think as long as it doesn't bother people around you watching the show, it's not a big deal.

I'm glad when people have done it and posted it, but I paid to enjoy a concert and not worry about documenting it.

[volcano62]

Personally watchin' so many people recording fuckin videos all concert long it makes me sad. Enjoy the show,

This.

I don't take videos, post updates etc...

Besides a few pictures I enjoy the show.