Okay so I’ve done a few concerts in my short career, I’ve met some really interesting and some really difficult people along the way. (Rockers are the most difficult). So last night I went off to the Coca-Cola Dome in Jozi for The Killers concert- and let me tell you it was one of the most challenging working experiences I’ve had. Let me firstly say these guys are a big deal, they’re a great band. They sing songs that will forever hold fond memories of my wild, fun varsity days- that coming from someone who doesn’t really enjoy rock. My preference is more urban style music. These guys however are cool and I really do enjoy them. When I first found of about their tour details, I was ecstatic. I ‘youtubed’ concert performances, watched interviews etc and from what I saw, we were all in for a treat. For fans at the Dome, I’m sure you all rocked out and enjoyed, but for me the experience was slightly different. Here’s how the evening went:
3pm- photographers are told that they’re unfortunately not allowed to take photos anymore. This is a direct order from management, which therefore means the band. They have an official photographer. EPIC #FAIL. This is the first time I’ve experienced this. Apparently it’s how the industry is moving… well let me tell you, we don’t like using pictures from someone else, we like our own. We have award-winning photographers and often they take better pics and ones that are suitable to our market. Anyways, we’ll deal with the situation.
6:30pm- arrive at the Dome. I have to meet Penny and Dionne of Penny Stein Promotions to collect media accreditation. We have an understanding, we’ve worked together on several other, bigger concerts and festivals in the past so expectations wise, we’re on the same page. Unfortunately I had to delay this meeting, as I was quickly ushered to entrance 5 for my interview with Dave Keuning of the band. He is the guitarist. I read and watched several interviews with him prior and he seems awesome.
7:30pm- run into the interview. Set up and do interview. Dave is a bit “jet lagged” he tells me. Jet lag sucks. I flew to NYC a couple of weeks back. 17 hours on a cramped plane, economy class. I arrived, caught a subway into Manhattan, showered and went straight into a press junket. I, too, was jet lagged, but I gave it my best shot and the interview went well. Hey it’s not often one gets to go to The Big Apple, so I made the mose of it. My interview with Dave will be up in the next few days. Will post it when it’s live.
8pm- Zebra and Giraffe open up for The Killers. These guys are representing this country so well. Man oh man I get goosebumps thinking about how the crowd responded to them on stage. Big up Z&G.
8:30pm- go to the sound desk, where I am allowed to film from. I set up and I’m patiently waiting for the band to come on. The vibe is awesome thanks to Heineken, Penny Stein Promotions, Highveld and Big Concerts. One of the international production team guys comes up to me and says “You can’t be here”. I politely tell him I have the necessary accred and then he tells me that doesn’t apply, I must move. So I do. No time to waste, it must be done. I move to the area that he tells me too, but because the area isn’t elevated off the ground, my footage now looks like one of those pirated movies where u see people walking across the bottom of the screen. Wonderful. I’ll make it work though, that’s what I do.
9:15pm- the band comes on, the lighting, their stage presence; the yells and cheers from their fans is massive. It’s lekker, I wonder what these guys are thinking- feeling. It must be the best feeling in the world. Now what you wont know is that film crews are only allowed to film the first 90seconds of the first three songs. It’s tight, so you really have to make it worthwhile. There is always a rep counting you down and then you’re politely tapped on the shoulder and told to stop. That’s all good. Only this time, the sound feed (which is being manned by my friendly international production guy) is cut. Abrupt way of saying stop filming. That’s cool, whatever. So come the second song, they forget to switch it back on and because time is limited, I lose half of that song. Awesome! Thanks guy.
So by this stage I’m kinda over the production people. I filmed the third song and then the security decide it’s time to go. GO NOW!!! Get out of front-of-house and put your cameras away. Yes I know that, thanks buddy! I ain’t dumb and I’ve done this before. I swear they really treat you like a criminal sometimes, when in actual fact you’re giving the band promotion.
In terms of the concert and the band’s performance, they were fantastic… really they were. The local organisers were again, on top of things, but then the attitudes of the international team put a dampener on my night. Don’t treat me and the other media guests (invited VIPS I might add) like idiots. It’s for the fans to watch anyway! I don’t usually complain about this sort of thing, but I had to voice my opinion
These rules apply to everyone, and they’re the same rules they’ve had in every other place they’ve toured. Why would you get special treatment?
I don’t want special treatment Sadie… I respect rules, but it’s the manner in which they’re presented that bugs me. If those are the rules, apply them from the beginning not on the night of the concert!
Oh and this is the first time I’ve ever experienced these rules, so it is different to what I’ve experienced before!
My opinion. THanks for yours!
You are a fag jason
haha my captch code is fuch, almost fuck
@ Mr. FUkusin Thanks for the profound statement… Your opinion has been noted!
Way to be misleading. I sort of thought this would be a review of the CONCERT – not just paragraphs of you complaining about their legitimate policies.
Also, they have a really talented photographer that knows the band and the concert and can take wonderful photos. Brandon doesn’t like reviewers to take photos because they often have an agenda- if they don’t like him, they’ll use an unflattering pic. And judging by your bitter post, can’t say I blame him.
did you have to pay for this concert anyway?
also. Dave was probably hung over. but he’s the rockstar, not you.
This is a great article, I didn’t know that people treated media people like that. I’m kinda of afraid now i’m going to school for photography.I understand that those are the rules, but damn they don’t have to treat media people like dumb asses. I would love to take pictures of the Killers especially because they are my favorite band.
Thanks for this blog. I like getting to hear about the background details as sometimes. It’s unfortunate that some of the policies of what the media can and cannot do at shows has changed so much. And for some bands it’s very different than others. I’m a huge fan of the Killers, and I don’t take anything you said personally about them. I hear you. As a business professional, you were there trying to do your job, and your sort of got side tracked by red tape.
As much as I love the Killers, I do not think it’s necessary for anyone to knock you for sharing what happened as well as to call you rude names. You did say that the show was fantastic, and that’s the part that didn’t get lost on me. Furthermore, you don’t promise a review here. You call it ‘your experience’ and that’s what you shared so I appreciate that.
I’m just saying all this as a fan of the Killers I don’t want it to seem that we are all unreasonable are so blinded by our appreciation for the band that we can read something objectively. I have background in journalism so I can appreciate all sides of pretty much anything.
I realize this is a big trip for the band, and of course I would hope they show the best of themselves and over all I think you say they do, but that doesn’t mean that other things don’t happen to take away from that experience. If the guitarist was jet-lagged and didnt’ give a good interview, that’s believable and some times those things happen.
I hate people who just say things like ‘he was probably drunk’. I would like to believe that like you said he said, he was jet-lagged. And that has nothing to do with being a rock star– it happens to everyone, and further more, if he were jet-lagged or drunk, it doesn’t matter. If a person does something that’s not cool, it’s not cool. Full stop. So, being drunk isn’t a justification, nor is being a rock star. I say all this and I love Dave Kuening.
And for anyone who reads this and might take it out of context, I’ll just say, it’s my opinion, which I’m allowed to state, and which are allowed to ignore.
The end.
I meant to say ‘…our appreciation for the band that we can’t read something objectively’
…and, ‘… it’s my opinion, which I’m allowed to state, and which you are allowed to ignore.’
That’s what happens when you type really fast.
Jason, the Killers guys are cool, not so the production crew…. had your same problems with their concerts in Australia. And their photographer, dude, his photos are more than epic#fail.. my 3 year old boy snaps greater pics!
I said he was probably “hung-over,” actually. There is a difference.
I saw them in France in July and was quite annoyed when I got the local paper with a special pull out section of all the groups that were at the three day festival, only to find no Killers photos. Lots of Bruce Springsteen who they were supporting on the opening night, but none of Brandon and the boys.
I then read that they had banned all photos of the band unless they were from their own chap and it looked really bad. Talk about precious! If the likes of The Boss is happy to have his photo in the local Brittany paper why should the Killers not like it.
Having said that I reckon – as indeed you said – that the band are brilliant live and I have all their cds and the new DVD. But I found it very interesting hearing your view on things from a different perspective. It seems that some of their production team are a little heavy-handed sometimes.
i wonder if you and me for that matter always treat every body with respect – the times that we remember that we have not – was it because we are rude people or maybe in a hurry ? i would have to agree and except i am not the rock star…here! sorry… We saw them in CT last night WOW!
@ivor The thing is I don’t go out of my way to disrespect people, especially in my professional capacity Ivor. So It comes as a bit of a shock when this isn’t returned! I’m glad you enjoyed the concert… They’re a great band, but once again I’m shedding light on my experience!
i don’t want to argue with you but in my little world everything is not perfect and you know what i am so grateful for that because that gives me … must i go on – on balance…?
@Ivor in my little world, I like to be treated the way I treat others. If you want to be rude rather just not allow me to come through in the first place… all parties concerned would then be happy! I know it’s all about balance, but it’s also just basic respect!
Jason, let’s start our own band get famous and then let’s see if we’d be able to control all the detail – we’d probably be described as heartless and rude as our skin thickens in our attempts to satisfy everyone and then after around number 75 or so it all becomes a little boring [the crowd the interviews etc] and we become a little blunt here and there … not to mention certain members of our staff who work much longer hours than we do – but they came to hear us live…
Here in CT we had a dj on kfm radio a few years ago who thought it was his right and duty to make comments on how he was treated at restaurants that weekend – I thought he abused his position…he thought “wait a minute don’t you know who i am…”. Was his behaviour professional? My reaction was “spin some records man … just do your job for goodness sakes”.
Something’s should just not be said for our own sake, anyway I got my own stories but who cares…!
Sorry Jason, I have to say i hear a little sour grapes there my friend anyway the point being “yes, we are all human…”
I tell you I am not impressed either, I mean no one recognized me and my wife last night – but again WOW!
If I was to get to a stage where people recognised me Ivor and people wanted to do interviews with me, it’s an experience like this that I will hold onto as a reminder not to act like that. I look at someone like Michael Jackson in the doci/film “This Is It”. He was involved from start to finish in the production, working with all concerned- and he could’ve easily been an utter chop, but no! If a band has no interest in working with the greater team, then that’s their perogative… I maintain, it’s a respect issue rude, whether you’re a band member or a production assistant. Sour grapes? Not so much, opinion? Definitely… I go back to what I’ve told a few others, you have your opinion and I have mine!
I’m sorry u and your wife weren’t recognised Ivor, perhaps you’ll have to throw a diva moment… one that is memorable at the next concert you attend
Thanks for the interesting discussion… I’ve enjoyed it!
A propos the dialogue that you and Ivor are having I feel you haven’t covered one of the basic points. Why have your own photographer and ban any photos being published of the band by anyone else?
You would think that someone as good looking as Brandon would be secure with his appearance. I can’t imagine him taking a bad shot to be honest – and if that is the reason they ban photographers – well I think it is a pretty poor one
@Julie Well Julie why have a photographic department then if we have no choice but to use pics from others, it’s a bit pointless I feel….
I agree, I don’t think Brandon could take a bad photo, but presume they’re worried about some of his his actions on stage (or that band for that matter) being used out of context. I don’t know about most, but I’m about the craft and that is music… work= filming the music concert. Same applies to pictures!
I should have made myself clearer – sorry
When I said *Why have your own photographer * – I meant the Killers as an organisation, not you and your paper.
I also had no idea that people such as yourself filming the band had a limited time frame. As for draconian measures at the July festival in France none of the festival goers were allowed to take cameras – not just for the Killers but for any of the bands.
It’s France’s biggest shindig (Vieilles Charrues) but talk about a dictatorship!
Some of you commenting need to READ PROPERLY! Jason said “In terms of the concert and the band’s performance, they were fantastic… really they were” in terms of The Killers. He has an issue with the international crew.
And furthermore, he is doing his job, to provide you with good footage for The Killers Fans.
Please take the above into consideration when commenting.
The photographer in question is Brandon’s brother in law. I think that answers a few questions. And a few underneath shots while singing can give the fittest man an appearance of a double chin. Brandon is vain. not really a big shocker. Does anyone like a bad picture of themselves spread around? The Killers is a band.. and also a brand.. they want to control how they are marketed. Makes sense to me.
plus, getting a bit deeper than you guys probably care to.. but brandon was kind of chubby in his youth, and a lot of the other kids made fun of him for his last name being Flowers. A lot of people carry that stuff around with them even after they grow and change in appearance.. or become famous. Maybe that’s why Brandon wants to be in control of HIS image…
———-
“Everyone has an agenda. If you like me, that’s super and you might put a great (live) picture up. If you don’t like us, you won’t. I’ve seen people do both. That’s just how it is,” he says.
“So why not only put good ones out?
“That’s my motto. It’s my photographer doing it, I get to go through them. It makes sense to me, I don’t know why it doesn’t to everyone else.”
Is it the height of vanity – only issuing approved concert photos?
“I guess, but (as a photographer) there’s things you can do to a person when they’re screaming their guts out and singing their life away on stage.
“You can make it look funny. I don’t think that makes me any more vain than the next person because I don’t want people to control me.
“That’s them being more controlling than me if they want to do that stuff.”
There were whispers that the ban on external photographers started after Flowers saw an unflattering photo – he had a double chin – printed in a magazine.
“I don’t shoot up,” Flowers says of his mythical multiple chin. “I tend to eat.”
—-
it does make sense to me… but it is his image.. it’s his band’s image.. they want to be portrayed in the best light possible. of course, some could argue that his somewhat control-freak tendencies are a turn-off.. but hey.. least he looks mighty fine.
and for anyone who is wondering- that rule really only applies to the media. Of course, as a fan, you can take pictures during the concert with your digital camera.
Alison – that’s interesting about Tana’s brother being the band’s photographer. I guess that must make her feel a bit better (having family to watch that those female fans don’t get too close).
I was quite surprised the other day to follow a link on Brandon’s Facebook page to his web page and what photo came up – a big picture of Tana, alone, as if to remind fans of her presence
(Jason, sorry to take over your blog like this)
Go wild Julie…. this convo is interesting and half of the point of a blog (for me at least) is to discuss interesting topics!