http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/f...d=fb-share&_r=0

So I posted this link on my FB page and got mixed reviews and figured this would be a good topic of debate.

Should clubs, promoters and other venues start or be allowed to ban cameras at their parties?

I think banning cameras is a cool idea. The lack of pictures creates a bit of mysteriousness with the party. Take a look at many of the old school parties at 1015, Circus (2000 - 2004)and even Twilo NY. There are not a lot of pictures that you see but there is sense nostalgia about them. If everyone was taking pictures, we'd just end up seeing a bunch of cracked muther ******s trying to dance. Instead, we wish we were there.

I've always been a fan of leaving the moment for our memories. I'll take pictures at home, at the park or on the toilet but I hate when people bug me about taking pictures.

Thoughts?

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Jaded, old fart is me.

No.

Not even gonna argue about this one. It would be pointless.

quote:

Originally posted by DaveT No. Not even gonna argue about this one. It would be pointless.

cuz your lame

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Jaded, old fart is me.

I was a club photographer from 03-08....

it was fun, the perks were great and the owners loved it when I showed up to their venues.

If you take pictures of the right people and the right people, its can be a great business boost for a venue

however it just seems these days, everyone is takes pics in the clubs and when I see pics of a certain venue, some pics doesn't make the place look like an attractive destination

quote:

Originally posted by Scoops I was a club photographer from 03-08.... it was fun, the perks were great and the owners loved it when I showed up to their venues. If you take pictures of the right people and the right people, its can be a great business boost for a venue however it just seems these days, everyone is takes pics in the clubs and when I see pics of a certain venue, some pics doesn't make the place look like an attractive destination

I agree with you on this. Professional Photogs are cool. It's what they do. I guess my pet peeve is when a DJ starts to play all you see are cell phones up in there air recording the whole thing.

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Jaded, old fart is me.

I don't know. Michelle and I used to be camera whores at clubs but these days its just annoying and we don't take many. And I disagree with the professional photographers. Can't stand them and they are always in the way. Maybe put a bunch of IR bulbs around the club. I think those will mess up the pictures if I'm not mistaken. Dave?

quote:

Originally posted by GPC I don't know. Michelle and I used to be camera whores at clubs but these days its just annoying and we don't take many. And I disagree with the professional photographers. Can't stand them and they are always in the way. Maybe put a bunch of IR bulbs around the club. I think those will mess up the pictures if I'm not mistaken. Dave?

LOL! I remember Michelle taking all the pics. She had a website up and everything.

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Jaded, old fart is me.

i think la is the wrong city for a no photos/video policy. you can get away with it in berlin and nyc but not the west coast. half the people in the clubs dont know or care who is playing...they just want be go out for the night to a club to dance and drink with friends.

And I don't buy the living the moment argument. I have 60,000+ pictures and I have never looked back on them and wished I didn't take them. It takes 5 seconds to snap a picture. The guys who video the entire thing, that's another matter but if they enjoy that, who cares? Michelle and I had so much fun going thru all those pictures for our wedding guestbook. Brought back so many good memories. Most were not clubbing but still, where ever they were taken people would argue to put the camera down and live the moment. Billy just wants to ban camera's because he is always fucked up and wants no evidence lol.

Output in NY has them "banned" and no table the vibe is AMAZING

My opinion on your question if clubs SHOULD be allowed to ban cameras is yes absolutely. Would clubs, especially in Lala land, go for it? No of course not.

I think it would be great to have even one dance club w/ a strictly enforced policy like that of Berghain or Output here in LA, but there are a lot of special circumstances required for it's success...including (but not limited to) a constant stream of compelling high-profile DJ bookings year round to draw crowds to offset the lack of tables/bottle service. I think Output can get away w/ it simply because of it's geographical location to Europe where most of the compelling house and techno artists are based. Plus the dance music/warehouse scene is very vibrant in NY, just peek into the NYC Traceaddict regional forum. I think this city definitely has the volume of aficionados to support a venue like that here in SoCal though. I can picture it now, somewhere downtown or closer to the warehouse district. These are just my thoughts, which could be completely wrong as I have no actual hand in the nightlife business...just my thoughts as a patron.

quote:

Originally posted by GPC Billy just wants to ban camera's because he is always fucked up and wants no evidence lol.

Greg has known me far too long LOL!

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Jaded, old fart is me.