Hey all! On my weekend break from the Police Academy now.
Anyway, the Chieftains are coming to perform in Singapore as one of the Arts Festival events. I spared no effort in obtaining front row seats, dead center infront of the stage, like any good C&Fer =)
I constantly read about wonderful experiences with watching and meeting with the Chieftains. How do you guys go about meeting up with them after the show?
You’ll need to show up at the sound check. Usually about four hours pre-concert. Find the back door to the place, and tell the stage hands you’re there to play with the band. They may try to shoo you away, but tell them it’s is really a normal thing with the Chieftains. Be firm, but not too aggressive.
Good Luck!
tell the stage hands you’re there to play with the band.
Hmmm, interesting ploy but probably inadvisable, as they might know the line-up of the show. Also, less legitimate attempts to crash back stage will probably be frowned upon, given heightened security issues, generally, these days.
Try getting the tour manager’s name and contacting him/her. You could also try the band’s record label press officer. In my days as a freelance rock music photographer, the PO at the record label was always my first port of call for backstage passes - but I usually turned up with a camera.
So, another idea is to contact the local paper, get them to authorize you as ‘stringer’ photographer for the gig and go semi-legite. They might even organise the backstage pass! Learning to take a photograph (or being able to convince others you can take one) is a great ‘passport’ to music stars (believe me).
The real trick though, is getting started in your quest early. Some tour managers will allow so many ‘offcial’ fans backstage, at most big gis, but you have to apply early. Finding out about concerts ASAP and making the calls then is the real key to geting behind those well-guarded doors.
Good luck.
Steve
Just going off what worked for us in Denver this past January. Actually, they didn’t allow ANY photographs, and were very adamant about it. We snuck a few out, but had to be very careful.
We DID however, show up with our instruments, and even had a little impromptu session outside the back door. I think this might have helped to solidify our credibility.
You also have to remember that there are gonna be two sets of stage hands. Those with the local venue, and the roadies actually with the Chieftains. The guys with the band are aware of the tendancies of the group. Not only did they welcome us, they were fairly accomidative too.
Again…GOOD LUCK!
Bri~
I really like your idea, Steve. Maybe I should invest in getting a fairly expensive (-looking) camera. That could be lots of fun.
Of course, depending on the venue, it can sometimes be easy to meet the performers after the show. Not in the bigger concert halls and such, but by just hanging around near the dressing rooms afterwards I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Sharon Shannon, Eileen Ivers, Solas, Altan… Just need a bit of luck, I guess.
How do you guys go about meeting up with them after the show? <<
…
Be honest about it. I’ve worked for a concert promoter here in Denver, and there’s nothing more irritating than someone who’s trying to BS their way past the ‘gatekeeper’, and who says they’re there to “play with the band” - especially when they haven’t even been invited to do so. And as previously stated, do go early - a few hours is typical. Also, ask around for help as to when soundchecks will be taking place. Above all, be honest with the folks that are there trying to do their job - they’ll appreciate you for it - AND you might be surprised at how easily they can see through a made-up story… most of those folks have heard it all before.
Simply ask the powers that be about whether or not the band is going to allow any local musicians a chance to join them onstage. (and remember - be nice to the little people - they’ll be the ones to actually open the door for you).
If you don’t get in, don’t fret about it, and enjoy the show. As it happened, the Chieftains were in Denver a couple years ago, and a friend told me about their “open invite” to local musicians that appeared in a news article about them in that morning’s paper. I showed up with my pipes, and was figuring that at worst, I’d be returning them to my car. As luck would have it, five or six of us were invited up and it was a great deal of fun.
Enjoy !
[ This Message was edited by: brianc on 2002-04-15 18:30 ]