West Palm Beach Warped Tour 2010

A few weeks ago I attended the West Palm Beach stop of Warped Tour 2010 to catch some of the bands that I had missed when I was up at the stop in Indianapolis. This time around I was able to check out Every Time I Die, We Are The In Crowd, Alkaline Trio, The Cab, Hey Monday, Haste The Day, Sum 41, I Can Make a Mess Like Nobodys Business and We The Kings. Check out photos after the jump!

I was also able to spend a little bit of time with my buddy Adam Elmakias and help him out on a shoot with Sum 41. He is out on Warped right now with Pierce The Veil. Adam does a lot of work for major publications and a ton of bands so check out his work at www.adamelmakias.com He also hooked me up with one of his sweet 50mm 1.8 bracelets which I will post a photo of soon!

It was a super long day, and much hotter than the Indianapolis stop, but the day was well worth it. Kevin Lyman started the tour 16 years ago, and it has been growing into the state it is today ever since. Now over 100 bands play per day and it is a lot to take in if it is your first experience at such a festival. It can prove even more insane if you are trying to attend as a professional photographer.

Some things to keep in mind if you plan on attending or shooting a Warped Tour Date in the future:

1. Drink PLENTY of Water

Bring sealed water in a backpack
Bring money for extra water throughout the day
If you do not have extra money, save your empty bottles (there are usually water fountains you can fill up at.
If you run out of money, can’t get water, and feel sick, then go find a first aid station as they are prepared for people becoming de-hydrated

2. Find out who you want to see, and where they are playing.

If you are press, and have acquired a press pass for the day, there will usually be schedules hung up in the press area. Some days MSO even will print out copies for you (but usually you do not get that luxury.)
If you are an attendee, then there is usually a blow up schedule in the middle of the venue with all bands and times listed. (different festivals operate in different ways, but warped tour always has the big blow up schedule!)
If you are a photographer, make sure you get to the stage of the band you are trying to see at or before the time on the schedule. Usually you are only allowed to take photos during the first 3 songs, and security will push you out after that time. If you show up after the 3rd song, the security may not even let you take any photos at all!

3. Make sure you have your credentials in order before you get to the venue.

If you plan on taking photos in the photo pit or on stage, you need to be set up through a bands management before hand. If you just show up with your professional camera, you will usually not be able to get in with it. Even if you are allowed in with it, you will not be able to shoot from stage or up close unless you have the proper credentials and you will get annoyed.
If you do have credentials set up, be sure to stay in the areas that you are designated to be in. You usually can only shoot from the stage if the stage manager has approved you being there. If you choose to go up without approval, people will get mad, and it will not make you look good in the future (if you plan on working with that band ever again)
If you have a scheduled time to do specific press shots with a band (not live shots) then be sure to get there on time. If you are even a minute late, you will risk the band leaving to do other important things they are scheduled to do that day. Remember, If you are early then you are on time. If you are on time, then you are late.

4. Network, Network, Network!

If you are a photographer, or in a band, or even have your own business, bring business cards and/or flyers to pass out to spread the word about yourself. There are a large number of people at these festivals and it is a great opportunity to let people know who you are, and make new friends.
Don’t pressure people. If you are promoting yourself, do so in a friendly manner and if people do not respond to it in a good way, don’t take it personally. Just move on to the next person!
If you are a photographer, meet people in the press area who are doing the same things you are doing. It is always great to make new friends and interact people who you can learn from.

5. Have Fun!

Even if you come to an event to work, don’t forget to have fun. It is so important to enjoy what you are doing because if you don’t, your results will show that.

Anyway, most of you who come to this blog do so because of the photos, so look below for all of the photos from the day!