This is a story of one of those moments that can turn a dream job into a nightmare. I was recently asked to cover a House of Blues show starring Justin Timberlake for one of those music magazine's online sites. It sounded like a great idea at the time and why not - it was a hot ticket that sold out almost instantly. Love him or hate him, he’s a chart-maker that draws some of the biggest producers in the industry. And let’s face it, chicks dig him. Also, I was getting paid to photograph him so why wouldn’t I?

Before we go any further, there are a few guidelines we need to know about shooting shows. The way you are credentialed is either your publication calls or e-mails the artist's publicists/management or you do. It all depends on who you are working for and what their policies are. Even though it’s more work for you, its generally better in the long run if it is you who is seeking out credentials. The reason being you get to know and create relationships with these people and that makes it better for you. Once you are approved, the general rules for rock photography in this day and age is typically the first three songs from the pit and no flash. It’s really pretty standard and we’ve all accepted this for good or for bad.

Now that we’ve all been schooled, we can jump ahead to the day of the Timberlake show. I had put in my request more than a week before and I realized there still was no word on whether I was in or not. For the most part I was not concerned considering the publication I was shooting for it is rare we are ever turned down. With that said, I followed up with an e-mail and I was told I just had to fill out a contract. Now it’s standard to sign contract stating what the images will and won’t be used for depending on the artist.

It all sounds simple enough, but this is when it all goes to hell. If I was smart I would have bowed out right then and there. Yet, I’m a professional and I’m trying to honor my commitment to the publication and also just get a nice photo gallery up for all of Timberlake’s fans to see. Is that such a hard concept to comprehend? It seems simple enough to me but this contract was unbelievably horrible. The main point was the photographer had no rights to the images that he of course actually took. Doesn’t seem to make sense but it was for the most part clearly written in black and white. I say for the most part because if you have ever read a contract the jargon is created to intentionally make it confusing. Another major point was you needed to get approval rights before these images could even see the light of day. I could go on and on about why it was so bad but let’s just say it represented everything that is ruining rock photography and preventing future classic shots from existing.

You may think I’m exaggerating, but if these contracts and rules existed back in the old days we would not have classic shots such as the Johnny Cash “middle finger” image captured in beautiful black and white by photographer Jim Marshall. It’s not unthinkable to believe that Johnny Cash’s management might have thought it was just too racy and just hid it in a drawer to collect dust and eventually just fade away. Not to mention, Jim Marshall would not have the rights to that image so he could not make a living from photography and in turn we would lose all of the other great shots he created through the years.

But let’s get back to my story. I told the publicists that I would have to change certain phrasing in the contract and I was told, and I quote, “Send it back and I’ll let our lawyers look at it.” All I kept thinking through this whole ordeal was it all centered around a silly rock concert. Do we really need to bring lawyers into something as trivial as taking a couple stupid photos during the first three, (well for Timberlake it was going to be first two) songs of a rock show? It’s seems like a waste of time, money and energy but what do I know, I’m just a simple photographer.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who had problems with the contract. Soon after I faxed over my version I received a phone call from the House of Blues letting me know I was probably going to be the only photographer approved. Her concern was the concept of “if a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it did it fall”? With the notion that if no one photographs Timberlake what evidence do we have of the evening other than words? I was asked if I would consider working with a local newspaper as well as the current publication I was covering. I said sure and I was soon on the phone with their photo department.

We quickly bonded over the problems with the contract and I also expressed my growing concerns over whether I was making the right decision to continue going forward. As I told the photo editor, there was no question in my mind that if I did indeed shoot the show a lot of photographers will thumb their noses at me. However, I personally didn’t see me as the problem. As much as I want to think I’m important to publicists and to bands in general I’m really not. If publicists want photos they will hire a photographer it’s really just that simple. However, the one thing they can’t pay for is a review. So in the end they couldn’t care less if I am there or not just as long as that publication writes a review. With that in mind, I asked the photo editor if he was going to cover the show with or without original art. He said yes but that they informed them they would bury it in the back pages instead of the cover. But the band still gets a review and that’s all that matters in the end I feel. Of course even if this newspaper decided to stick to their guns the next city would probably cover the show and where would that leave us?

Anyway, I add them to the contract and hours pass and it seems like it’s a done deal. That is until a little after 6 p.m. rolls around, it’s now just two hours before Timberlake is to hit the stage, the phone rings and it turns out to be the publicist I’ve been e-mailing with all day. He informs me that the music Web site has been declined because I changed the jargon to read “archive”. I of course explain that this is the whole point of a website but he doesn’t budge. He does however inform me that the newspaper has been approved. I shake my head but say OK.

This really should be the end of the story. I shot my two songs, Timberlake put on a great show of music and dance, blah blah blah, the end. But that would have been too easy and I probably wouldn’t be writing this. He then talks to me like a child to emphasize that I do understand that I can not turn around and still service the images to the music Web site that I have signed a binding contract. I’m little surprised by his tone but I say yes I understand and I will e-mail my editor right now to let them know you declined us. So again that should be the end of the story, but it’s not.

He then proceeds to say that you do know the policy for tonight’s show right? I say yes the House of Blues has informed me it’s the first two songs, no flash and from the pit. He pauses and states yes but it’s also now from the sound board. Now if you don’t know what the sound board means, it means I am not at the front of the stage but instead way in the back somewhere in the middle of the venue. Now let’s keep in mind I have been talking to him all day and he has never once mentioned this to me. If I had known about this I would have made sure I had rented the proper lens to shoot from the sound board. Of course I did not know and at 6:15 p.m. I can not go out and rent a big lens. I adamantly express this was never ever mentioned and that if this is the case then I can not cover the show. He’s fine with it and that’s it.

In many ways I was happy it was finally over. I just wished I never went down that road in the first place.

In the end, the newspaper still featured the Timberlake review on the front page and the magazine whose web site was declined? Well, they currently have Timberlake on the cover of this week’s issue. Like I said, I’m not the problem.

• Random Noise appears monthly, exclusively in Lumino Magazine.

Comments

Great insight Written by Guest on 2006-09-12 21:54:28 This story is awesome. What great insight into the music biz. Timberlake sucks!

Impressive Points Written by Guest on 2006-09-13 09:17:30 I think you hit it right on the spot!

the point Written by Guest on 2006-09-13 11:16:16 The point is more that people like him get big and then the biz takes over, like his music or not, you know nothing about the actual person, so while I am in no way trying to defend Timberlake, I am just trying to to say the system is flawed; ballooned out of control with stupidity. Great story though.

Agree Written by Guest on 2006-10-03 11:26:12 I agree with you. It's the system. But at the same time Timberlake types who weild a TON of power now should crack down and actually pay attention to what their management and agents are doing. Not let them run their lives and treat people like garbage.

wha'z up people this is your girl allie Written by Guest on 2007-11-30 16:24:39 man i love him yeah

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