Nikon SLR Cameras

Sneaking a DSLR into the US Airways Center (Lady Gaga)?

Logan R
Logan R

I have a lot of plans, lines, and backup since I'm planning to smuggle my DSLR Nikon D90 into the Phoenix AZ US Airways Center Arena for a lady gaga concert, can anyone give a low-down on how the security is at the venue, if they're lax, or super tight when it comes to photography? Last time I went to the Gaga concert in July I managed to get some really good pictures, mainly because I was on the floor, and the tall gentleman in front of me was blocking the guard's view of my camera.

Since I saw the show front row the first time, this time around I got cheap nosebleed tickets. From my experience, there wasn't a lot of security in the nosebleeds when I saw Bon Jovi at the Jobing.com Arena (Glendale AZ), and no one really cared what went on up there. Note that we're talking about two different arenas.

Can anyone give me a rundown of how things work at the US Airways center, since this time around I plan on sneaking in a DSLR?

Please don't give me the typical answer of "just bring a P&S," or "just enjoy the concert".

fhotoace
fhotoace

All backpacks or other containers you may "hide" your camera in will be searched.

As a member of the press, I have to have my camera bag searched before I can enter the US Airways Center Arena. This is with a venue pass.

You are going to have to talk to the media representatives of the Lady Gaga management.

You must be able to provide compelling reasons why they should let you "cover" the event and not later try to sell unauthorized copies of those images. The performance and the name "Lady Gaga" are protected by copyright.

Just the fact you are asking us to help you "smuggle" a dSLR into a concert shows that you are unaware of the protocol when getting permission to cover such events and will either 1) get your camera confiscated or 2) sent back to your car to secure your camera.