i know what you're saying alex, but it's a little more complicated than that. Taping isn't just a hobby, it's an addiction. i hardly, if ever attend shows without my gear. not because of wanting "credit" for a tape, but shows just aren't as fun if you're not taping (doing something you love). once you start, it's just hard to see a show knowing that you won't ever be able to recreate that live experience at home or in the car ever again. some folks go to shows and buy t-shirts, we go to shows and take the show home with us. i nearly didn't go in the Houston show either, except i was with a friend (not solo like hoyt was) and we had the best seats in the house... kinda hard to walk away from. and, of course, it was a dgray show!
Good post ryan. I shot an email to contact@ihtrecords.com asking about the change.
Maybe you should too.
I don't see what the problem with allowing a head height stand at FOH or
clamping to a balcony would cause at all. Clearly it's not an issue to
other fans as much as it's an issue that "someone" just doesn't want
recordings out there anymore and they're afraid to say so.
Sorry you missed the show but I don't blame you. I almost did the same
thing. On the other hand, the show was pretty great (not as good as the Dallas Bronco Bowl show in 2000, but it was my first and i digress) and I'm sad I didn't
get it recorded.
I don't see what the problem with letting tapers in and setting up
and just see what happens. If someone complains, they're going to the
local venue security guys and they'll handle it with us directly. The
road manager wouldn't even know there was a problem at all, so why is it
any of his concern to begin with?
But by just
laying a blanket statement out there and saying "no taping", they're
alienating some hard core fans and taking away from EVERYONE the cool privileged of recreating the live experience later.
If
they want to say "no more taping from any ticketed seat, but taping ONLY permitted from FOH", that'd be a lot
better than "no taping at all" and not turn off a lot of fans.
What's
a shame is that a great artist who got huge in the states on tape trading seems to be
turning his back on the fans that got him there. And even more insulting
is that David himself probably doesn't even mind or realize that people
are being turned away, it's more than likely his handlers/people speaking for him.
Hopefully a few emails
will alert management that something is up and could get a change
before the end of the tour. But I'm not holding my breath.
To all tapers with tix to future shows this tour, make sure you bring your stealth gear and a comfortable hat.