2003/04/16, Brielpoort, Deinze, Belgium

(the Reptile House has since changed their e-mail address).

From: Philippe Carly (mail@newwavephotos.com)

a. Attached is the front page of the three page contract I signed. I only received a copy of the first page (the one attached) as you can see it is not signed by management even though this document is supposed to bond the two parties.

b. the document mentions payment of 1 sterling pound (the payment of which I acknowledge by signing the document). I didn't receive it. Not that it would make a difference. Just for the records!

c. I remember the other pages stating that the "pit" is a dangerous place were I might be hit by objects thrown for the crowd or get hurt in crowd control actions taken by the bouncers and that I will not hold the management responsible for anything happening to me while in the pit. And that I was only allowed to take photos during songs 4, 5 and 6.

I don't see how this documents protects me (the photographer) in any ways: management gains complete copyright of the photos (my source of income) management decides which photos can be used or not (my artistic freedom) I am just a remote, pushing on a button because they're too incompetent to do it themselves!

So why did I sign it at all you might ask. Because I wanted to make photos! That's my job and my passion: taking photos at gigs and I didn't know it would be that bad: I wouldn't have signed at all if I had known what to expect (see below). Anyway I'll have the document reviewed by my lawyer to see if such a blatantly unilateral contract can stand in court.

To make things even worse, one of the bouncers wanted to kick us (me and 3 other photographers) out after just one song. We lost precious time arguing with him and telling him we were authorized for 3 numbers.

For Christ's sake: given the fog machine and backlit stage, FROM THE PIT I could not EVEN SEE Andrew half the time. Management knew damn well light show made it IMPOSSIBLE to get good photos during those numbers. Only towards the end, a couple of number were lit in a way that could allow a decent photo or two. We had left the pit by then.

I felt totally ripped of and laughed at, should anyone care. If that's their attitude towards photography, they better forbid it altogether and not bother people who try to do their job properly.

So far, ALL reactions of visitors and band members alike on my site (www.newwavephotos.com) have been very POSITIVE. Everybody LOVES the memories and the photos. Now think of it: if no photos are taken today, there will be no memories to share tomorrow. It's that simple.

I am just a pissed photographer. But who cares about these wining morons anyway??????

Couple of more things for the context, both from Dominion:

From: Chris Sampson (Chris@cgs123.demon.co.uk)

That "contract" you have to sign is complete bollocks. I have a copy somewhere, signed in the name of "Mickey Mouse" of "Disneyland Magazine". Must type it in sometime.

From: Sven Togni (togni@pandora.be)

Same thing happened in Stuttgart, only we were actually tossed out after 2 songs instead of 3 and had to leave the venue!

I must admit the shows I took pics at were slightly less smoked-out than Deinze. Some of my pics might be available in the next GPS, if there's to be one. (hint: a new release of some kind might speed up the process of a new GPS!)