This seems to be a reoccurring theme in my life of festival blogging. I win free tickets to an event, last minute apply for a media pass, they deny my request, so I sneak my camera in, and take some awesome pictures. The fact that I have a system down and my face hasn’t been plastered on a “watch list” for these guys or gals working festival security, still amazes me. So, I’m sure you’re wondering the what’s and how’s of this situation. In reality, it’s something I don’t want to happen anymore, but I’ll continue to do it, if need be.  First of all, I don’t recommend trying to sneak anything in past festival security that they have on their big, banned, “NO” list. I’m a huge advocate of “safety first” at events and the reason that these lists are put together are for everyone’s safety. This situation is a little different… I’m sneaking a camera in to do work, to share my stories, document my experiences, I’m not harming anyone right?

Interested in how this all started? ⇓Click the link⇓

Sneaking My Camera Into A Festival (Part 1)

Here’s the deal, there are rules to media. I actually have been on official lists before and I do understand the logistics of it. I’ve signed photo release forms, had my photo ID documented on papers, and have sent in my work to be approved by various events PR agents before posting them up. I get it, I do. It’s a liability having someone with not a lot of well known photo credentials, running around with a professional camera, taking pictures of whatever they want, then plastering them up on the internet for the world to see and share freely. Perhaps there are artists restrictions for the day, or maybe there are the issues of posting pictures that have illegal activity going on in them, something, that in the long run can come back and damage an events image or cause accountability issues with artist contracts. I mean, if you don’t get all the rules, now you some what understand where I’m going with all that. Rules are rules, they are important, but I guess what? I really don’t give a fuck about them.

The reason being is, for starters, when I take the time to write to a particular event, requesting a media pass, it’s because in most cases, I already have a ticket to the event, that I’ve either purchased or in most recent cases that I’ve won for free. So here I am, putting myself out there, taking the time to write a legit, professional, email to an event, not even requesting a free ticket in return for my work, and they still deny my request? It’s odd. I’m simply trying to do the right thing, get on a media list, so they actually can approve my photos before I post them. Not to mention, I’m giving these events free publicity, writing about what they are doing great, writing about how they can improve, and writing about what I love about the experience they give us. This is something that will never make sense to me (not being granted a media pass, while I already have a ticket). I’m doing work for free! No one in their right mind does that, but I do, a lot of the time, because festivals are my passion and my life! Everything they bring me, from live music, to the people that have become my family, to the art and culture, the massive network, everything about it, I live and breathe this industry, and this will forever be a major part of my life! Also, it is evident and quite obvious, that professional cameras take amazing pictures, so of course I want to bring mine, so I can share my experience in a better way! If that means I have to sneak my camera in, so be it, at least I tried to do the right thing first. Fuck it, I’ll stand by my word.

#LivingByTheFWord

Anyway, can I just say that the struggle of getting to Electric Zoo has been more than real, to say the least. I’ve always wanted to go because this is my home base festival. I’ve been around the world to festivals but have never been to New York’s Electronic music festival? Weird. I’ve been so busy checking out other events throughout the year, by the time September comes around, to be honest, I’m too broke to be taking off work and pay for it.

CLICK HERE if you want to see what other festivals I’ve been checking out over the years.

Hanging with Digital Lab during WMC 2013! Instagram: @jess_aka_poots

The first opportunity I had to finally go to E-ZOO was back in 2013. I won a VIP ticket through my buddy, Digital Lab, who was on the line-up, and my best friend won a ticket through him too, which obviously made things a whole lot better, crazier, and mind-blowing awesome! FINALLY, I was going to E-ZOO, with my best friend, FO’ FREE!

2013 Ticket Winner Announcement.

PHYCH! We had Sunday tickets, the day his set was scheduled for, and that particular day ended up being cancelled due to multiple drug overdoes the previous day. It was a shock for the entire community, that the event was completely cancelled, and it was a major headline in the dance music world, and Tri-state news for weeks. Then in 2014, E-ZOO’s Sunday show got cancelled again due to weather conditions. I didn’t have tickets, but it was enough for me to say, whatever, I’m probably never going to this fest.

So now here we are in 2015 and my best friend wins two free VIP tickets from Above & Beyond for Saturday. Holy shit. OK, I guess I’m for real… finally going? Yes, it happened! I finally went to Electric Zoo this year (well kinda)! I ended up I didn’t get into the festival until 6:30pm. I was on two hours of sleep and suffering a massive hangover from a wedding the night before, but nonetheless I finally linked up with my best friend to experience this festival with her and had a great time!

Here are my favorite pictures I took

from Electric Zoo 2015!

 

ALWAYS ROOM FOR LOVE & IMPROVEMENT

Since I only attended Electric Zoo for one day and only for a few hours (not even a full day), I don’t think I can properly do a full review on the festival. I always write in my reviews what I loved, and what I didn’t love, giving the event some suggestions. So with the little experience I had here, I will do that to wrap things up!

WHAT I LOVED…

1. The people. Lots of culture and diversity. Lots of glovers. Lots of hoopers. Lots of dancers. Lots of Deadmau5 heads. Lots of group meet ups and connectivity in general.
2. Animal and Zoo theme. Lots of people involved in costumes, DIY costumes, and the animals and performers walking around the venue.
3. Smaller event, intimate festivals and stages. Makes it easier to get around, find people, and make the most of your money seeing various artists.
4. Crossing another festival off the list with my best friend. We’ve been around the world to fests, and have gone to two for free together in 2015. #Winning

LOVED NOT SO MUCH…

1. Common areas to sit in between stages, music collided.
2. VIP was small, not worth it if you’re paying for it (I had a free ticket and still barely hung out in there).
3. Not enough garbage/ recycle cans around the stages.
4. Cashless pay system, and conversion rate, now that the festival is run by SFX and ID&T (European company).  I went for one day and had to throw $20 on my wristband so I could buy a beer. The amount of points spent on my one beer, left me with only 3.5 points left, that I could purchase nothing with. So yeah, I spent $20 on a beer. They do offer a refund, but I never received an email and just saw that I missed the re-fund deadline. It should be an automatic refund on your credit card, if you have a cashless system (Mysteryland does this).

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Below you’ll find the full picture album from Electric Zoo 2015! You can also see the full album on my Facebook by clicking here. Drop a comment and let me know what you loved  or didn’t love about E-ZOO transformed!