This story is from our newest photographer, Chris Baudo, and his recent experience in shooting Daughtry, Staind and Breaking Benjamin at Dos Equis here in Dallas, TX.
Note to self: leave earlier… The words echoed through my mind as I drove what seemed like an eternity from Denton to Dallas to shoot my first show for RenegadeRadio.net. I had applied to shoot the show about one month earlier, as I scrolled past it on my Facebook feed, but I didn’t really think there was a chance that I would be approved. I should have known I was in good hands and that everything would work out since coming aboard at RenegadeRadio.net, because of the great experience I had been having so far chit-chatting and messaging with the other photographers in the messaging group. I had been welcomed with open arms and been briefed on the ins-and-outs of the application process by Jerry, yet still, I had screwed up when I applied for this show when, somehow, the media pass was sent to him, not me.
“Plan on going,” he says, “talk to them and call me, or show them the email I got,” he says. What I know now, that I didn’t know then, was that he was right. I did as I instructed and, wouldn’t you know it, the venue contact was standing at the gate when I arrived, almost as though he was waiting on me. I told him why I was there and, bingo, I was in.
It was about a year ago that I started on this journey. I had been a photographer for quite some time, but just shot families, kids, etc…. I was working as a valet at The Glass Cactus nightclub, and had been for about 15 years, but wanted to try something new. I spoke to the manager at the time, showed him some work, and like that, I was off to the races. I shot shows at the “cactus” and many other local clubs and bars and met some amazing people over the last year or so. I was looking forward to a new challenge and that’s where Jerry comes in.
Jerry and I had met a few times over the years of my employment at the “cactus” and we had run into each other a few times at various shows around DFW, but, by chance, in a Concert Photography group on Facebook, we had found one another again, and this new journey began.
Until about one month ago, I had not worked for any type of publication, but I knew this was the way to go. I knew that publications got access, and I needed one for which to work. Unfortunately for me, I had encountered someone who was less than supportive before connecting with Jerry and I was sorely disappointed in my experience, which didn’t last long, thankfully. I didn’t know what to expect as Jerry and I connected, but I was happy to learn that this experience would be nothing like the previous.
As I’m driving down I-35, trying to get from Denton to Dallas in record time, knowing that I needed to be there 15 minutes before the set to be escorted to the photo pit, I didn’t think I was going to make it in time. Fortunately for me, my daughter owed me money for some cosmetics she bought and had given me a fresh and clean $20 bill as repayment. I happened to have this in my pocket as I’m stuck in traffic near the venue, trying to get where I needed to be. I was waved towards one of the lots, but it was a VIP lot. Having worked as a valet for quite some time, I knew my ticket into this lot was residing in my pocket.
I was welcomed into the venue by Roman, the venue contact and escort, and he could not have been nicer and more accommodating. I was shown to the waiting area just in time to make the trip from the office to the photo pit for the Daughtry set. I won’t lie and tell you I remember any of the songs he, Staind, or Breaking Benjamin played that night. I rarely do while I’m shooting, but what I can say with certainty, is that I had an amazing time, shot what I think are some amazing photos, and am thankful for the events that le
d up to that night, regardless of how they happened.
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