Ron White

"Okay you have 5 minutes, you have to shoot from the back of the house, and you can't been seen by Ron!"




Thats what my Marketing Manager tells me before showtime. So I think to myself, where can I go that Ron isn't going to see this huge piece of glass hanging off the front of my face. I had to find some of the darkest corners in the theater and was kinda hiding behind folks sitting and shooting over their shoulders from the main isles. I did get some crazy looks.

It was a very interesting show to shoot to say the least. Everything was shot with long glass for the close ups and a 70-200 for the wide shoots.

Ron put on a great show, and people were having a really great time, I hope being I seen alot of tears and rolling around in their seats......

Next on deck will be John Prine

Chris Botti

I played the trumpet back in 5 thru 8th grade. I was as good as Chris when he was like 3. Phenominal is the only word to describe Chris's playing. The notes were crystal clear and hitting those really high E's and F's, mind blowing and envious.

Chris threw in a couple of different elements to his concert, he brought in a violinist that was exceptional and a vocalist that set the night off. The music was smooth and relaxing, time just slipped by.

Up next Bryan Adams

till next time

Brian Setzer Orchestra

The glitz, the big band, the music, the dancing, that's a Brian Setzer concert. His concert was very enjoyable and had a young hip crowd. That was surprising to me, considering the big band sound and swing dancing that goes with it, I thought for sure I would see the baby boomers out there strutting their stuff. No it was the youngsters out there.

It was great concert and I think Brian had almost a different guitar for every song he sung. I never realized how many colors a guitar comes in.

As for the picture taking at this concert, I was allowed three songs anywhere in the house. This is almost my favorite way to shoot, except when I have total access everywhere for as long I want. Which this reminds about a new book I picked up from Loe Beerens a Rocky Nook publication, Three Songs and No Flash. This book truly describes the limitations and hoops a concert photographers has to go through. He did a fabulous job of telling you who, how, where, what to expect, and craziness of concert photography. He illustrates a great number examples of what type of pictures you can get from the photo pit and audience seating. This book is definitely a must read if your interested in getting into the crazy world of concert photography.

Chris Botti, the trumpeter up next

Till next time

Bill Cosby

Happy New Years!!!?? Okay, so I'm a little early, better early than never, or ? Whatever!

December ended with a bang for me and I hope this new year continues. So, when you think of CLEAN comedy, whose the first name to pop in your head... Eddie Murphy. Noooo, Richard Prior... Nooooo, the one and only BILL COSBY.

When I was a kid, I used to watch Bill Cosby on tv, playing Dr. Cliff Huxtable on his show named The Cosby Show. I also use to listen to him on live records, yes the black, grooved things that spun on a record player.

What a gentlemen! I was backstage with Mr. Cosby taking pixs of a gift that the theater presented to him. Mr. Cosby was more worried about making sure I was getting the shots that the theater required of me. Him holding a framed picture of the old Genesee Theatre when it first open. It was an old black and white photo of the old marque and people entering the theater. I've never have a talent put me first! Usually the photographer is the last on the ladder for being thought of and accommodated for. So to say the least it was enjoyable night.

I was given 10 minutes of shoot time any where in the theater but had to be at least 10 rows back. After getting the required shots and some favorites, I sat back and enjoyed the rest of the show.

What an amazing comedian, to be funny and clean.

Next up is Brian Setzer, from the Stray Cats.

Till next time

Buddy Guy and Dave Mason

Back in the saddle again.

Had my first encounter with Blues Legend Buddy Guy and rock and roller Dave Mason. Between the two of these guys, you could start your own trophy company for all the awards these guys have won. Phenomenal, the music these guys can produce just makes you sit back in your seat and wish it was 60's and 70's. Speaking of that era, that is which most of the audience was, peace, love, and having a good time, minus the funny smoke.

Buddy being 70+ years young can still pick the wired instrument like no other.

Dave Mason opened the night up. Dave had a set of his older music along with music from a new CD that came out. Great stuff!!

It is was a true pleasure to spend a wonderful evening with these two great performers.

Till next time

Randy

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood

Laughing and taking pictures, in a dark theater, standing in precarious positions. I can't thank the engineers at Nikon enough for vibration reduction. Colin and Brad were awesome, I had a very hard time doing my job. Hilarious, gut spliting, orginal, pee your pants funny, okay I didn't pee my pants, but was very close.

Its nice to see what improv can produce, its kinda like watching Americas Funniest Videos live and in person. Just wish I could rewind. Colin and Brad brought up volunteers through out the entire show and didn't once embarass any of them, well, maybe just a little bit. It was in good fun and the volunteers appeared to be having the time of their life.

Knowing a couple comdenians personally and having some knowledge of what goes into an act, Colin and Brad made it look so easy and flawless. They transitioned from one skit to the other without missing a beat. One minute volunteers are controling their movements then to being Usher the next, rapping the night away. The rap was good!! The TV show Whose Line Is It, did not do these gentlement justice, they are as funny as it gets. If you get a chance to see these guys in concert, please DO NOT miss the opportunity, working the next show or not, I won't be missing them.

Till next time

Randy

Too Short and Slick

Slick, a Billboard's top 40 artist opened the evening up for the headliner Too Short, a night of R&B, Hip Hop, and Rap. To say the least, I thought is was going to be an interesting night.

After Slick had his set, then Too Short came on and belted out some of his hits from the late 80's early 90's. I even remembered a couple of his songs, just didn't realize that some were so explicit. Not to say I didn't like it that way, and the song made more sense than what was being played on the radio at the time.

The concert went off without a hitch and plenty of folks enjoyed a night of entertainment.

Thats it for now, I have Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood from Whose Line Is It on deck for my next blog.

ttyl

Randy

Here are some of the pictures from that nights festivities.