Questions about Nightwish live

[Gaudeamus]

I'm planning on seeing Nightwish for the first time live this coming Monday on the 12th but before I go I wanted to know a little about their concerts.

1. How long have there setlists been lasting this tour?
2. Are the crowds real crazy (jump around/mosh pit) or are they calmer?
3. Does the band greet the fans? If so is it before or after the show?
4. Can you bring a camera?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Zellie]

My answers are not going to be very helpful, heh -_-;

1. How long have there setlists been lasting this tour? - This has varied some... I think an hour and a half?

2. Are the crowds real crazy (jump around/mosh pit) or are they calmer? - Depends, it sounds like the Portland show was dead.... but the NYC (of course) show was practically a bloodbath

3. Does the band greet the fans? If so is it before or after the show? - They've been doing meet and greets for VIP, sometimes they will be seen wandering around before or after the show

4. Can you bring a camera? Call your venue to find out. Some places do, some places don't.... although it's usually pretty easy to sneak your camera in... and if they don't allow cameras there is usually a camera check in that'll cost $3-5.

 

[Snowy Owl]

This may not help much because I only saw them on the Once tour, but I can attest that some venues are almost Nazi-like in their forbiddance of cameras. I remember attending a concert for Megadeth and Exodus in '04 and a remember a bouncer roughing up a photographer who had CREDENTIALS (he was working for Exodus)!

So I'll concur with my dear friend Zellie and say call the venue!

 

[Tramz]

Yup Zellie's answers are completely on the money.

As for the bloodbath factor, the closer you are the the front, the more rabid people can be. I can't speak for every location, but that is a rule of thumb that i would use. So if you find that where you are located is a bit too rowdy for your taste, just back up a row or two.

I also find that if a mosh pit will break out, it tends to happen in the center. So being off to either side, even just a bit, can be helpful in avoiding one.

 

[Gaudeamus]

Does Nightwish normally get moshpits? They don't really seem the style for them.

 

[Tramz]

Does Nightwish normally get moshpits? They don't really seem the style for them.

Well, i live in New York. NYC would find a way to make a mosh pit out of Enya or Garth Brooks or something I can't really speak for too many other areas, but i have to assume other areas of the country aren't quite as bad, so they may not happen where you live. As you say, Nightwish isn't exactly the kind of music you mosh to. Do you go to concerts in your area? Or know anyone in your area who does? Perhaps they know how rowdy the scene there is in general.

Even in New York though, the mosh pit that i saw wasn't anywhere near as brutal as those that happen at shows where you expect it. The real madness was in the first 4 - 6 rows where people were struggling to get a row or two closer. What were we Zellie? 3rd? 4th row? Right after the band came out i found myself second row through no attempt of my own, and very shortly after that, i was first row. It was either move with the crowd or fall down. But again, that's New York. Elsewhere is quite likely much less rabid.

So i would have to say that mosh pits are not the norm for Nightwish, but rabid fans are. How rabid just depends on the area in which you live.

 

[Stingray11214]

The BAND policy is cameras are OK. The problem are the venues. Most venues have a blanket policy of "No cameras of any kind" to protect themselves from record company lawsuits. Their ARE some bands that are dicks about the use of cameras. However, our heroes are not one of them.

 

[Tramz]

I don't think anyone was saying it was the band.

As for venues, i really wouldn't say most. The only times i've had any venues care would once at Irving Plaza in New York (for VNV Nation) and at The Troc in Philly (for Nightwish). Considering the dozens of concerts i go to, that's really not a lot and hardly most. I think in the time before i had a camera i remember a concert date or two where they said no cameras, but by and large it's not a problem (in other words, even if they have such a policy, they rarely bother to enforce it).

The only policy that does exist as you say is no recorders.

 

[White_lands_of_empathicA]

4. Can you bring a camera? Call your venue to find out. Some places do, some places don't.... although it's usually pretty easy to sneak your camera in... and if they don't allow cameras there is usually a camera check in that'll cost $3-5.

Sorry if I look ignorant or obvious but,..what is a camera check in??? It means they charge you to inspect your camera or something like it???

 

[St Enigma]

You're right, Ray. Here the common rule at any concert is "No sound recorders, no video camcorders, no professional SRL-cameras". Some foreign bands do not allow any cameras at concerts, but it's said to be because of their record labels' orders.

The only time I know Nightwish did ban all cameras (it was well informed before) was at Hartwall Areena in 2005 due the fact that they were filming the EOAE-DVD and didn't want to have a bazillion cameras flashing all the time and ruining the footage. Other than that, it's always been OK to take pics at thier concerts.

Nw.com webmaster Jarmo told us a couple of weeks ago, that they had a talk with the band and the management about how to deal with the mostly poor quality videoclips taken from concerts with digicams and cellphones. Those are unavoidably appearing at YouTube nad similar websites, and they decided not to fight it but rather try to make use of the phenomena by providing some better quality concert footage on their own website when they are ready. Maybe not from this leg of the tour, but sometime later next year. We'll see if/how it will work.

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@White_lands_of_empathicA
Camera check-in means that you leave your camera at the check-in booth and get a numbered badge or a receipt to collect it on your way out. For the $X charge they guarantee to keep it safe so nobody can steal it. In Finland we are used to have these type of check-ins at every venue, theater, concerthall and at festival gates for all the things you are not allowed or don't want to bring in, like (winter)coats, backpacks and whatnot. Very handy indeed, never need to worry someone stealing your things when you can leave it guarded at the check-in.

 

[Gaudeamus]

Do you go to concerts in your area? Or know anyone in your area who does?

I really don't do concerts that much, and the ones I've been to (i.e. Slayer, Ozzfest) I expected to be crazy. I'm just kind of hoping that Nightwish will be a calmer atmosphere so I can enjoy the music more instead of devoting most of my attention to not being crushed.

 

[Zellie]

I really don't do concerts that much, and the ones I've been to (i.e. Slayer, Ozzfest) I expected to be crazy. I'm just kind of hoping that Nightwish will be a calmer atmosphere so I can enjoy the music more instead of devoting most of my attention to not being crushed.

Best way to do that is to snag a seat At Philly, we were way up in the VIP seating quite far from the band but we could see better than I could when I was 3rd row in NYC and the music comes through very clearly.

 

[Gaudeamus]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded. You were all a great help. Now I'm fully prepared for tonight. It's gonna be great!

 

[Tramz]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded. You were all a great help. Now I'm fully prepared for tonight. It's gonna be great!

Excellent! Let us know how it went :]