Press passes for gigs?

I have just spent a very enjoyable weekend at the Download Rock festival and seeing lots of people with press passes who seemed to be fans like me without two bodies and those big white lenses, I wondered how you go about getting a press pass for these types of events?

I contacted the organisers (probably a daft thing) and asked what you need to get a press pass and the answer was that press passes are for accredited members of the press.

So is there some sort of qualification? Do you need a reference from a publication? Can you set up a convincing looking website with some samples on and call yourself a press photographer?

While I got some great shots with my compact f**i, they could have been so much better if I wasn't in the mosh pit at the time!

Look forward to the replies!

I used to work in concert venues. A lot of passes are sent out automatically to papers and magazines. If the photographer isn't being paid to go they will usually be handed to a staff member who wants a free ticket. They'll take a camera to make it look good!

That's probably what happened, some of the people only had compacts and there were very few who looked like "real" press photographers.

'Real' press passes come from various trade unions like the NUJ although mine came via BECTU. It costs £10 and lasts for two years and is intended to 'identify the holder to anyone who might reasonably ask for ID' It also has a PIN, the person asking for ID can phone the number on the back and they are given my number which I would then confirm.

To join the NUJ or BECTU you have to be making a living from pictures I'm afraid.

The passes you descibe sound to me like glorified complimentary tickets.

I wanted to try and post an image so here is one of the better ones (hopefully!) I took with my compact.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/avarney/PENTAX%20FORUM%20PICS/2009_0614Download20090043.jpg[/IMG]

Ahh that's good it worked! Know how to do it now.

While I'm on a roll.............

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/avarney/PENTAX%20FORUM%20PICS/2009_0614Download20090447.jpg[/IMG]

Andy