I came across a situation recently that made me question what kind of conduct is appropriate when inside live music venues in Shenzhen. In fact, I was told to leave a venue for taking footage of the band without buying a drink.
Last weekend I was at OCT Bay, Shenzhen’s crème de le crème in structural aesthetics and local hotspots, for a business function. While there, I wanted to scope out the Detroit band playing at CJW and get some blog footage. Simple enough, I thought…
Below is the video I took before getting the boot from the owner.
Honestly, I didn’t think twice about walking into a public place and snapping off a few photos. But maybe that’s just it…Is a bar a public space? Does free entry mean public? Does public mean freedom of press? Does participating in social media mean you’re the press? Are there any rules? Blah… I don’t know.
Maybe it’s my ignorance. Maybe the rules aren’t clearly defined. Or maybe society is evolving so rapidly that new norms haven’t yet been established. Either way, before this experience I wouldn’t have thought twice about rules of behavior when dealing with a venue. Here’s why:
My thinking (perhaps a touch assumptive and direct):
“Last time I checked this isn’t the early 1900’s, there’s no shady looking fella’s protecting the doors and this bar isn’t hidden down some hallway behind a kitchen in the basement of a random building… What you might expect of a swanky New York bar 100 years ago. It’s in Shenzhen’s Mecca of public spaces. Besides, it’s 2012 and the internet is the vehicle which manages both our social and business lives and openness has proved rather beneficial for most businesses in the 21st century. So, surely any venue owner wouldn’t shun the chance to gain some buzz through media coverage, regardless of the type.”
His thinking (I presume, anyway):
“I run a private bar and music venue. We cater to a certain clientele with a certain spending habit. We’ve got a reputation in Beijing and Shanghai as being a classy joint that always has top international live music. If you want in, you need to reserve a table, buy a drink or get out.”
The issue:
I wasted no time in taking a video and didn’t bother to first buy a drink or spend any money. I don’t represent a well-known magazine or media outlet in the city and didn’t announce myself beforehand, so they don’t know me from Steve. Fair enough. But, I didn’t see a list of rules posted outside the entrance. Did you? Should there be?
Given both our ways of thinking, things happened the way they did. I know I learned a lesson on how to approach a venue, with regard to gathering media footage for my blog. But really, I’m interested to see what your opinions are. Everyone I’ve spoken with has a different point!
Some points I’m still thinking about:
- Do you have the right to not be photographed/filmed?
- Does someone taking a photo have the right to photograph/film you without your consent?
- Do venue owners have the right to decide these rules within their own establishments?
- As a user of recreational, social media platforms, do you have the right to post and distribute these photos?
- Do you have a set of norms you think about when entering a bar/venue space? Why so?
What do you think?
Rue Moyer runs the popular music website Shenzhen Local Music. He contributes a weekly column to The Nanfang.