<p>I’m not doing MT nor am I studying music to become a professional performer, but I do have videos (more like recordings? 
) of myself singing: [YouTube</a> - PierreMarie’s Channel](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/PierreMarie]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/PierreMarie)</p>
<p>Hi all,
Okay, here is a question for you all. In my opinion I think I was within my legal rights, but I’d like to hear all opinions.
I was at my son’s performance of West Side Story last night. The school handed out a program and in that program they had written that videotaping or any video or audio reproduction was prohibited.
On the microphone, prior to the play, an announcement was made stating that there was to be absolutely no videotaping or flash photography during the performance.</p>
<p>I took non-flash photos during the performance. I was careful to lower the brightness level of my LCD screen to the lowest setting prior to the show, and furthermore I “cupped my hand” around the LCD screen so that I would not disturb any other audience members by my camera. My camera does not make any sound when it takes a photo, and it is about 3"x2" in size. </p>
<p>Because I have a form of Parkinson’s and my hands have tremors, I set the camera on “Sports and Kids” setting (motion) and I set it for continuous shooting (because I tend to catch one good shot out of about 10 with my shakiness).</p>
<p>As far as I was concerned, I thought I was following the rules and also being considerate of those around me.</p>
<p>One lady behind us had apparently appointed herself as the “photo police”. She kept saying to her family that it was illegal to take photos. She leaned in and yelled at my husband for taking non-flash photos. Then, at intermission, she went and told a play official that we were taking video and flash photos, which we were not.</p>
<p>The official came to scold us. We told her we were taking non-flash photos. She said, well there is no photography. We said, that is not what it said in the announcement–these are non-flash. It said no flash. She was determined not to be “wrong” so she kept insisting that no photography was permitted and that it was a disturbance to the performers and the audience.</p>
<p>I am convince that the lady behind us was just being a troublemaker and this official was the type who “could not be wrong”.</p>
<p>My question is this: Should I have stopped taking all non-flash photos at that point? Other people in the audience were taking non-flash photos. Is there any rule or law or copyright violation for taking non-flash photos if it is not disclosed to the audience that they do not like this? </p>
<p>And, is there any advice about what I should have said to these people?<br>
I got so upset that they pretty much ruined my evening.</p>
<p>Thank you for any advice or information.</p>
<p>It sounds to me that you were within the guidelines to take non-flash photos at a school show (we always did too). That was how it was announced at your show. The unfortunate thing is that whomever the “official” was that spoke with you was on a different wavelength about the guidelines and I am not sure what you could do. At that point, I don’t know who you could have checked with but the announcement appeared to only limit video, audio and non flash photography, and others were also taking non-flash photos. Someone was reporting you for taking video and that was incorrect and that likely compounded things. I don’t know if there was an intermission after this point where you could have spoken to someone but if it was during the show, you likely were stuck with what this official person told you. I would follow up and ask those who ran the school production what the policy is and let’s hope there is more than one performance and you can go back and take photos. The playbill also only limited audio and video production. I think you unfortunately ran into an audience member who either didn’t know the rules about allowing non-flash photography or was mistaken that you were video taping and you also ran into an official who was not stating the same rules as stated in the playbill and by the announcer. Thus, I would clear it up with the faculty who put on the show in order to not only be clear for subsequent performances but also if you were within the guidelines, make sure that they know that “ushers” also be on the same wavelength as the rules that are in place.</p>