After having definite confirmation at 5.09pm on the day of the gig, I arrived only to be told, I wasn’t down on the list. I really hate when this happens, as it’s quite embarassing being turned away.  The minutes that follow when you’re trying to work out what to do, who to phone, who you can talk to about it really suck, as security and door staff are eyeing you up, waiting for your decision.  This time, I had to walk away.  After phoning, texting and emailing the chap I’d got confirmation off, I cut my losses half an hour later and decided to go home.  As I left, I recieved an email saying he was trying to sort it out for me.  ‘Trying’.  Do I miss my train and go back and see if it could be sorted, or give it up as a bad job? I opted for the latter, and promptly missed my train.  I then received an email saying everything was sorted, so made my way back to the Apollo.  Apparently, someone had come to put me on the guestlist about 2 minutes after I’d left.

I got into the Apollo and waited to be called into the pit. As we were called in, we were told we’d get 2 songs to shoot, and only allowed to do it from the side of the photopit. It was a pretty big stage, and we barely had any room to move around at the side before the security told us to move back.  After being 10 minutes late, Avril came onstage for her less-than-30 second intro, then wandered off, and came back for her first proper number.  Fortunately, I’d brought my 70-300mm lens, which I’d very nearly left at home, and managed to get a few shots.  When this song ended, we were asked to leave.  Yep, they classed the ‘intro’ as song number 1, which meant we essentially had about 5 and a half minutes (maximum) to get good shots of her.  3 songs isn’t usually enough, so this really wasn’t.  After being ushered out to the front door, having my camera taken off me and looked after by security before I was allowed to go back in to review the gig, I was completely disheartened.

If an doesn’t want photos taking, they shouldn’t allow passes to be given out. Some of you might read this and think, “Stop whinging, she has the right to say where images of her end up” (fair enough) or that I should count myself lucky for the opportunity. I do. If you’d have told 12-year-old-me that in 9 years time, I’d be photographing Avril Lavigne, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second.  It’s just a shame it was such a difficult and not particularly fun experience.

Avril Lavigne Review

Avril Lavigne Photo Gallery