A few blogs ago, I had a bit of a rant.
It was about organisations not making the most of independent media.
This one is about the complete opposite.
Over the last couple of weekends, three completely different people have done exactly that.
They’ve opened the door.
And every one of them has benefited from it.
Guitar Olly
The first was Guitar Olly, or rather his parents.
I’m helping out with a charity project involving Olly and his family (more on that soon), and I was invited along to take photographs while we filmed some content.
Walking through town with him was surreal.
For a little while, I felt like I was part of an entourage.
Not because I thought I was important.
But because everyone else knew who Olly was.
As we left the studio, a lady suddenly shouted across the street.
“Olly is the best!”
She wanted everyone around her to know how talented he was. We carried on walking while she was still telling complete strangers how brilliant he was.
A few days later, with Ollys influence, I somehow managed to blag my way into the photographers’ pit at a major festival. It was a first for me. Then, disaster struck.
No spare batteries.
I’d left them at home.
Out came my little Lumix.
Instead of sulking, I stayed to photograph Roscoe. While waiting for them, I stumbled across a young band from Winsford called The Voke.
I’d never heard of them.
Within a few songs I’d made a note.
These lads deserve a Wrexham gig.
I’m already trying to get them on a bill at either The Parish or The Rockin’ Chair.
Sometimes the best discoveries happen by accident. The invite to the festival turned out mighty fine. Loads of content, loads of contacts.
Wrexfest
The second example is Wrexfest.
Brendan and the team at Wrexfest don’t just let me take photographs.
They encourage it.
They’ve given me complete freedom to document the festival however I want. On top of that, they’ve trusted me with my own stage to showcase up-and-coming bands at the Saith Seren.
Think about that for a moment.
They’re not worried about losing control of the story.
They understand that every photograph, every blog, every video and every interview reaches another audience.
That’s how events grow.
Kneecap
The third example came courtesy of Kev at the Rockin Chair.
Kneecap.
Probably one of the most talked-about bands around.
Photography access wasn’t straightforward.
Kev didn’t have to get involved.
But he did.
He pushed for me to get my camera into the venue and, eventually, I was given access to the photographers’ pit.
Again, somebody understood the value of independent media.
Not because I was doing them a favour.
Because we were helping each other.
The point
Three completely different people.
Three completely different events.
Three people who understood something that many organisations still don’t.
Independent media isn’t there to replace your own social media.
It’s there to amplify it.
Every audience is different.
Some people follow football.
Some follow music.
Some follow charities.
Some just follow WXM Weekly because they enjoy discovering what’s happening around the town.
The more people telling your story, the further that story travels.
That’s not competition.
That’s collaboration.
Sometimes all it takes is opening the door.
And if the last couple of weekends have taught me anything...
It’s that the people who do usually get the biggest rewards.