Why You Should Never Post A Photo Of Your Pass

It looks harmless, a quick photo for Instagram. But that one post can be copied, faked, and used by wrong-un’s to get access where they really shouldn’t.

Yes, it’s very tempting.

You’re lucky enough to have landed a job at a big show working in some capacity, you have a laminate, you are backstage, you are very excited, and you want to show off, tell all your friends - it’s what Social Media is for, right? Photos or it didn’t happen!

Er, no. You are likely to be fired; I know several who have been, and I know one who was actually taken to court by the promoter.

Why? Because you’re not just posting a photo, you are posting a template, and that template becomes a pass in the wrong hands.

Back in 2017, someone did exactly that, two people saw it, recreated it, printed it, added a wristband… and walked straight to a secret Foo Fighters show in Frome.

No ticket, no questions, they just wandered in.

Now, those two just wanted to see the band; they didn’t want to go backstage or even onstage, but that’s not really the point, because it could just as easily been someone else, someone who doesn’t want to watch the show, someone who wants to cause harm.

After the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 of the Arianna Grande show, this stopped being a “don’t be daft” situation, because a pass doesn’t just get you into a show, it can get you backstage, side of stage, production areas and places the public can’t get into, and if the wrong person gets into those areas that are not designed for strangers it’s extremely dangerous.

Imagine if the attacker, Salman Abedi, had a pass that he’d copied from a post, and rather than detonate the device in the foyer, he was able to roam unquestioned in the arena?

Supporting those affected by the Manchester Arena attack

Now, to be clear, I’m not saying never post it at all, it’s absolutely fine AFTER the festival or tour has finished, once everything’s packed down, everyone’s gone home, and the pass is effectively useless…

Fill your boots. Post it. Frame it. Show your mum. Mine are on towel rails in the downstairs loo, and yes, they are in chronological order.

But during a live show / festival / tour when that pass actually means something? It’s a hard no.

The best shows are the ones where everything runs smoothly, no one notices the work behind it, and everyone goes home safe. Posting your laminate during a live show is a very easy way to introduce something that might get in the way of that.

So if you see a mate / colleague posting images of their passes on social media, tell them not to be a fucking idiot. Please. Let’s make this something as common sense as not going for a Donald in the tour bus toilet.

Just keep the memories, just don’t post the pass.

The last thing you want at a show is a nut job with a pass;

ask Noel

Or Robbie

But don’t mess with Keith.

I originally wrote this on my old blog, Tomorrow Today Will Be Yesterday in March 2017, then updated it after the horrific attack at the Arianna Grande show 22nd March 2017. I thought it was worth re-posting before Festival season starts again.