Events and industry norms will vary.

Some musical theatres might say on their website: “All shows are protected by stringent copyright laws and taking still photos, video and audio recordings is a direct violation of these laws.”

Big bands performing concerts will probably be stringent re: DSLR photography, and only allow media accredited professional photographers. Smaller gigs I’ve simply asked at the door whether I can take photos for personal use, and have been let in without issue.

I’d do a combination of research beforehand, and contacting those responsible for the event if necessary.

Public events (like where you can just walk in), perhaps yes. But others I’m sure you are not able to just walk in and start taking photos.

Just contact the event organizer beforehand, in all cases. Better safe than sorry.

edit:this got longer than I expected. TL;DR: find a group doing anything on a regular basis, take photos of them on a regular basis, get to know them - benefit.

As others said, it depends on the event. Don’t just go anywhere and take photos. Inform yourself or speak to someone and if there are professionals, don’t stand in their way.

I suggest you to find a local club of anything. Don’t know where you’re from and whats popular in your area but you might know someone who goes to soccer practice or maybe is a fan of a sports team. Seek out a contact to speak to. explain to them, that you are an amateur photographer working on your skills/portfolio. Let them use your photos. Most of those players/participants will be thrilled to have some action shots of themselves doing their favorite thing. They will want to use your photos for instagram or dating apps etc. You will get to know them and all of them will know the photographer after some time. Maybe one of them works somewhere, where they need a photographer, maybe he likes your pictures and hires you etc. a lot of those players may marry someday and will need a photographer. you see where this is going. You can switch soccer with anything else you are more interested in. Learning to shoot Sportevents is at the same time some of the harder event-jobs. So you’re learningcurve will be huge. Maybe you’re not into sports at all. Think wide here, anything that happens on a regular basis (so you get to know ppl and get in practice), is not pro enough, to have a photographer and has a group of people participating works. Maybe it’s a theatre group, maybe it’s a group of friends bowling.

I did something similar 8 years ago with and work as a professional Sport- Events- and Commercial-Photographer ever since. Maybe you’re not into sports at all, as I said. It can be anything. It’s the advice I give to anyone whos asks me how to start as a photographer. Get in practice and get to know a lot of people. When you work on a professional level your skill will max out at some point. You will take pictures on the most professional level, there is a lot of photographers who take photos on the same level, from that moment on contacts is the second most important factor in getting jobs.

I’ve just been using Facebook Events. Parades, Old Home Days, Touch-A-Trucks, concerts in the park, etc.
But yeah, def email a privately owned venue. They should have a media guide.

You cannot just show up to a private event (even some public events) and start to take photos of strangers. Just go on their website/Facebook/ Instagram and just ask. If you ask nicely people will let you shoot their events. And if they let you come shoot don’t be an asshole about copyright either, just let them use it for free. You can worry about the copyright when you start to shoot professionally.

Public Parades, outdoors concerts, festivals.

Go to your local skate park after business hours, be very obvious that you’re taking photos (don’t be a creep), be ready to show your photos and potentially share them. The Nikon app can automatically send 2MP previews to your phone that are usually more than enough for socials, so I usually just send those. I’m assuming the other apps do the same thing.

More likely than not you will not be able to walk in and start taking photos unless you’re with an approved vendor or publication, however if it’s music you’re looking to get photos of I got my own personal start shooting local music gigs happening in my area. Small town bands love photos of themselves, especially if it’s cheap/free. Any content to post online is better than nothing, and you can definitely use that to your advantage to practice photography.

I used to shoot theater, the best time is to catch them during the dress rehearsal, where they’re in costume and got their acts down. But be sure to ask the director for permission! You can always start by approaching some of the actors or lighting person to create a connection. You’ll wanna ask the lighting person to bump up the lights a little bit. *To shoot during the paid performance is too disruptive. Once you get a permission get the shots and help them publish some of the good shots to promote the event. They’ll appreciate it. That was basically my job.

Once you have enough work to show, that becomes your talking point, because you can readily approach people and show them what you can do.

Good luck!

What I do, is carrying my camera in my backpack. If I see something cool I just take a pic. Or just take the 3026728 picture of my palm next to my tv. Or some other random stuff like my food and wine. I’ll just love to take pictures. Some are okay, some are garbage, but I feel the rate of great and good is getting higher every time

The smaller the even the less people will care about you taking photos as long as you are not using flash.

Emailing venue, or performer ahead of time is good idea, but also being nice to bouncer works just as well.