Tried a few times before, and failed for various reasons, but I've gone away and worked on those things, so I decided to try again :-)
Looking forward to your comments, even negative ones can only help me in the long-term.

how about a list of reasons of what you personally think makes a Pro Spotter and why you feel you qualify...

OK. A Pro Spotter is someone that's produced consistently good work for quite a while, which I feel I've done. I know my equipment well now, which I really didn't do before. My work is consistent, in focus and colourful.

a pro spotter is also an ambassador for DSI, their character and etiquette are very important to the site, your overall impression to DJ's, clubbers, promoters and other tog's should be respected and valued.

Promoting harder faster on this website probably isnt the best way to portray yourself either. if you cant commit to this site why should it commit to you?

Have heard reports that you have a habit of lingering on stage. This is likely to piss off clubbers, DJ's, promoters as well as other photographers + any video guys there.
Don't know how true it is but thought it worth mentioning. I know others that have done it have really got in the way and annoyed me.

Get on, take your shot quickly + get off.
We're not the act that people come to see and so should spend as little time as possible onstage.
Wearing black also a good idea to be as least conspicuous as possible.

Do you stand in front of the dj all night you favourites seem to be littered with shots from that angle.
Why 2 similar shots of that model shoot next to each other? Pick 1

Im on opera at the mo will have a proper look when i get home

After reading this I saw that you had put on facebook that you were going to leave DSI and now you have....you really have a habit of not doing yourself any favours

Aparently not then?

aaaah nobody likes a quitter.

We were not that harsh were we?

Guess it saves me looking through pics 2nite :)

Personally I thought you were just being honest but some people don't like the truth

It was honest and constructive. End.

I think some people forget that spotting is about the punters, not the DJs. Get a few corking shots of them in the mix or whatever, and then get back to spotting the people that have paid to be there. After all, it's them that will come to this site to see if their picture is on here... the DJs wont!

DJ shots do not equal front pages, I think far too many people try to get in there, right up in front of the DJ, you know, big hand on a deck style.

And front pages are not the be all and end all of being a spotter anyway, we want to see people having a good time, the promoters want to see people having a good time.

DONT get all over the DJ, hang around on stages, or stand about in DJ booths.
DO take some photos of DJs and then get back out into the crowd
DONT think you're any better than anyone else in the venue, including other togs, and crew!
DO think about how your behaviour will affect the promoter or venue's opinion of spotters from DSI
DONT unsubscribe in a huff.

:/

wise words from Paul

PAUL GARDNER HAS SPOKEN!!!!

just had a look at mine, out of the 73 fp's - only 6 were of DJs and 2 of those were taken as a punter with a compact cam, so definately agree with that

AND WE SEEM TO BE TYPING IN CAPITALS.
Paul is spot on there. Its all about the people.