Working media charged at the gate

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I covered a pair of sectional semifinal high school soccer matches last night (don't apologize, I enjoy soccer).
As I walk up to the gate, there are a few people in line in front of me. Someone makes a comment about the $5 entry fee and the woman taking money says, "That's set by the IHSA; even the media have to pay."
I thought she was just joking; maybe she recognized me and was trying to ruffle my feathers.

As I get to the table I say, "Hi, I'm from the Bumble**** Star."

Woman: "$5, please. The IHSA says even media has to pay."

Me: "You're kidding, right?"

Woman: "Nope, the IHSA said media has to pay too."

Me: "Well, I'm going to need a receipt."

Woman: *looks in her money draw, finds nothing, looks all around for I don't know what*

Me: *pulling out my wallet* "I need a receipt so I can get reimbursed by the Bumble**** Star."

Woman: "Fine, just go."

Me: "OK."

-----------------

I later find the athletics director who said, "What? No, you shouldn't be charged. I'll get your money back for you."
That's when I explained I didn't give her any money and he assured me it wouldn't be a problem on Monday for the final.

-----------------

I was just excited I got to use the "I need a receipt" line to make 'em sweat.

 

[kingcreole]

The state manuals always specify that media do not have to pay for state events ... at least the state I live in.

The "I need a receipt" thing gets them ruffled enough 99 percent of the time to let you go. Well done.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

I was in an argument with a woman about paying at a high school basketball game (i was freelancing), and I said, "I'm 26 years old. Do you think I'd come to a (crappy) high school basketball game for fun?" The guy behind me in line was cracking up.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Media or not, who would pay $5 to see a soccer game anyway?

 

[Moderator1]

We accept the ticket stub as the receipt. If someone demands we pay, we pay. Most of the area high school leagues/districts/associations have passes they distribute. Some do not. The cost of a ticket is not worth turning into an issue.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I've had people try to make me pay before. I just ask their name so I'll know who to tell parents caused their kid's game not to get covered.

I rarely carry more than a few bucks on me, so I hate when people sk for money. But it rarely happens. I did have to pay for a program because school had no roster of its won school available. I may be petty, but that ticks me off. It wouldn't have been as bad if the lady at the program booth wasn't such a ***** about it.

 

[Trouser_Buddah]

I rarely carry more than a few bucks on me, so I hate when people sk for money.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

We accept the ticket stub as the receipt. If someone demands we pay, we pay. Most of the area high school leagues/districts/associations have passes they distribute. Some do not. The cost of a ticket is not worth turning into an issue.

They weren't giving tickets stubs. And I can't turn in my stamped hand.

I wasn't going to turn it into an issue, but I figured I needed to try the "I need a receipt" line. If that didn't work, I would've asked to see the AD. If still got heat, I would've paid and contacted the state association.

 

[Moderator1]

For places that don't give tickets or stubs, we accept "I had to pay." We trust our folks not to cheat us out of 5-10 bucks.

 

[wickedwritah]

Few years back, I'm a stringer and I'm asked to cover a state field hockey final. No credential, of course.

It happened to be one of those rare days I didn't carry any cash on me. So I get to the gate, and I run into the one group of people who refuse to believe someone toting a tape recorder and notebook was a reporter. I argued with the guy for five minutes. He was just doing his job, so I kind of felt bad, but I was pissed -- partly at myself for not being prepared. I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded. Finally, I just hopped in my car, searched around for an ATM (that wasn't easy, took about 10 minutes) and headed back to the field.

It wasn't an issue of reimbursement, either, since that paper reimbursed its people pretty well. It was just annoyance.

 

[outofplace]

That's a very good attitude, Moddy. Not that I can pull it off, but it is admirable.

I only really got into an argument over a situation like that once. I was at a smaller suburban paper and I was covering one of our main schools in a first-round playoff game. They had been terrible for years and were making their first post-season appearance in over a decade. I had covered that team five or six times that year, including four at home, so these people at the gate had seen me before. It's the kind of community where you'd be amazed how many people know the preps reporters at the local paper.

Even with my ID, they wouldn't let me in. The head coach was the AD, so it was a pain to get him to come out and deal with stuff like that. I was about to pay anyway when one of the assistant coaches saw what was going on and called me over. He rolled his eyes at the goofballs at the gate and handed me one of his extra tickets through the fence.

The ticket takers saw the whole thing, so I did enjoy favoring them with a smirk as I entered.

 

[Moderator1]

This is not a knock on you OOP or the others but is a point about that attitude in general.
You favor them with a smirk and they sit there thinking, "****ing asshole."
It is easier, and pays off in the long run, to smile, be nice and pay. If your paper won't pay you back, well, that's a whole 'nuther issue.

 

[spnited]

Sorry folks but if you don't have some kind of credential you can't expect people to just let you walk in, especially to State tournament events where State associations often lay down stupid rules for host sites to follow.
Stop bitching and go about things like a professional.

And as for stuff like this:

I've had people try to make me pay before. I just ask their name so I'll know who to tell parents caused their kid's game not to get covered.

I rarely carry more than a few bucks on me, so I hate when people sk for money. But it rarely happens. I did have to pay for a program because school had no roster of its won school available. I may be petty, but that ticks me off. It wouldn't have been as bad if the lady at the program booth wasn't such a ***** about it.

Grow the **** up and stop being a petty little *****.

 

[JR]

I agree with Moddy but what's with people not carrying any cash around with them?

That's just plain stupid.

 

[Moderator1]

Few years back, I'm a stringer and I'm asked to cover a state field hockey final. No credential, of course.

It happened to be one of those rare days I didn't carry any cash on me. So I get to the gate, and I run into the one group of people who refuse to believe someone toting a tape recorder and notebook was a reporter. I argued with the guy for five minutes. He was just doing his job, so I kind of felt bad, but I was pissed -- partly at myself for not being prepared. I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded. Finally, I just hopped in my car, searched around for an ATM (that wasn't easy, took about 10 minutes) and headed back to the field.

It wasn't an issue of reimbursement, either, since that paper reimbursed its people pretty well. It was just annoyance.

To this point, let me offer some Moddy advice:

Everyone take a 10 or, better yet, a 20 out right now. Fold it neatly and stick it somewhere in your wallet. And forget about it until you need it for something like that.
You kids. No cash society. My son once had three bucks on him when I visited and I asked if he needed more. No, he said, I'm good. I was back two weeks later. Same three bucks.
You'll need some actual folding cash one day.

Don't, however, do what I did once. My state used to have these stupid driver's licenses that folded over. Almost a mini-wallet. So I stuck my 20 in there.
I get pulled, hand the bad boy to the polite young officer (cough - he was a prick - cough). He brings back the 20 and says, "I'm certain this was not intended for me. Or was it?"
No, it sure wasn't, I said, grabbing it back.

 

[mike311gd]

I was in an argument with a woman about paying at a high school basketball game (i was freelancing), and I said, "I'm 26 years old. Do you think I'd come to a (crappy) high school basketball game for fun?" The guy behind me in line was cracking up.

I traveled to a high school playoff basketball game a little more than an hour away, and when I left my car, I realized my newspaper badge at my house. I had my laptop and notebook with me, but the taker still gave me a tough time. I pleased with her to let me in, and I said pretty much what you said: "If I didn't work for the newspaper, I wouldn't drive 75 minutes to see this game." She said she needed verification that I was, in fact, a reporter (for which I can't blame her), so I called my editor. In the middle of our conversation, she let me in to speed things along.

Now I never leave home without my credential.

 

[zeke12]

Grow the **** up and stop being a petty little *****.

That's uncalled for. It's damn easy to take the high road when you're making decent money.

I'd like to see how you handle yourself when you're making 22K a year with a student loan payment and a car payment and rent eating all of your check and you're eating ramen noodles every second week and your paper won't reimburse a thing without a receipt and some pissy soccer mom on a power trip is trying to chisel you out of five bucks.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Sorry folks but if you don't have some kind of credential you can't expect people to just let you walk in, especially to State tournament events where State associations often lay down stupid rules for host sites to follow.
Stop bitching and go about things like a professional.

And as for stuff like this:

I've had people try to make me pay before. I just ask their name so I'll know who to tell parents caused their kid's game not to get covered.

I rarely carry more than a few bucks on me, so I hate when people sk for money. But it rarely happens. I did have to pay for a program because school had no roster of its won school available. I may be petty, but that ticks me off. It wouldn't have been as bad if the lady at the program booth wasn't such a ***** about it.

Grow the **** up and stop being a petty little *****.

I always have a pass with me, a company issued photo ID with our logo on it. That wasn't going to make a difference.

And the thing is, the state association didn't make this rule. This was a case of some box of rocks nimrod making up some rule.

 

[Football_Bat]

A lot of states (Oklahoma for one) issue media pass cards through their state high school associations. But for some reason, Texas does not.

Most of the places I go know who I am. But if the computer bag and notepad aren't enough for some, I carry a business card and a sports section with my byline. I have yet to play the receipt card. Maybe I will get my sainted mother to write me a note so I can flash it as a joke someday.

 

[Moderator1]

Grow the **** up and stop being a petty little *****.

That's uncalled for. It's damn easy to take the high road when you're making decent money.

I'd like to see how you handle yourself when you're making 22K a year with a student loan payment and a car payment and rent eating all of your check and you're eating ramen noodles every second week and your paper won't reimburse a thing without a receipt and some pissy soccer mom on a power trip is trying to chisel you out of five bucks.

"Do me a favor, please, ma'am. My paper is funny about reimbursement. Would you please jot a note on a piece of paper from my notepad that I paid this money? I appreciate it."

She's not a pissy soccer mom on a power trip. She's a parent volunteer doing her job.
If your paper won't pay you back for that, you have a serious workplace issue.