Concert Venue Safety Checklist

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An injured attendee or performer is the last thing you want when putting on a concert. No matter what kind of concert venue you operate, it is your responsibility to provide a safe and legal environment for everyone in attendance. There are many risks a venue might face and you must address all vulnerabilities, threats and likely consequences weeks before the curtains drop.   

The variables may change with venue and attendance, but the goal of an “uneventful” music event should always be a top priority. Here is a quick concert venue safety checklist with four topics of importance:

Structure Safety

If you plan on hosting a temporary site performance, duties such as siting, erection and structural design must undergo rigorous inspection prior to the event. After the fatal stage collapse in Indianapolis during the 2012 State Fair, the world began to rethink venue safety. Although severe weather did play a role in this disaster, sources close to the matter stated the structure “was not built or inspected properly.” Both temporary sites and permanent concert venues must be thoroughly inspected for structural integrity to ensure the safety of performers and staff. The stage, mixing towers, video screens and lighting must all pass inspection.

Electrical Equipment and Lighting

As you can imagine, suspended lighting and other electrical components pose a major threat at both outdoor and indoor concerts. Electrical power distribution and lighting power distribution should always be performed by a credible organization with years of experience and professional hardware. The amount of electricity coursing around the stage can be fatal, and almost proved to be for KISS guitarist Ace Frehley in 1976. Frehley grabbed a railing that was ungrounded as he descended to the stage and completed a circuit with his guitar. He suffered a severe electric shock and only escaped a fatality by somehow releasing his grip. Electrical and lighting distribution are major responsibilities and all connections must be double-checked before anyone, performer or staff, is allowed on the premise.

Venue Security

The size of the event and venue will have the most influence on the scope of your security detail. If you operate a music hall in a city environment, chances are you have a strategy in place for any event: doormen, crowd control and backstage personnel can be assigned based upon similar shows in the past. Outdoor events are much more complicated and often involve additional tasks such as monitoring fences and trailers of the performers. When hiring outside security, decide what type of contract security you need and how many guards you need. Off-duty uniformed and plainclothes police officers are always a wise choice due to their crowd-control training.

Crowd Management

There are three stages to crowd management: before, during and after the show. Ingress, or the entrance of attendees, must be a coordinated effort with safety procedures prepared well in advance. Ejections during the event can become troublesome if the designated exits and quick access to extra personnel is not established. Egress, or exiting the event, entails both foot traffic and vehicle traffic. Concertgoers trust you with their time, welfare and in some cases, their lives. Follow the aforementioned concert venue safety tips and everyone will be chanting for an encore at your venue next year.

About the author:

Christina Chatfield is Marketing Communications Manager of HARTING USA in Elgin, IL. As industrial cable manufacturers for the entertainment industry, HARTING Technology Group develops, manufactures and sells industrial products, such as electrical wiring connectors and electrical cables, for your specialized needs.