Live Nation upgrades US concert security

Live Nation has announced that it has upgraded security at the all US concerts and events in the wake of the Bataclan terrorist attacks in Paris in November.

More than a dozen arenas have announced new security measures made at Live Nation's request which will include screening fans with metal detectors and limiting what type of bags fans can be brought into concerts and events: The specific requirements for all non NHL/NBA venues are as follows 

- Bags no larger than 13.62-inch by 15.25-inch are permitted and all backs should be clear or see-through

- Everyone must pass through a walk-through metal detector.

- Installation of camera systems with a command centre monitoring capability.

- Cultural training for staff with an emphasis on appropriate handling of ethnic & religious sensitivities.

- Pre-event inspections by bomb detection K9 units.

Most sports team home venues had already adopted these measures.

LA looks at EDM safety

In the wake of the deaths of two teenagers at the Live Nation promoted HARD Summer festival last month, the Los Angeles County Board Of Supervisors has formed an Electronic Music Task Force to "provide recommendations on ways to make electronic music festivals safer for attendees". 

Teenagers Tracy Nguyen and Katie Dix both died at the Hard Summer festival at the county-owned Fairplex on 1st August, and their deaths were seemingly drugs related. Dozens more festival-goers reportedly required hospital treatment. A subsequent event planned at the site owned by the County of Los Angeles was cancelled by Live Nation. With LA County considering a ban on EDM events at any venue it owns, Live Nation also cut back the capacity of another event scheduled for Halloween and committed to add free water stations, increase security and medical services, and distribute drug education literature at that two-day show.

The motion put forward to propose the new task force states that a ban on EDM events at LA Country owned facilities is still "a possibility", though First Amendment issues around such a ban will be considered first, as well as what health and safety measures could counter concerns. One of the people behind the new task force set to review dance music events in the region is LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who said in a statement: "I want to emphasise that our efforts around this motion, above all, are about the health and safety of those attending these events"

 A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Fair Association, which runs Fairplex, told reporters: "Fairplex will continue to work with Live Nation, the board of supervisors and all public agencies to ensure the continued safety of all guests. We will work together to do everything we can".


Meanwhile, troubled EDM promoter SFX has also cancelled the One Tribe festival which was due to take place near LA on 25th and 26th September. This was as a result of poor ticket sales.

HMV Manchester in store chaos prompts safety rethink

Manchester HMV will re-evaluates its safety policies after "hundreds" of Bars And Melody fans were locked out of an in-store appearance. According to the Manchester Evening News, the teen rap stars made an appearance at the store to sign copies of their debut single, 'Hopeful'. Entry was via the purchase of a paiud for copy of the CD, but many arrived after the shop had sold out. With many fans barred from meeting the duo and growing increasingly angry, HMV staff apparently pulled down the shop's shutters and called the police. Store manager Terry Doyle told the MEN that the store's capacity was a maximum of 600 people, and that 800 copies of the Bars And Melody single had been ordered in, which sold out on the morning of the event. A HMV spokesperson said "The safety and welfare of all customers is a priority and all events will continue to be organised with this at the front of mind. Clearly there may always be disappointed fans when events are organised with extremely popular artists, and HMV will work to minimise this disappointment wherever possible."

Australian Event Safety Alliance launches

The Event Safety Alliance Australia (ESAA) has launched, in response to the increasing need for a universal code of best practise in the live events industry.   With news of accidents at events increasingly common around the World, the Alliances has been formed to address these issues and the ESAA intends to bring together all the players in this diverse market – from performing arts to broadcast - to develop a truly representational voice for the Australian industry. The ESAA's founders say that the challenges of safety and emergency management that face people in the events industry are not just regional nor national, but truly international.  The ESAA says it plans to engage with professionals and other organisations worldwide to work toward providing mutual support, with the goal of developing the best solutions for the industry, wherever it operates.

For more information visit the website and register your interest.

http://www.eventsafetyalliance.org.au/mission.html

Enquiries: media@eventsafetyalliance.org.au