From 1992 through 2002, there were 232 deaths from crowd-safety failures at concerts and festivals around the world, and more than 66,000 people were injured. During a single week in 2003, a stampede to exit the E2 nightclub in Chicago left 21 dead by asphyxiation or heart attack; 100 others died either trying to escape or from injuries after they escaped a pyrotechnics fire at a Great White concert at the Station, a club in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

Concerts, sports arenas, and other performance events should be a safe, entertaining activity for the public. Conscientious promoters, security firms, and performing artists must create a secure environment for all. It is their legal responsibility to do this to look out for the safety of their patrons. Unfortunately, many concert planners are more concerned about the bottom line than they are about the safety of their patrons.

Concerts and music festivals can be an enjoyable and entertaining activity, but with thousands of concert goers injured each year, it is important that we recognize the possible safety risks. Conscientious venue managers, performers, promoters and security firms work to provide a safe environment for attendees. The concert industry has known for decades about the dangers of concerts that proceed without proper planning, and it is up to responsible concert planners to do take some simple steps to ensure a safe a fun concert experience. There are danger signs that you should look for, to help protect your children, yourself and your friends.

Keeping your senses alert and being aware of your surroundings can help keep you out of harms way. Some event stressors taken into consideration by professional risk managers can be represented by the acronym FIST:

Force: An estimation of pressure loads created by a crowd by a calculation based on density.

Information: The sights and sounds affecting group perceptions: signs, announcements, staff training and ticket systems.

Space: The practical working capacities of entry gates and lane systems, viewing areas, corridors, ramps and stairs.

Time: The different degree of crowding that can be expected during the longer period of ingress compared to the shorter post performance egress.

This acronym suggests several rules to help us stay safe while in a crowd. Furthermore, virtually all concert goers don’t know the dangers of a crowd crush injury, and understandably, but mistakenly believe, that safety steps have been taken to keep them out of harm’s way. Regrettably, that’s not always true. Here are a few things that you should look out for:

• In concerts that have “general admission tickets,” (otherwise known as “festival seating”), overcrowded fields can be a trap for the unwary. While general admission concerts can be fun, reckless concert planners may not limit the number of people who can access the field, and patrons can get trapped in a sea of bodies if concert planners ignore your safety. The combination of big crowds in uncontrolled spaces leads to disaster.
   

• Look to see if the planners have installed a “T” or “H” barrier in the audience, to limit the number of people who can congregate in any one area. Responsible concert planners have installed these safety barriers for decades. Unfortunately, however, many planners put profits over people, preferring to put the money to install safety barriers into their own pockets, rather than in safety needs of patrons. (Click here for a photograph of an “H” barrier installed at the HFStival in Washington, D.C. in 2003).
   

• Arrive to the event in plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the nearest exits, and locations of the security office, medical services, and phones. When entering a venue, check the emergency exits and share and confirm the locations and status with your companions. As you position yourself in the venue, make a note of the nearest exit, preferably a secondary exit -- NOT the main entry/exit.
   

• To avoid a crowd's rush to leave following a performance, consider departing before the end of the show.

The above information can help you to asses the risk to the crowd by the event surroundings. For more information, please see some of the helpful links and articles below, or contact us and we will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Resources for Attendees, Parents and Families

Article: Won’t get fooled again
Overcrowding at concerts causes injury and death—despite industry denials. Don’t be fooled: Crowd crush cases turn on straightforward questions of foreseeability and duty of care.

CrowdSafe.com - Safety statistics and guidelines. News and Resources about improving crowd management.

SafeConcerts.com - Review an event venue before you attend, read what previous concert goers had to say about safety and security.

CrowdDynamics.com - "Insufficient consideration of human space requirements has resulted in inadequate design of many areas where pedestrians may be required to accumulate in large groups. In some instances, overcrowding of these areas has resulted in injury and loss of life." Fruin. Pedestrian Planning and Design

Court Order Recognizing Obligations of Promoter, Crowd Managment Company, and Performer
 

» Article: Won’t get fooled again
Overcrowding at concerts causes injury and death—despite industry denials. Don’t be fooled: Crowd crush cases turn on straightforward questions of foreseeability and duty of care.

» CrowdSafe.com - Safety statistics and guidelines. News and Resources about improving crowd management.

» SafeConcerts.com - Review an event venue before you attend, read what previous concert goers had to say about safety and security.

» CrowdDynamics.com - "Insufficient consideration of human space requirements has resulted in inadequate design of many areas where pedestrians may be required to accumulate in large groups. In some instances, overcrowding of these areas has resulted in injury and loss of life." Fruin. Pedestrian Planning and Design

» Court Order Recognizing Obligations of Promoter, Crowd Managment Company, and Performer