Time For A Periodic Reminder About Concert Safety

Every so often, I post reminders about concert safety here. Usually these reminders come after tragedy and that is the case today. Last night, eight people were crushed to death at the AstroWorld Festival in Houston, Texas. 50,000 people were at the festival hosted and headlined by Travis Scott.

Apparently people jumped barricades and got into the show for free - adding to an already huge crowd. To say nothing of the ongoing pandemic, 50,000 people in a festival-seating type event is just... a lot. So remember, when you go to concerts like this:

1. Maintain your situational awareness. Watch how people around you are acting. You can tell when people start acting agitated or overly aggressive.

2. If you are a petite woman, consider being anywhere other than the barrier. I say this as a petite woman myself. When I was younger, I would go to the front of shows. Now, you will never see me there if we're talking about a massive crowd situation. Smaller people are more easily crushed, trampled, thrown, shoved or assaulted.

3. Listen to your instincts. You have them for a reason. If you start to feel uneasy, get out of dodge.

4. If you notice people acting some kind of way - or you feel a crowd surge coming - calmly work your way to the side. Quickly assess which side of the stage you are closer to and work that way. Don't work backward. Just shift one way or the other a little at a time.

5. Report overly aggressive behavior to event security.

6. No matter what - if you are at an open-air venue, a shed, an area or a club venue, always take note of the closest exit. Make sure you know how to get out in case of emergency. This doesn't have to be a whole big thing. Just take a look around when you and your friends get to a show, make a mental note and then go have fun.

It's really a shame so many people were killed and hurt at the festival last night. Ultimately security is on the police and the promoter, in this case Live Nation.

pic.twitter.com/ucljeOiMRn

— ASTROWORLD FEST (@astroworldfest) November 6, 2021

Some footage of people blasting through event gates:

As we were arriving to the Astroworld Festival at NRG Park right at 2:00, a stampede burst through the gates. Hundreds of people destroyed the VIP security entrance, bypassing the checkpoint. People were trampled. Some were detained.

(Excuse any language you may hear) pic.twitter.com/d0m2rjqAAk

— Mycah Hatfield (@MycahABC13) November 5, 2021

These guys were at AstroWorld and they talk about having to walk over bodies.

“Packed in like sardines” — that’s how festival goers including these 2 guys in the front row describe last nights tragic event @astroworldfest. They say a wave moved through a crowd of 50K — people pushing to the point where they couldn’t breathe or move. Just awful. @KHOU pic.twitter.com/XGOJLWV41e

— Michelle Choi (@MichelleKHOU) November 6, 2021

And some tidbits on our friends at Live Nation:

THREAD: The morning after Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival ended in a deadly tragedy, OSHA documents reveal the concert's organizers had a lengthy record of safety violations, @GabMoBanks reports.
📷 @mrkmully
➡️ https://t.co/5ui29OJb4x pic.twitter.com/kZPGj8gA04

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) November 6, 2021

Between 2016-2019, @LiveNation and Live Nation Entertainment were cited for 10 OSHA violations and fined for serious violations, including problems that caused a fall at a theater in Connecticut in 2016. https://t.co/5ui29OJb4x

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) November 6, 2021

The company has also faced lawsuits, including one by a concertgoer who broke her leg during a stampede at an outdoor Gwen Stefani concert in North Carolina that same year. https://t.co/5ui29OJb4x

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) November 6, 2021

And this is absolutely wild - two concertgoers attempt to stop the show by alerting a camera operator. He did not respond while in the video clip. He was wearing a walkie-talkie. You can hear the girl say "Someone is dead!"

"Stop the show" and the staff did nothing. This shit is fcking heartbreaking #AstroWorld
pic.twitter.com/nFiqGk65aU

— trey 〽️ (@honest_papi) November 6, 2021

Comments

[Him]

Good tips, Allyson.

Free is free, I guess?!?! Yikes. We humans do a poor job on occasion of reminding ourselves why we have any right to live on this marble. And now suggestions/allegations of a dork running around with an opioid-filled needle?

Good security? Check (not). Proactive law enforcement? Check (not). Concerned employees? Check (not). Promoters putting fans first? Check (not). So many nots you would think this was an attempt to create a double fisherman (sorry . . . salty fishing joke)!

I think if I want to listen to Earth, Wind, and Fire (I think Fire is the only one still with this version of the band), I will watch them on TV! One last question: would a Bad Bunny ever drive a Tame Impala? Just curious.

Condolences to people who lost friends/loved ones. Tragedy that this happened.

[GNR]

Corporations that put this show on, insurance companies, security, and the talent will all get blamed and ultimately be shamed and have to pay out a settlement. But really, it's about the behavior of people with no respect for things that is at fault. Just watch the video of the security being overwhelmed because the mentality of these people is the same. Generational thing ? Thinking you can get whatever you want by just taking ? Selfishness and no self respect for other people.

[Him]

GNR, I don't think this is limited to a 'generational' argument. It is a sad fact of human nature. And we live in a time where it is, sadly, easier to see this aspect of our nature on full display. But perhaps that is a good thing: can we look into this mirror and not think: what do we have to do to retain/regain/find decency? To find an ounce of compassion, no less composure?

I feel old even writing that.