The peak season for major tours and festivals is swiftly approaching, and major artists like Nine Inch Nails are already on the road visiting major cities across the states. Meanwhile, music fans are preparing to spend long days and nights enjoying their favorite artists and bands. While planning their concert and festival schedule, concert outfits, and pre-show meetups with friends, attendees should also pay attention to concert safety tips.
High-energy tours draw massive crowds of fans who flock to venues, ready to sing and dance along with their favorites. It’s easy to be swept up into the moment, and sometimes what makes a concert so exciting can cause safety issues. For example, crowd density can become dangerous when it surges toward the stage, forcing people forward until they are compressed together and can’t move.
A pre-show plan can alleviate worries and prevent problems, so concertgoers can enjoy the concert experience.
Before attending a concert or festival, an individual should visit the venue website and review the rules for entry and re-entry, and the bag policy. The floor access points should also be studied, along with exits.
Attendees should plan to only take essentials into the venue, such as their phone and a backup battery (if both are allowed), ID, one payment method, and earplugs. These items should fit comfortably in a pocket or a small bag. Many venues allow small, clear bags only.
If an individual is planning to meet up with others, there should be two designated meeting points. One should be outside the venue, the other inside. If someone can’t find the group outside, they have a second chance to find their friends inside.
When entering a concert venue, attendees should expect to experience crowd pressure at the doors, security tables, and general admission (GA) floor entrances. People should take care not to push forward, but wait patiently for the lines to advance.
A 10-minute checklist should be followed when first arriving inside the venue. An attendee should locate where the water, bathrooms, and security are located. They should also take note of any visible staff locations. Two exits should also be identified in case a quick departure is necessary.
It’s best to remember that high-demand tours can create early bottlenecks at entrances as people rush the floor to get the best spot in GA. A person should take the time to notice where the crowd is already the most compact.
The barricade may have the best proximity to the stage, but it is also going to experience the most pressure when the music artist or band comes on stage. There will be a surge forward that could trap concertgoers.
The soundboard zone doesn’t experience the crowd crush and is often a better location to experience the music because it has stable sound.
For those who want to move easily and don’t want to be trapped by the crowd, the side pockets offer more space.
Attendees need to be aware of high-density red flags, such as being unable to lift their arms freely, being moved around by the crush of the crowd, or being unable to turn around without repeated contact with other concertgoers.
Concert attendees can anticipate spikes in the crowd pressure by the set mechanics. When the lights go down and the intro tape starts, the crowd will push toward the stage in anticipation. The first song will also draw more people to the floor and away from the band vendor tables and food and drink kiosks. This could result in being pushed forward from behind.
Other points of the set to take note of are the biggest chorus drops, the most popular song, and the encore. These moments can result in the crowd surging forward, or in some genres of music, the creation of a pit.
A few ways to remain stable in a crowd are for a person to stagger their feet for balance, keeping one shoulder slightly angled to prevent being pinned, and avoiding an area where they can be trapped between railings and the bodies of other attendees.
In some concerts, a mosh pit will form on the floor. If a person doesn’t want to participate, they should move away from the area. If they do want to join in, they should follow good pit etiquette.
Self-policing in the pit is essential to safety. If someone falls, they should be helped to their feet immediately. The elbows should be kept down to not injure others. Non-participants should be avoided, respecting their space.
When exiting a pit, it’s best to move diagonally toward the outer edge and ease out. A person can also signal to others that they’re leaving.
If an attendee gets hurt or suffers from heat exhaustion, it’s important to find a member of the staff or a medical tent/booth. It’s more important to report the issue than film it. The exact location of the injured person should be relayed to the staff along with a description of what happened.
After reporting the incident, taking notes is suggested. The basic information should include the time, location, and who reported the incident. If a concertgoer is injured while attending a concert, whether during the event or while leaving the parking lot, contacting a personal injury attorney can help them understand their rights and ensure they receive proper compensation for the accident. The lawyers at BD&J provide expert guidance from start to finish, making the process stress-free while fighting for the best possible outcome.
Make sure to have a plan once the concert is over to avoid incidents. Since other attendees might be in a rush to exit the venue, it’s best to wait 5 to ten minutes before heading out. If someone is with a group, they should coordinate a pickup spot away from the main exit.
Taking precautions and planning ahead can prevent an exciting night from ending in disappointment.
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances. We disclaim any liability for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information presented.
SPIN Magazine newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
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