Crowd Security

Rockee

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the tragic death of a young girl at The Smashing Pumpkins concert at the Point Depot in Dublin. I was 14-15 at the time and can remember hearing the terrible news. Do you think we've learnt anything since then as regards crowd control/security at concerts?? i seem to recall being at Lansdowne Road to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2002 and the whole mid-section of the crowd almost collapsing down onto the ground, it was a miracle that there were no serious injuries as I was in the very centre of it all. Even the likes of the human pyramids that will inevitably be built at Oxegen this year...is it just a matter of time before a similiar tragic event??? When was the last time you didnt feel safe at a concert??

Thanks...Rockee

Ro: maaan!

Last time I didn't feel safe was in the presence of the "security" at any MCD gig.

Dr. Bill

There terrible. I see they got sued 15,000Euro too. An incident that happened in the Point. I think we should email the security company with our problems and see how professional they are.

Rabies

Ro: maaan! wrote:

Last time I didn't feel safe was in the presence of the "security" at any MCD gig.

People here often rant about MCD and their failings. There are other event promoters in Ireland.
Don't get me wrong, MCD at times may get it wrong but the majority of time things go ok.
If a small group of people decide to build a pyramid in the middle of a 50,000 strong crowd it is very hard for security to get in and stop it before an accident is caused.
Maybe more security staff would help but it isn't possible to make everyone "feel safe".

Dr. Bill

Rabies .... Bet you work with them. Your giving them lots of praise!!!

Rabies

Dr. Bill wrote:

Rabies .... Bet you work with them. Your giving them lots of praise!!!

Not just them, Aiken, Mean Fiddler, POD and other event management companies.
I have been on the concert and event scene since 1991. Have seen and experienced it from both sides of the fence, as a normal punter and staff.
MCD still make some stupid mistakes, but are still the best that Ireland has.

smashey

I worked as security at a few concerts a couple of years ago. The one that springs to mind is Chilli Peppers in Slane. I lost count of how many people we had to escort to the medical tent or to an ambulance. We even had to get an ambulance down through the crowd at on stage thanks to an idiot falling of another idiot's shoulders onto a woman. She couldn't move for at least ten minutes. Also, the human pyramids are a recipe for disaster.

fits

smashey wrote:

I worked as security at a few concerts a couple of years ago. The one that springs to mind is Chilli Peppers in Slane. I lost count of how many people we had to escort to the medical tent or to an ambulance. We even had to get an ambulance down through the crowd at on stage thanks to an idiot falling of another idiot's shoulders onto a woman. She couldn't move for at least ten minutes. Also, the human pyramids are a recipe for disaster.

yup, it really gives you a different perspective. often some poor bystander gets hurt from those human pyramids. I helped out some girl who had her nose broken when some young idiot ran by her and hit her with his elbow. he didnt even stop. People just have no cop on!

I was giving a lift to a friend of mine after that Chillis concert but some other casual worker started man handling him out of the place, despite my explanation. he even went to hit him. Some of the other lads had to pull him off, I mean wtf! It was totally unprovoked. Pure yobs, I'm not sorry I dont work with them any more. Its the casual staff that are the problem, the long timers are normally pretty professional.
Also worked at some westlife concerts, where our main role was to tell the two year olds not to stand on the seats at the back. I mean what were we to say?
'I'm sorry I know you've paid 50 euro, but you're only allowed to look at the back of peoples heads'

Civilian_Target

Irish crowd security is not that bad. MCD are actually pretty good, every open-air MCD gig I've been at they've provided water and hosed down the crowd. At Iron Maiden last summer, mosh pits were clamped down upon almost immediately and with fierce effect.

In most continental or even UK festivals, there's no crowd hydradtion, and much less strict crowd control, to be honest I sometimes think we're too strict here!

John

I remember during the Heinekin Green Energy festival a few years ago one of the security staff punching one of the crowd during the White Stripes. Same guy was acting like a thug a couple of nights later at Muse. That was worse because:

a) the Revs were playing

b) the cobblestones combined with the cables running from the stage to the soundboard through the crowd resulted in most of the crowd falling over in a domino effect as they lost their footing as they jumped. Not a security issue I know but putting a band that usually inspire the crowd to jump on such a dodgy surface is asking for trouble.

misefreisin

slane 2003 was a right mess security wise. the first and only time i have ever been truly scared in a crowd. twas ridiculous.

Bullock99

I hope they are not at oxegen this year. If they spoil my weekend I'll attack them