1. What was different about Astroworld crowd-management that lead to the unfortunate events?

If you are asking how is this Astroworld festival different that the previous two Travis Scott festivals, I cannot answer that question fully because I have not reviewed the crowd management plans of the past two festivals.

However, I have seen the 2021 Event Operations Plan for Astroworld. The plans fatal flaws, a shocking revelation, are that it does not address the dangers of “festival seating” standing room---the most dangerous and deadly crowd configuration in concert and festival history--- or how to make it reasonably safe for the festival fans. There is no discussion of crowd craze, crowd surge, crowd crush, crowd collapse, moshing, crowd surfing or stage diving and how to deal with situations should they develop. There is neither a discussion of the artist’s controversial crowd safety history, nor a discussion of the anticipated crowd profile. As a result, there was no effective emergency plan should medical services be required for any of these scenarios. A situation that became nightmarishly evident on November 7.

2. In your opinion, are the laws and standards for festivals like this strong enough to prevent future tragedies?

The laws and standards protecting people in crowds at festivals and concerts are woefully deficient. This is why fans keep dying in preventable tragedies such as Astroworld in Houston.

There are three reasons primary why fans are still not protected in the 21st Century by reasonable crowd safety laws.

First, the live entertainment industry is an extraordinarily powerful lobby in the U.S. and around the world---including in Canada. The live entertainment industry is today, what the tobacco lobby once was. The industry effectively blocks safety laws locally and nationally that would prevent tragedies such as Astroworld.

The second reason is the failure of elected officials and public safety officials to put in place the regulations that will protect the public.

Third, and finally, the historic failure of the public to stop the senseless loss of life at concerts and festivals; primarily affecting young people.

3. How do I know I am in a danger situation inside of a crowd before a disaster happens?

There are a number of signs that should be taken as warnings that you may be in danger in a crowd. Here are six:

1) Your biological survival instincts set-off an alarm, making you feel anxious and insecure.

2) Movement is restricted and exiting the crowd is difficult

3) Crowd density becomes tight, and you are in a situation where you are touching should

4) or other body parts with strangers in the crowd. This usually occurs at 3square feet per person. Less than that, and one is entering the “crush zone.”

5) Crowd surges (waves of pressure) develop within the crowd, and one is pushed against one’s will.

6) People near barricades are pulled out of the crowd to escape the crush of the crowd

You’ll find additional tips here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-BBfcbQX7Q

Stay Safe in the Crowd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4gbBEucIwQ

How to avoid being trampled in a crowd

https://youtu.be/X4B7hnfidhw

Recap: The article covers about the stage collapse during the Radiohead concert, 2012 in Toronto in which Live Nation was the promoter.

Request Idea: Any and all details like set designer’s plan, structural plan, safety plans, material quotation, paperwork regarding load and electrification, and the license of the contractor who constructed the stage. 

Department: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Explanation: The collapse of stage in the Downsview Park, Toronto led to the injury of three members of Radiohead road crew and the drum technician Scott Johnson. I am interested to know the details about the stage structure and the factors that led to the collapse.

Department: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Request: Any and all inspection records of the history of contractor who was responsible for construction of the stage. I will also require designing plan, structural plan, safety plans, material quotation provided and the paperwork regarding load and electrification of the stage.

FOI Coordinator and Contact Information: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Phone: +1 416-325-2626.

Recap: The article covers about the stage collapse during the Radiohead concert, 2012 in Toronto in which Live Nation was the promoter.

Request Idea: Any and all details like set designer’s plan, structural plan, safety plans, material quotation, paperwork regarding load and electrification, the license of the contractor who constructed the stage and paperwork filed by Live Nation. 

Department: Event Support Sector, Economic Development & Cultural Division, Toronto.

Explanation: The collapse of stage in the Downsview Park, Toronto led to the injury of three members of Radiohead road crew and the drum technician Scott Johnson. I am interested to know the details about the stage structure and the factors that led to the collapse.

Department: Event Support Sector, Economic Development & Cultural Division, Toronto.

Request: Any and all inspection records of the history of contractor who was responsible for construction of the stage. Safety checks done by the city on the conduction of the event. I will require designing plan, structural plan, safety plans, material quotation provided and the paperwork regarding load and electrification of the stage. I will also require the permit and license paperwork that was filed to the City of Toronto by Live Nation prior to the inception of this event.

FOI coordinator and Contact Information: Event Support Sector, Economic Development & Cultural Division, Toronto, Phone: +1 416-395-0490

 

 

(Chapter 13: Existing Assembly Occupancies)

 

In the United States there is no federal law on crowd safety but the Nation Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code is used to reference strategies for crowd management in concert venues and festivals. The NFPA Life Safety Code is used to reference strategies on how to protect people. This Is the only code that includes life safety in new and existing features. This document bases its strategies on building construction, protection, and occupancy features to limit the extreme effects of fire hazards and other dangers.

 

In the case of the Travis Scott concert Occupancy Load is important to look at. Large venues offer a very high number of occupants to accommodate big crowds who are both coming and going. The amount of people that can be let in is determined by how the space is used and estimating the maximum population that can occupy this space safely.

 

In a space where there is more than 10,000 people the occupant load cannot exceed a density of one person in every 7ft2 (0.65 m2). This limit is meant to avoid overcrowding. When overcrowding happens walking becomes difficult and you start to shuffle a bit and then movement becomes stagnant if more people are let in.

 

During the Travis Scoot concert and other instances of concerts where people have been trampled, pushed around and injured this is caused from overcrowding.

 

The Life Safety Evaluation is also a criteria that needs to be looked at in situations like this when the occupancy load exceeds 6,000 people. The Life Safety Evaluation is done because there is no certainty that safety measures and protection alone will guarantee safe entry and exit into the arena. Expected crowd behaviour is part of the evaluation. Travis Scott has been charged for inciting riots at his concerts before, so this criteria for the evaluation would be extremely important to a concert with a performer who has a history of inciting riots. The Evaluation must assess:

The relationships among facility management is extremely important to prevent situations like this. Security, cameramen, and other staff should all be in contact with one another in case of emergencies.

 

Other criteria the Life Safety Code looks at are entrance and exits and crowd managers. Now that the pandemic plays a role in occupancy loads, the lack of regulation for the amount of people let into a festival like the Astroworld Festival is detrimental to the safety of attendees.

 

The OSHA was created to foster safe and healthy conditions for workers and enforce standards to prevent and protect workers from dangerous situations. It is built to educate, train and assist all workers.  

 

Live Nation has a history of violating the act and in the case of this Astroworld Festival it was extremely understaffed. The venue NGR Park has also had a history of having ineffective barricades that were easily pushed down in other performances. The Astroworld festival is also not new to circumstances like this. The festival has had multiple injuries and instances of trampling.

 

In Comparison to the United States in Canada these guidelines were put in place to control mass public gatherings where there is a lack of sufficient security measures and crowd control. There have been a number of large events that result in people being injured and even resulted in death. Large events like music festivals and concerts are known to incite crowd related incidents.

 

This document covers an array of different situations, even high-risk events like events that involve high-profile political figures, controversial public figures and activists.

The document covers a number of criteria such as pre-event planning where it is imperative to look at the site, spectators, legislative issues, public health issues, emergency health issues, and contingency plans. Emergency vehicle clearways are also important if there is no way for emergency vehicles to get through. When overcrowding starts there is less and less chance for emergency vehicles to make it through the way safely.

 

Live Nation's history of riots and lack of upholding safety regulations causes incidents to happen like the ones at Astroworld Festival. The amount of time taken for emergency vehicles and medical staff to tend to injured spectators can be the difference between life and death.

 

The lack of federal laws and legislative documents in the United States can impede on these types of festivals. There is no way to truly regulate how to control crowd management. Crowd Managers are not enough for venues of this size.

 

This document specifies what types of barriers are needed for each type of venue, whether indoor or outdoor. Live Nation has been known to have insufficient barricades and this type of guideline would create more structure for events and festivals.

 

The Event Safety Alliance is meant to provide awareness on keeping people safe at various events and educating staff on crowd management. The alliance promotes “life safety first”. From the production of a show all the way to the end of the show post performance. Preventing the risk of injury and foreseeable injuries is what is imperative.

 

The expertise given is based on the Canadian government legislation. This ensures all management falls in line with government regulations. In the United States there are no federal regulations or laws for specificity in crowd safety so this makes it far harder to build measures without a foundation.

 Holmstrom, Erik. "Dancing in the Dark: An Analysis of the Live Entertainment Industry and the Deceptive Market Practices of Ticketmaster and Live Nation." WJ Legal Stud. 9 (2019): 1.

Challis, Ben, and Music Industry Lawyer. "Regulated to death: safety regulation in the live event industry." Music Law Updates (2003).

Article: Dynamics of crowd disasters: An empirical study

This article explores crowd dynamics through video recordings from a crowd disaster in Mina/Makkah during the Hajj in 2006. This article is relevant because it can bring more insight on the behaviour of crowds during these events and can help us understand what went on in the crowd during the Astroworld tragedy. 

Helbing, Dirk, Anders Johansson, and Habib Zein Al-Abideen. "Dynamics of crowd disasters: An empirical study." Physical review E 75.4 (2007): 046109.

https://www.workingwithcrowds.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/THE-CAUSES-AND-PREVENTION-OF-CROWD-DISASTERS-by-John-J.-Fruin-Ph.D.-P.E..pdf