Crowd at FirstBank Amphitheater for Chappell Roan, 10/1/2024
The Event Safety Alliance, co-founded by veteran tour and production manager Jim Digby, has spent the past decade working to establish clear, industry-wide standards for live-event safety. Through its involvement in the Entertainment Services & Technology Association’s Technical Standards Program, the group has helped shape portions of the ANSI ES1 series — a set of peer-reviewed, nationally recognized safety standards for live events, approved through the American National Standards Institute.
Talking with security experts about making live events safe — and making them feel safe — for everyone
Safe planning begins with a site-specific risk assessment. A club, an amphitheater and a stadium all behave differently. Airflow, crowd density, sightlines and exit paths are evaluated in advance. The central question shifts from “How many people can we fit?” to “How will this crowd move and respond under pressure?”
Safety also depends on clear authority. Before doors open, artists, promoters, production staff, venue operators and local emergency responders determine who can pause or stop the show.
Understanding crowd behavior is equally crucial. Crowd movement is physical and psychological. When shows are safe, organizers have managed not just audience capacity but also flow. They keep exits visible and unobstructed and train staff to recognize early signs of crowd compression or distress. The visibility of firearms — whether carried by security or attendees — can influence how a crowd perceives a threat and how people move to exit, particularly in confined or low-light environments.
The underlying principle is simple: A culture of safety must exist and be understood by everyone engaged in the delivery of the show. It is not the show itself that possesses this culture, but the people who make the show — empowered by the organization to act with safety as an inherent value.
For further reading:
Event Safety Alliance
Advocacy, training, and resources for safety planning in live events. Co-founded by tour and production manager Jim Digby.
ESTA Technical Standards Program
The industry working group that develops technical and operational standards for live-event production, including safety practices.
ANSI ES1 Standards
A series of peer-reviewed, nationally recognized safety standards for live events. Developed through ESTA’s Technical Standards Program in collaboration with the Event Safety Alliance and approved through the American National Standards Institute.
