What happened in Vegas was tragic, prayers for family and friends and such a sad day in America. Austin city limits did the right thing, announcing they will offer refunds. When you buy a ticket to a music festival they make it very clear NON-Refundable. A contract that has never been broken, even if you die in car accident. (extreme but still no refund).
So How safe are the music festivals that hundreds of thousand attends around the world? What will change and what can be done to make them safer. (note I did not include Ariana Grande’s in this blog, that is so much different as it is music venue that all ready offers strict security. ) I am only addressing Outdoor music festivals where anywhere between 1,000 and 100,000 attend.
My research was not limited to America but should have been. Because Europe and Japan do not plan on doing anything different. Most likely reason just not that many guns. Detroit has more homicide’s than both countries combined. What you will find is tighter security as you enter. Take Electric Daisy where you are almost searched like HOB at the gate. Same with Peach, EDC and Ultra in Miami. Terrorists or a nut case, there will always be a threat but from research just little longer lines entering and what you can bring in. What about the festivals that you drive your whole car in? Got any glass? Nope drive in. Those smaller festivals do not plan on changing at all, Domefest, a NLQP event, Night lights, etc.. drive in and park.
Active shooter, run, hide, last resort attack. I mention Active Shooter? During my orientation day at Amazon, I had to sit through a variety of ethic and diversity questions. Amazing the company does not see a problem with asking a team mate out on a date. What was a total shock; the NEW 15-minute video and information on what Corporate America calls ACTIVE SHOOTER. Without taking notes, I did remember 3 things. RUN, Run away as fast as you can and keep running as long as you can. HIDE, hide behind a desk, or whatever you can hide behind. LAST Resort; defend yourself, by aggressively attacking the shooter (preferably with many others from a close proximity to shooter. OUCH the world a safer place absolutely, did Corporate America help make us feel safer? NO, like WTF. Sad very sad. I had to watch that. Crazy world we live in that I write a blog about security.
Oh, my research and firsthand knowledge from officer from Portage county task force. ALL festivals have under cover cops. Small or large they send a few or many depending on size. Why not, the easiest way to bust a huge drug dealer? At a music festival. I chatted with a Festival Girl from Croatia, she stated security into stadium at Split is like HOB, empty pockets and security all over, and she has no knowledge of undercover, I would assume so, but more or less, common sense. In Conclusion; Use Common sense when attending a music festival, leave the worries at home, you are as safe at one as going to a NFL or NBA, or Major league baseball game. After Vegas, security is behinds the scene with the promoters, those who promote Austin will tell you what they are doing to beef up security, as well as places like Ariana Grande. I have included one of the best articles, with links that I used for research.
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/las-vegas-shooting/security-experts-predict-changes-wake-las-vegas-massacre-n809431
