Nothing connects us quite like a great story. That’s why we’re inviting Event Safety Summit attendees to grab the mic at our first-ever "Safety Slam," happening on November 14 during the Harbor Happy Hour, presented by Rock Labor and Bigger Hammer Production Services.

Have a funny, enlightening, or motivating tale to tell? Bring it on! You’ll have 5 minutes to wow us, inspire us, or make us laugh — all while being recorded for a future episode of The Event Safety Podcast! You can pre-register now at https://bit.ly/ESSSafetySlam or sign up during the Summit at the ESA merch booth.

And...action! In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, we take a slight detour from the live events world to discuss safety in the film industry. Joining Danielle are two highly experienced film pros, Matt Sanders and Fess Shelton. They discuss the similarities and differences between safety in film and live events, the safety planning process, threats and mitigation strategies, roles and responsibilities, and the ongoing work of the "Safety for Sarah" campaign.

Huge news! Thanks to the generous support of our friends at Reel Media, ESA is offering a limited number of "Early Career Professional" tickets to the 2024 Event Safety Summit at a 50% discount.

Our Early Career Professional (ECP) ticket program is open to first-time attendees aged 25 or under who are either:

• Enrolled in full-time, industry-specific education, or

• Currently working in the live event industry on a freelance basis and/or self-funding their attendance.

To take advantage of this opportunity, please complete the application below. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Those applying for this program will be notified of their approval and next steps within 24 hours of submission.

Fall has arrived, which means the Event Safety Summit is right around the corner! In anticipation of this year's event, this episode of The Event Safety Podcast looks back at a few of the many presentations we've featured at the summit over the last ten years (!), including insights from Nathan Vassberg (NASA), Kevin Kloesel (University of Oklahoma), Eric Stuart (Gentian Events), and Betty Siegel (Kennedy Center). Sate your safety hunger with a taste of what's to come, and be sure to register for this year's event at http://eventsafetysummit.com.

The job of the entertainment rigger has become increasingly complicated as the live event industry has grown exponentially over the last three decades. As the loads have become larger, the margin of error has become smaller. Experience alone cannot prepare today’s riggers for the ever expanding challenges faced in the theatres, arenas, studios, festivals, and ballrooms used to produce live entertainment events. Through Entertainment Rigging Sessions you can obtain that necessary education to partner with YOUR experience, allowing you to pursue increased work volume and safer rigging practices.

In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle and special guest co-host Kevin Kloesel welcome DTN Solution Engineer and Meteorologist Brad Nelson for a discussion about, as you guessed, weather, with a focus on extreme heat. They explore how heat has become the leading risk to live events, the lasting impacts of heat illness, Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, OSHA's proposed heat rules, and why consulting a professional meteorologist is more important than ever.

The Event Safety Alliance (ESA) is excited to announce the next edition of our Crowd Safety Workshop, a comprehensive two-day training program designed to enhance public safety and enjoyment at live events and other mass gatherings. The workshop will be held November 11-12, 2024 in San Diego and led by Tim Roberts, CEO of Creative Safety Inc and Director of The Event Safety Shop Ltd. UK, a globally recognized expert in the field of event and crowd safety.
This workshop aims to foster a common understanding and promote best practices in the design and operation of event spaces. Attendees will learn how to identify risks within crowds, practical mitigation mechanisms, as well as develop familiarity with analytic processes and the recording of proportionate measures.

In just the past few months, severe weather has disrupted dozens of live events around the globe, resulting in delays, cancellations, injuries, and tragic loss of life. With climate-related risks increasing and evolving, it is more important than ever to understand and prepare for weather-related impacts.

In response to this urgent need, the Event Safety Alliance is delivering a member-exclusive, virtual Weather Planning for Mass Gatherings program this September 2024. This experience-driven and science-backed workshop is designed to help event and venue professionals prepare for and respond to dangerous weather conditions.

Ahoy! The Event Safety Alliance sails west and drops anchor in beautiful San Diego for the 10th annual Event Safety Summit! Join the Event Safety Alliance and hundreds of fellow travelers January 13-15, 2024 as we navigate turbulent industry seas and raise the standard of safety for all.

Since 2014, the Event Safety Summit has brought together professionals from around the globe and across the entertainment, sports, and corporate event industries to discuss all aspects of safety, security, and health at live events. Featuring a diverse lineup of presentations, panels, workshops, and networking opportunities, the Event Safety Summit provides attendees with actionable ideas, enables collaboration with and communication among like-minded professionals, and sends attendees home with new motivation to put life safety first in their daily work.

Registration opens June 10, so assemble your crew, all aboard, and set a course for San Diego, Fair winds until we see you ashore!

Have you ever looked at a certificate of insurance and felt confused or overwhelmed by the details? Do you really know what that information means and how it protects you (or, worse, leaves you unprotected)?
In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Hub International Vice President of Marketing Sue McGuirl joins Danielle and special guest co-host John Badcock for an in-depth look at insurance certificates. Discussion includes the purpose of a COI, how to interpret its contents, red flags to look out for, special considerations, and more.

Independence Day is fast approaching, which means it's the perfect time to talk about pyro! In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle Hernandez and special guest co-host Siobhan Colleen sit down with Pyrotek Special Effects Product and Technical Support and Safety Manager Brian Panther for a conversation about pyrotechnics safety. Discussion topics include planning, permitting, standards, transportation, restrictions, and much, much more.

It's that time of year again...commencement season! In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle is joined by Becca Wilusz (Duke University) and Joey Doster (PNC Arena) for a look at what goes into planning university and high school commencement ceremonies. Discussion includes unique demographic challenges, transportation planning, policy enforcement, communications, show-stop procedures, and preparing for high-profile (and sometimes controversial) speakers.

In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle welcomes a trio of crowd management experts from the United Kingdom Crowd Management Association (UKCMA) for a conversation about crowd safety in smaller venues - Anne Marie Chebib (Select Security & Stewarding Ltd), Eric Stuart (Gentian Events Ltd), and Tom Devine (TMS Protection). Discussion includes the development and philosophy behind the UKCMA’s new “Safer Crowds, Safer Venues” document, why “service' is the primary function in crowd management, planning tools and considerations, and more.

In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle welcomes back ESA board member Bryan Huneycutt for a recap of this year's USITT Conference in Seattle. They discuss key takeaways from this year's event, presentation highlights, current safety & health commission initiatives, and more.

In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle and Steve are joined by ESA board member Bryan Huneycutt for a discussion of key insights from Steve's recent participation at SERMAnar in Colorado Springs, which focused on processes related to active assailant events. We delve into his experience with a fresh approach to active shooter training, the limitations of the run/hide/fight strategy in event scenarios, the distinction between planned and unplanned attacks, and the importance of prioritizing evacuation planning in every active shooter response plan.

Staging intimacy on stage and screen requires a delicate balance between artistic vision and actor well-being. In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle and Steve sit down with Laura Rikard, CEO of Theatrical Intimacy Education, a consulting group specializing in researching, developing, and teaching best practices for staging theatrical intimacy. They discuss what an intimacy coordinator/choreographer does, the profession's origins, its five guiding principles, the issue with the term "safe space," managing boundary issues, and more.

In the latest episode of The Event Safety Podcast, we welcome back the amazing Emma Parkinson for a deep dive into the topic of tabletop exercises. We look at what they are (and aren't), who should be included, how to develop one for your organization, common traps that undermine their effectiveness, and so much more. If you know Emma, you KNOW you're in for an experience, so grab those notepads and get listening. This episode is brought to you by PRG. Thank you for your continued support of ESA!

In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, we shift from the tennis court to the basketball court, with a look at the issue of "court storming" featuring Duke University Assistant Director of Athletics/Game Operations (and friend of the Pod) Becca Wilusz! We discuss what motivates attendees to take such actions, whether they are reasonably foreseeable, the impact of social media, how to plan for the possibility, and so much more. There's a takeaway for events of all types, so sports fan or not you'll want to give this one a listen.

It's so much more than tennis! In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle and Steve head down under (virtually) for a chat with Lee Ross and Martin Luders, part of the highly skilled safety and compliance team for the Australian Open. Discussion includes what goes into producing an event of this scale, weather planning, compliance, and how they prepared to manage this year's record-breaking attendance.

It may be cold outside, but the latest edition of The Event Safety Podcast is RED HOT. In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Kevin Kloesel for an update on what's happening in the event weather space. Discussion includes how planning for one risk can introduce new ones, the importance of deeply understanding your venue, emergency messaging, new lightning guidance, and boatloads (or should we say snow shovels full) more.