My Experience At Show 519

Okay, I don't mean any offense, but do you honestly think your friends are paying that much attention to the security guards while at a show? They're there to see the band, and that's going to take priority over monitoring the security guards for someone else. Maybe there's no change--or maybe no one was paying that much attention. In that case, it's the truth to say, "I didn't notice anything different." You also have to consider that most security guards are locally hired hands, not people who travel with the tour.

Did you go to the show alone? Is there anyone you know who could be your witness?

Again, if you have a legitimate case, you have to take it to a legitimate outlet. The band is completely unaware of your problem, so you're not going to be getting an apology from them. The people who work for them don't take every incident report directly to them.

The thing with smoking is that they can't do much more than ask the peole (with sign-language) to put out their cigarette, and if they don't there's not much they can do. This is a problem at every concert! If the smokers stands in the middle of people they can't do anything 'cause they can't reach them. This I've seen many times at diffrent indoor concerts in Sweden (Rammstein, Judas Priest, Europe, Iron Maiden etc). The security guards are aware of that people smoke and there's nothing they can do. It's up to the people to show some respect.
And in my opinion, as long as the concert is outside I think they should be allowed to smoke.

So don't say that the security guards turn a blind eye, 'cause I've self worked as a security guard at concert in Sweden and people really don't care about what you say 'cause they know there's nothing I can do.

Although I cant comment on the treatment that the King Of Swing received as I didnt see it I thought that that the security on the rest of the UK tour was much better than usual.

After waiting all day in the heat at Manchester in the front Gold Circle section a group of about 8 drunk lads stormed into the front circle about 3 songs into the set. They were messing around and had their backs to the stage while they grabbed pushed and knocked into girls and us whilst we were trying to enjoy the show. After about 4 songs a load of security came into the pit and formed a "ring of steel" around them and marched them out after quite a heated arguement.

Whilst in Coventry after waiting for hours in even more heat a very tall heavyset guy and his wife tried to push their way in to lean on the barrier at the back of the pit. Security came and chucked them out after more heated arguments but didnt lay a finger on them.

With my wife expecting our first baby I was very pleased these morons were dealt with so effectively by showsec or whoever they were.

Yes Dicannio I must admit that Showsec are VERY VERY good & have always taken the normal concert goers enjoyment into consideration. Hence their action without having to lay hands & force anyone out. The gent who evicted me was an American & in the US they do have a very hands on approach to eviction & rule breakers. HOWEVER this does not excuse his behaviour & he must remember that as a GUEST in the UK he MUST abide by the laws & regulations of the land he is in. Being American he must know about Laws & rules etc since the are the most litigious country in the world. If you were in another country & broke a law there would you expect to be let off ?? Do you think that the legal system there would say "just a tourist, no problem, you can go free ??" Take that on board & you may see the situation from another angle. Only trying to give you the other side of the coin.

TKOS

Yes Sir Cizzi,

I know what you are saying. However in Scotland it is against the law to smoke in aa public place & is punishable wth fines, for the venue of up to 1,200,000 Kr & the security guard can get a personal fine of up to 12,000 Kr if they are found as negligent. To say that there is nothing you can do is rubish, since if you warn someone once & they still continue to break the rule then on the second time you warn them that if they continue to disobey the rules on the third occasion you can evict them for endangering the other concert goers & they will face prosecutiuon in Scotland as well relating to a smoking offence. I have worked for a number of agencies & football clubs as an interpreter/translator at a number of international football games, major trade events, shows etc etc & have been told that I was to use the same powers as a securtity guard since the participants are given fair warning on the reverse of the tickets for the event or from employers or from the travel agency that they are using if it is an international concert they are attending. You must have had the terms & conditions in your documentation every time you go on vacation or to a concert abroad ? I also on three occasions worked for a club who use Rock Steady once when IFK Gøteborg were visiting & the treatment that the IFK fans got from the Rock Steady staff was appauling. I also know someone who used to work for the company & said that the turnover in staff was very high, about 80% per month would be new staff. So it is not without substance that I can say that the staff are negligent, since Rock Steady are able to price every other company out since they are a large company offer very minimal wages hence can offer very competitive rates to the venues. The bands always go with the local supplied security since it reduces overheads for them & only costs a flat fee rather than the cost of say for BJ doing standard 40,000 to 70,000 sea venues about 250-300 extra staff the cost of their accomodation, flights, meals & wages This would cost as a conservative estimate an extra $150,0000 It is at the end of the day all about money when the tour is planned & reducing the costs involved to keep the cost of tickets down so that you can afford to go, perhaps even to do more than couple of shows on the tour if you are a real live concert fan, or a hardcore fan of the band in question, such as myself.

Hi Becky,

My friends were there to see the show but they too reported people for smoking right in front of Rock Steady staff & they did NOTHING except walk away. They also reported it to a supervisor who was more interested in getting a break than resolving the issue of smokers. Whether the security are local or not they are there to PROTECT the concert goers, ENFORCE the rules & regulations per Health & Safety codes & EVICT anyone who does NOT adhere to them IF theyt are going to endanger others. There is NO EXCUSE for poor staffing of a venue. Showsec can do it in England & Ireland so what does that hsay about Rock Steady ? You may also remember a few years back that there was a fire in the US at a Great White concert where people died ??. That fire was started by an incorrectly extinguished cigarette butt. Need I say anymore. The venue in Glasgow was a very similar venue as that in the US so, just to personalise it & perhaps look at it from a different angle, would you risk letting drunk people smoke in your home & risk them razing your home to the ground ? When it comes to safety you have to look at worst case scenario & prepare for that & if you are correctly prepared then you can change the rules if they are changable. I hope that you can look at this just as an example of what can go wrong, no offense meant.

Personally, I hate being around people who are smoking and people who are drinking. I also think it's about the stupidest thing in the world to sell beer at concerts since it has the potential of causing thousands of intoxicated drivers to hit the streets at once.

The fire at the Great White show was NOT caused by a cigarette though. It was caused by a pyrotechnics display coupled with the lack of sprinkler system.

Again, I'm telling you, you don't have to convince people on a messageboard. If you've got a case, take it to a lawyer.

what an interesting story this is, you should write a book and turn it into a film!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Haha - Oh how I love sarcasm!!

The fire at the Great White show started due to incorrectly placed, not permitted and unchecked pyrotechnics setting fire to unshielded surfaces, NOT a cigarette butt.

My arse! The Great White fire was in a nightclub in Rhode Island called The Station with a total capacity of 300 people. The Jovi show this tour was at Hampden Park, a football stadium which holds closer to 60,000 people.

You, my friend, are full of shit.