No-shows better than killer gigs

Event teams say the Atif concert that killed three in Pakistan should be an eye-opener for Delhi.

On Monday, three youngsters died and many ended up in hospital after a stampede followed pop singer Atif Aslam’s concert in Lahore, Pakistan. Event organisers back home say this should be a lesson for Delhi, and young enthusiasts should now stop cribbing and realise why big concerts are called off in town.

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In October last year, the Metallica concert in the Capital was called off due to security and crowd issues. Earlier the same year, the Bryan Adams gig in the city was also cancelled.



"Every concert and artist has a certain frenzy attached to it. Fans are the main components to a successful show and at the same time, a big threat to security. So, we need to ensure proper safety measures ... all the artists’ managers come in for a review days before a concert for any last minute changes," says a representative for Netsurf Entertainment, which had organised the Bryan Adams’ gig in India.



Shailendra Singh of Percept, which organised the Sunburn Festival in Goa in December that saw a crowd of one lakh, says, "We all are aware about security concerns but it is not just about knowing — it’s about planning, executing and supervising." A police official, wishing not to be named, adds, "It is better to cancel the event than face a situation where the lives of fans and even the artist is endangered."



Singers say they are in a tough spot if such mismanagement occurs, even though they ensure all the measures are taken. "There is not much an artist can do to avoid such a situation, as fans tend to go berserk," says singer Shaan.



Singer Abhijit Sawant says, "As an artist, you can’t hurt fans by denying autographs or pictures. But, every performer must maintain a small distance from fans for safety reasons."



Artists speak



At the end of the day, it all depends on the crowd and how it behaves: Sophie Choudry, singer



Artists should avoid calling fans up on the stage, as others may feel left out and create chaos: Shaan, singer



Organisers need to make sure there are enough exits and announcements to direct fans in case of an emergency: Anushka Manchanda, artist



Talk to us: Do you think a no-show is better than mismanaged shows? Who do you think is most at fault here?