Damn, great stuff Mike. You've got the top blog of the year so far with this whole thing.
(Hells bells, I leave my computer for one hour to watch Lost and I get out-blogged.)

tim gardea also messed up the plus 44 show in fresno. i was backstage helping and their tour manager was livid all night and was goingto get him blackballed by their label...

most fresno kids have been saying this for years...unfortunately it took THIS for kids to realize how Tim Gardea treats kids around here.

As a promoter, I hope that the kids at the show and the general public do not condemn the venue and its staff for having to react to a situation they should never have been placed in. Also, although one can expect this to have a ripple effect, I hope people don't turn their back on the entire scene.

wow.

i've only been to one show @ the exit (circle jerks). it was dark, and it seemed pretty unorganized. the headlining act didn't seem to know that there was a noise curfew @ 11 and they had to stop by then. really, their set was cut way short because they were interacting with the crowd and such and didn't know they were on a very short leash.

but, at that show, i came in during one of the opening acts. it was pitch black, and since i didn't know the layout of the space it was really difficult to get around. i almost tripped on one of the ramps in there. after the set, the lights came up and i could get around. but, it felt really hectic in there. too many people in too small of a space.

so, i'm not surprised that it was overcrowded. i've read all the links, and sure, they say it was the promoter's fault for selling too many tickets. whatever. if you're running the gate, have a counter. know your capacity. if you meet it, stop letting people in. it's not like the fire marshal showed up out of the blue and told you how many people your space accommodates. it's all settled before how many people can be in your building.

i'm glad that this didn't turn out to be a real tragedy. it's too bad that people got peppered, and didn't get to see their favorite band, but it could have been worse. the obvious parallel is the great white show with the fire or even the show where diamond darrell from pantera got shot. those that were there should learn from the experience, and hopefully the venue will as well.

really, i hope that the venue learns the most. i remember reading about the group that bought the exit. it seemed pretty cool that a young group of investors wanted to buy a club and try and really make it a good space for shows. my one experience could have been better. this show obviously could have been better. hopefully they will learn what went wrong and make sure it never happens again and fresno can keep booking these mid sixzed shows.

...ed makes many good points.

I think the venue (at this time,)should be checked for safety concerns, and no shows take place until they are completely resolved. If it shuts down the venue, too bad.

(Despite the musician's comment 'it's the promoter!,'
-I didn't hear anything out of his mouth in terms of '...we're refunding this show, and don't want any money from it...' At least he encouraged the crowd to comply with the police.

The 'Great White,' show (small packed venue burned to the ground due to pyrotechnics overwhelming club structure, with significant loss of life.)
-was one where the owners, despite flagrant safety concerns, had been allowed to 'slide,' in getting things proper, for quite some time.
(I think only a couple of people went to jail, if that.)

Perhaps it's Ed's youth, but I remember another situaiton, (the WHO tragedy in Ohio,) where the crowd was in a panic for seats for a show, (pick-yer-own spot seating/standing,) and a bunch of kids got crushed as a result.

There are other factors involved with this:

-the place was overpacked,
-why was the crowd simply put into 'different rooms,'
--when the issue is number of bodies in a space
If the fire inspector was called to begin with, then saw a situation that severe (that they're divvying up the crowd,)
-it should have been shut down there.
(To think that the crowd was simply going to 'stay in their room(s)' and not gravitate towards the stage, is stupid.

-where were the exits? were they clearly marked?
were there side exits able to be popped in the event of an emergency?

--Also:
When people get peppered, they are in 'panic mode,' they want 'out,' any way possible, but most often (in panic mode,) go back out the way that they came in (as evidenced by the video,)
-there needs to be clear communication and direction by staff (as well as band shut down) to get folks out, quickly and as calmly as possible.

The security guard's use of pepper spray in a hot enclosed environment tells me that either the training was minimal of that security team,
(or)
that the guard felt so threatened that they'd completely wipe out the atmosphere for (easily) half of the room (including their own,) in nothing flat.

When people get sprayed, they go into full 'survival mode,' (similar to when they're drowning,) -they will do anything to get away from it, and will climb all over anyone or anything to get clean air. (That is why you use it in open or large spaces, not indoors.)

Though I can sympathise with a situation where a crowd is overwhelming and threatening, peppering was probably the least logical way to go (obvious reasons.)
(Had there been one injury? the guard probably would be held liable, and be up on charges.)

All of this IS the responsibility of venue operator.

-even the guts to shut a show down if it's reaching 'dangerous,' circumstances,
(again, I don't understand why the fire marshal did not recognize this for what it was, and clamp it right then...)
ANY performance selling heavy has to comply with the numbers, -and the audience and staff understand, you go over? too bad.

Unless the promoter and the venue operator are the same?
I don't know if the promoter is guilty in this, as the venue operator has to follow the law, regardless of the promoters ticket selling.

THAT nobody was killed or injured in this, considering these circumstances is just short of a miracle.

PS: is it really true that Hillary Clinton's cat hates ed?

she's got a cat now? during the white house years they had a dog. wasn't his name buddy?

/off topic