The Event Safety Podcast

In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast , Danielle recaps this year's excellent ESA Canada Conference with two members of the organization's leadership team, Janet Sellery and Kevin Tanner. They reflect on the highlights and key takeaways from this year's program, discuss balancing content and networking, and share what to expect at future editions. Notes: Event Safety Alliance Canada

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 resp...

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...

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 rule, and why...

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 c...

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, standar...

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...

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 behin...

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...

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 coordina...

"Don't write a Kobayashi Maru " 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 expe...

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 fo...

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-bre...

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 sn...

With the new year just days away, we're looking back at some of the most important, impactful, or undercovered stories of 2023. From guest issues to climate impacts, it's been an eventful 12 months in the safety world, so grab another cup of cocoa, put your feet up, and join Danielle and Steve as they close out the year. From all of us at The Event Safety Podcast, have a safe and enjoyable holiday...

What did YOU think of the 2023 Event Safety Summit? In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, we recap some highlights of this year's Summit with two attendees, Francesca Ghizzoni (Production Manager, SXSW) and Emily Jeu (Director of Production, Columbus Association for the Performing Arts). They share their views on what drove them to attend the Summit, why they believe it's important for even...

LINKS: ANSI ES1.40 - 2023, Event Safety - Event Security

It's a Powerpalooza! In this episode of the Event Safety Podcast, we get deep and nerdy on the subject of sustainable power in event applications with the team at Overdrive Energy Solutions . We discuss the safety benefits and challenges of portable battery technology, integrating it into your site plans, and their experience powering the guest package of a major artist at this year's Lollapalooza...

What do you get when you mix a giant hill, thousands of students, and the last day of classes? A fantastic case study for The Event Safety Podcast! In this episode, Danielle and Steve are joined by Joseph Scaffido, Director of University Events at Cornell, for a look at the University's annual Slope Day event. From weather to crowds to infrastructure challenges, there's a lot to learn from this ne...

In this episode of the Event Safety Podcast, Danielle and Steve delve into the psychological phenomenon of inattentional blindness and its potential impact on safety at live events. Topics covered include the illusion of attention, the science behind the phenomenon, strategies for overcoming it, and more. LINKS: The Monkey Business Illusion The Invisible Gorilla (Book)

This episode was originally released on March 21, 2021. In this episode of the Event Safety Podcast, we talk electrical safety with author, ETCP-recognized trainer, and self-described "lighting guy" Richard Cadena . Join us as we discuss common electrical hazards in the entertainment space, why bypassing or altering equipment is a recipe for disaster, a few must-have tools for your safety toolkit,...

Extreme weather, shootings, new laws, objects thrown at artists...a lot can happen in just a few short weeks. In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, we welcome Steve back from a much-needed vacation and examine the lessons from the MANY safety-related incidents that occurred while he was away. NOTES: ANSI ES1.7 - 2021 Event Safety Requirements - Weather Preparedness Global Crowd Management A...

In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, we put on our red shoes and hit the floor to discuss dance recitals and other events involving large numbers of children and families. Featuring a trio of Josh Webb (Coker University), Pamela Sturrock (Riverside Convention Center), and Devin Vanaman (Riverside Convention Center), discussion includes the unique risks presented by these events, protocols...

In this episode of The Event Safety Podcast, Danielle and Steve sit down with new USITT Executive Director Laura Lee Everett for a wide-ranging conversation about her background, USITT's safety programming, current initiatives, a sneak peek at their 2024 conference in Seattle, and selling a career in events to the toughest skeptics around...your parents. Notes: USITT Southeastern Theater Conferenc...