Safety and Security at a Gig
The unsaid rules, the unglamorous truth and the only way forward.....
There’s a moment every live performer knows.
Not the spotlight.Not the applause.
Not even the glorious swell of the opening chord.
No. It’s the moment your gut whispers: “Something’s off.”
And over the weekend, one Show Supplier heard that whisper turn into a full-throated roar.
Picture this: A solo muso in a bar, first set underway, doing his job. A group of patrons—already marinated in mid-afternoon bravado—plonk themselves right in front of him and begin the timeless cultural pastime of heckling.
At first, he ignores them. Professional. Patient. Hopeful.
But the more he pretends they don’t exist, the louder they get. Alcohol fuels courage, courage fuels stupidity…and stupidity always wants an audience.
Then the threats start. Not the funny kind.Not the “yeh mate play Khe Sanh” kind. The “we’ll bash you and wreck your gear” kind.
He finishes the set. Walks straight to the Duty Manager and says the six hardest words a performer can utter: “I don’t feel safe right now.”
Now here’s the kicker.That day? No security. Sick. Away. Dang.
So the Duty Manager did the only responsible thing. Told him to stand down, pack up, and go home. Stayed with him while he packed. He walked him to the car. Made sure the wolves stayed behind the fence.
A tough call. But the right call.
Now this Show Supplier has been navigating some heavy mental health terrain lately. And when your internal bandwidth is low, your tolerance for chaos is thinner than a bass string before it snaps. Could the escalation have been handled differently in the early moments? Maybe. But hindsight is always a smug little genius.
The truth is this: He was scared. He asked for help. The venue responded.
Everyone made the safest possible choice with the resources available.
And now it’s the task of the entire Musoverse—to make sure this never happens again.
Most Marketplaces already have a Safety & Security Policy. It’s written. It’s real. It’s not decorative.
So your first step:
1. Read each Marketplace Supplier Code
Yes, actually read it. Front to back. Every clause is a piece of hard-won experience paid for by the bruises of artists before you. This is the Pushworth Marketplace Supplier Code of Practice
2. Chat with Your Booker when you accept the Booking
Ask them:
Has this venue had trouble patrons recently?
Any history of aggression, unruly groups, problem corners?
Any known “Friday Regulars” who act like they own the pub?
Have other artists flagged similar issues?
What strategies have worked in the past? (Often it’s surprising.)
Consider potential Strategies like:
Early-warning communication between venue staff and performers
Strategic placement: In consultation with the Duty Manager, shifting your setup away from high-conflict zones
Setting expectations with management about backup, escalation points, and emergency protocols
Break timing adjustments to defuse tension cycles
Volume and repertoire shifts that soften or redirect crowd energy
Direct staff support: a bartender or floor staff staying visible during vulnerable sets
Clear codewords: if you need assistance mid-performance, you shouldn’t need to give a TED Talk about it
3. Lock Down Your Personal Wellness Strategy
You are your first line of defence. When life is heavy, gigs feel heavier.
So build yourself a buffer:
Speak with a counselor or therapist weekly while you stabilise
Create a pre-gig grounding ritual (breathwork, stretching, silence in the car before load-in)
Establish a check-in system with a trusted friend:
“At gig now → First break → Leaving venue → Home safe”Limit caffeine and adrenaline triggers pre-show
Build your self-regulation toolkit:
Coherent breathing, tapping, anchoring, visualisationPractice assertive communication scripts for early confrontation
Keep your phone charged with emergency contacts pinned to your home screen
Know your out — your pack-up plan, your exit route, your non-negotiable boundary line
None of this makes you weak. It makes you a professional. Venues should have security. Show suppliers should have backup. Crowds should behave like humans and not caffeinated baboons. But sometimes the world is imperfect.So we must be prepared. Together.
As David Bowie once said: “I think fame itself is not a rewarding thing. The most you can do is carve out your own space and protect it fiercely.”
He wasn’t talking about gigs. But he might as well have been.
Protect your space on stage. Protect your peace in your mind. Protect your right to go home safely.
The Musoverse is built on one truth: Your life is worth more than a gig.
Stay sharp. Stay grounded. Stay safe.
And when your gut whispers—listen …..and then activate your Gig Safety Plan.
Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2025
