The company I work for does lighting, sound and small concert roofs. One of the biggest issues I see when issues come up on site (be it weather, equipment issues, whatever) is power stuggles. Obviously within my company there is one person in charge on site. But within the event you have the producer, client, artists, ect who generally don't want to listen if they don't like what the company tech says. We're working on adding terms to the contract stipulating that on any safety issues relating to our rig what our guy (be it whoever we have there) says goes. Not that our crew would listen to the clients if we felt what they wanted was unsafe, but the time spent in arguments could obviously be time we don't have. Essentially I'm afraid of the mess that appears to have happened at Indiana where the roof collapsed while everyone was arguing/debating/discussing whether to evacuate. In my opinion it should ALWAYS be what the company rep/roof guy says goes as they know the rig far better than an event producer or artist. Not to say that the producers/artists/ect couldn't decide to evacuate or whatever before the company rep says they need to, but that they couldn't refuse to when the company rep says it's necessary.
Oh course if clients would realize we want the show to look good and go as planned just as much as they do! We're not refusing to do something to make more money, or taking down your backdrop because we want to, or stopping a show so we can go get dinner! Some of the hardest decisions I've had to make are cutting show elements and/or making changes because of venue/weather issues. No show is worth risking live for though!
As far as in the planning stages it's always been that (on safety matters) it's our way or no way so thats no issue. While generally we don't want to lose a show in cases where the client is insisting we will explain that XXX is unsafe and we will not do it and would strongly not recommend it even if they can find someone who will (generally in writing).
What do you guys do to ensure that clients/producers/artists don't interfere on safety matters? I'd be interested in seeing anything you guys include in contracts on the matter? If you've had any sort of power struggles/issues on site how have you addressed it as expediently as possible?
Oh course if clients would realize we want the show to look good and go as planned just as much as they do! We're not refusing to do something to make more money, or taking down your backdrop because we want to, or stopping a show so we can go get dinner! Some of the hardest decisions I've had to make are cutting show elements and/or making changes because of venue/weather issues. No show is worth risking live for though!
As far as in the planning stages it's always been that (on safety matters) it's our way or no way so thats no issue. While generally we don't want to lose a show in cases where the client is insisting we will explain that XXX is unsafe and we will not do it and would strongly not recommend it even if they can find someone who will (generally in writing).
What do you guys do to ensure that clients/producers/artists don't interfere on safety matters? I'd be interested in seeing anything you guys include in contracts on the matter? If you've had any sort of power struggles/issues on site how have you addressed it as expediently as possible?