Postcards From Page Side: Timber!
In this week’s Postcards From Page Side, Featured Columnist Brian Bavosa looks at the recent tragedies that seem all too common: stage collapses and the reasons why, and possible steps to prevent this from happening again…
Contrary to what you may be thinking, no, this week’s column is not about Phish’s cover of Timber (Jerry), commonly referred to as Timber Ho! Instead, it will focus on what has become a an all-too familiar–and tragic–headline as of late, where we have seen a number of stage collapses at recent festivals and concerts around the world. My immediate reaction is how? Why now? What were the causes? And, it led me to think about what could have been done–if anything–to prevent these terrible, and deadly, events. Let us take a look at three recent disasters, all that have occurred within the last month or so.
The first tragedy we will look at occurred at the Indiana State Fair. Due to inclement weather, and a heavy storm that rolled through the area (the seemingly common X-factor in all of the collapses), the stage completely buckled and collapsed. Seven people were KILLED. Yes, dead. Unreal. Concerts are supposed to be fun, not deadly!
Now, my first reaction (and seems to be with each example we will look at) is: what the hell are those people still doing there by the time the storm rolled in?!?! In this day and age with the most advanced weather instruments, radar and equipment, how can we not tell a potential dangerous storm or situation is headed our way? Is it really worth making a dollar versus potentially causing a delay or possible cancellation, which sure, would cause headaches for the staff, promoters, venues and others, but is that really worse than the DEATH of concertgoers on your conscience? I guess this issue really gets my blood boiling because I understand that while being acts of nature in most or all of the cases, I still feel more can be done in prevention and preparation.
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