A major question that comes up when the How To Concerts team is advancing shows is what type of barricade should be used in front of the stage and in other areas of the venue grounds? Two main types of barricades generally come up as options, and they each have specific purposes.
1. Steel Barricade (Bike Rack)
Bike rack barricade is a great tool to help get a crowd organized into a specific area. You see them at sporting events, outside of stores on Black Friday to create lines, and around concert venues as fencing. They are not however, designed to hold up the weight of a large crowd.
2. Stage Barricade
Stage barricade (mojo, blow through, crash barricade, etc.) is designed specifically for concert safety and is made for a dense and rowdy crowd. It is reinforced and held in place by the weight of people in the front row, and won’t slide or collapse under the shifting pressures of the crowd. They often have security steps on the backside, so the security team can effectively respond to issues in the front rows, and are strong enough to climb over in an emergency situation.
When should you use each type of barricade?
Any time you have a large, potentially rowdy crowd standing near the stage you should be using stage barricade, that at a minimum covers the length of the stage. This is typically placed about 6′-12′ from the front stage edge. It keeps the artist, security, and attendees safe, and is worth the additional expense. It is almost always required by the artist team and should be seen as an essential piece to the concert planning process. There are instances of bike rack barricade collapsing during concerts and causing injuries to concertgoers who got pulled down with the crowd. When in doubt, go with stage barricade.
If you are planning a seated event or an event that has another “main” focus – i.e. a farmers market where the music is the secondary focus or a “bonus” for attendees, or an event that is lower energy – bike rack barricade is usually OK.
Of course, barricade isn’t the only consideration for a safe and successful event and you should always consult your local venue, security, and police teams to determine proper event setup in your space. To help you through concert planning, we recommend you use a middle buyer, such as How to Concerts. We have booked, planned, and prepared so many shows in every type of venue and can help you make decisions that will work for your event and budget. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help, reach out to Jolene!
Jake Ostrow
Jake worked as a middle buyer for How To Concerts from 2018 to 2023, helping organizations with their concerts, comedians, and speakers.
Want to know how How To Concerts can help you with your next event? Call us at 920.764.1200 or set up a free consultation today!
Jake Ostrow
Jake worked as a middle buyer for How To Concerts from 2018 to 2023, helping organizations with their concerts, comedians, and speakers.
Want to know how How To Concerts can help you with your next event? Call us at 920.764.1200 or set up a free consultation today!
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