In a decade of customization, the freedom to express yourself in various different mediums, controversy ensues. Over the last 5 years, dance music festivals have been sprouting throughout the North America and around the world. Industry leader, Insomniac Events “Wide Awake Since 1983”, has taken the heat for the death of a 15 year old at last summer’s Electric Daisy Carnival in Los Angeles, CA.
After the loss of 15 year old Sasha Rodriguez due to a drug overdose and the stampede at Germany’s Love Parade, assemblywoman Ma introduced historic legislation to ban raves in California. AB74 was introduced into legislation after recent drug related tragedies in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
“Raves foster an environment that threatens the health and safety of our youth,” said Assemblywoman Ma. “The introduction of AB 74 is the first step toward eliminating these dangerous events.”
AB 74 will prohibit raves on public property and prevent raves on private property unless a business owner has a license to host such an event. “The bill is not intended to impact traditional music concerts and sporting events. AB 74 is about cracking down on raves that harbor drug use and lead to teenage deaths.”
In response, industry leader Insomniac Events has made changes to the age limits to 18 and over with only acceptable forms of entry limited to government issued driver’s license or passport. Insomniac has also reached out to Investigative Advisory Group (IAG), a consulting firm that has a experience creating overall safety and security protocols for large venues.
While these are great steps in the right direction, public safety awareness has a lot of room for growth. AB74 was an eye opener to the consequences that can occur if traumatizing events continue to occur in our dance community. Therefore it will be the responsibility of promoter, government agencies, fans to enjoy these events responsibly. Let’s admit it, drugs are everywhere, but where are the public safety aweraness campaigns? Dance music festivals are growing at a rapid rate, generating millions of dollars to cities through the source of vendors, travel/lodge, and promoters, and more. In a time where unemployment rates are in the double digits, this is a great medium to stimulate the economy. The big but is, how to do it responsibly? Festivals have established a great platform for Artists to share on a large scale. Dance music has a made a significant impact in the music industry and it is up to the above mentioned entities to continue this growth..
The ban of raves would move the parties to less regulated venues which only increased the chances of unsafe practices. Education will be key, and we look back in history as an example. Let’s review sex education in the U.S. As rising STD rates and an increase in sexual activity of younger ages, the campaign for sex education followed. Commercials, banners, classrooms now began to discuss the practices of safe sex openly and without shame. The consequences of unsafe practices was discussed and shared in an open forum. It took time for people to agree this was the right approach, to be comfortable to have an open discuss about a once upon frowned upon topic. Then preventative measures took place, the passing of condoms, which in no way was intended to promote sexual activity, but rather to have safe practices since it was going to happen anyway. Sex is, was, and will continue to happen, just like drug use.
FestivalZoo in no way promotes the use of drugs, but the simple idea, that educational tools will minimize illegal activity and lead to better decision making when taking on the use of drugs. Let’s get our heads in the right place people, the “Party Animals” are out there, let’s give them the tools to do what they were already going to do with some real education. The effects are uncalculated and to be determined, but it’s a place to start. Banning is not the answer, when you tell someone not to do something, they want to do it more. Promoters do not “harbor”, they deliver music on a large scale and take all precautionary measures to make it as safe as possible. If we all can unite to deliver the right message, future fatalities and safe raving is not far away!
FestivalZoo is an acting partner in promoting safe raving. Please visit our safety section here.
“Feast into some safety tools, you filthy Party Animals!”
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