You probably already know that there is no such thing as a successful event with the two key elements that make it all work. Audio and visual. The goal in planning and executing an awesome event is to make it memorable by awe-inspiring your guests with your scintillating wit. On one hand, you want to have them squeal in delight as you turn on the roller coaster. On the other hand, you want to remain informative – or even educational – at the same time, if it’s an annual event. What you want is for them to look forward to coming back for the next edition.
You got it right! Impression is the order of the day. But while you go about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. It’s important to take some safety measures to ensure that your event does not turn out to be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Here are seven audio protection tips for your next event.
Proper Lighting
Even if you aim to have a dark theme, it is important to outline definitive physical boundaries and illuminate appropriately. You don’t want people bumping into speakers or accidentally dismantling your sound set up. Make sure that the entrances and exits (even the emergency exits) are properly illuminated. Clear the walkways and venue spaces.
Also, you want to make sure that you have backup emergency lighting prepaid to ensure stability throughout the event.
Safe Noise and Volume Levels
First and foremost, how is the sitting arrangement? You want to make sure that your guests – audience – is at least 10 feet away from the speakers. You will need to monitor noise and volume levels properly to prevent hearing loss or other hearing impairments. Especially for events like musical festivals, concerts, and other loud and crowded events. You can’t have it any other way. Use a sound pressure level meter – SPL meter – to monitor all noise and volume levels. Get a good mixer that will help you balance the noise and volume levels appropriately. This means that your engineer has to do a thorough sound check before the event, testing out the volume and noise levels and blending them all in. You also have to keep a close eye on the sound set up while the event is going on.
Consider the weather: put measures in place
Sound equipment can be quite heavy. That alone may prevent a safety risk . If it is not properly secured, the equipment could fall and become a safety and financial liability. Use hoists, hand truck dollies, skates, lift buddies, etcetera, etcetera, to move the audio equipment from one place to another.
Make sure that your roadies are well kitted for safety to avoid accidents while moving the equipment or setting them up. Weather can wreak some serious havoc on audio equipment and jeopardize the safety of an entire event. Two things can help: awareness and preparation. Equip your roadies with the technical know-how and make preparations that will help you avoid stories that touch the heart.
It is always best to use sound equipment that can endure harsh weather conditions. You might want to invest in waterproof and hardy sound equipment. In any case, check weather updates ahead of time and prepare accordingly. Access the venue and check how suitable it will be for particular weather conditions. And have a backup plan for all outdoor events.
Trip Hazard Protections
Trips happen when your foot collides with an object, causes a person to lose their balance and fall. Cables are a major cause of tripping at events. Make sure that your cables are secure and out of the way. It should be of utmost priority at any event. It affects everyone present at the event, including those in attendance, contractors, staff, and crew. Cables not properly secured have the potential to trip someone and create a liability situation. So then, here are a few things that you can do. Don’t leave cables looping across the floor. Make sure all loose cables are secured. Invest in cable ramps. Make sure you walk through the venue before the event starts and check for anything that can be a trip hazard. Wherever you need to place warning signs, do so gracefully.
Safe and Correct Installation Procedures
Like I said earlier, audio equipment can be quite heavy and that’s an added risk when in the air. For example, if heavy equipment were to fall from a ceiling into a crowd, serious damage and injury could occur. Safe and correct installation procedures are paramount to event safety. This is where a professional, experienced staff, as well as certified riggers, will come in handy. Therefore, it is extremely important to deal with experienced and trained professionals who know safe and correct installation practices.
Make sure your team is highly professional
Having a professional audiovisual team is one of the best investments you can make for your event. When your crew is professionally trained and experienced, they will understand event safety risks and hazards when they see them, and they will have the knowledge and skill sets to deal with them in an appropriate manner to mitigate risk. Also, they will know how to properly set up, install, and take down large structures, handle and properly secure heavy equipment, as well as make sure there is adequate lighting by rigging it from above.
Event safety includes much more than many may realize. It goes beyond security details and includes important audiovisual components that should be handled by trained professionals. At Live Event Solutions, our skilled staff specializes in reducing safety hazards, and we consider event safety one of our top priorities. Just contact us today for enquiries on safety measures that can help make your event secure and safe for attendees, staff, and crews. We are here to help you with event equipment rental services and safety management in any way we can.