As a performer, you can't think only of yourself. You must consider the safety of every person who makes your job possible: fellow musicians, engineers, assistants, organisers, logistics, venue staff, and of course, the audience. There are two steps to this: the first is the risk assessment, in which you identify what could go wrong, and take action to prevent it before it happens. The second is a contingency plan, in which you determine what to do in case something goes wrong despite your efforts.

Risk assessment

To illustrate this step, let's have a look at a gig Millicent had at Shangri-La The Shard, London, sometime last year.

Shangri-La The Shard is a prestigious venue with luxury amenities, and the staff is used to accommodate prestigious guests that require a special level of care in terms of security and safety. This worked in Millicent's favour, as there was already a good standard for risk prevention on site. This was evident in the professional approach of the sound engineer, who had all the leads already taped when she arrived as a way to remove tripping hazards. When it was decided that Millicent would play on a stage far from her assigned place, the sound engineer relocated and taped everything again.

The new stage had a potent projector that would shine directly on Millicent's face, which could cause eye strain. After assessing the risk, she decided that it wasn’t a concern, as she's used to strong lights and she was wearing a hat. To be able to walk through the audience mid-performance, she tested the stage steps in advance, and kept an eye in people around her while walking slowly, in order to prevent accidental collisions. By taking all these precautions, Millicent and the staff at Shangri-La The Shard made sure that the experience during the actual show was nothing but positive.

Contingency plan

There's no way around it: accidents are bound to happen. In the same way it's important that, during music practise, you think about what to do if you make a mistake, or your instrument/equipment malfunctions, you must be prepared to react to incidents that put people at risk of injury.

This isn't to say you have to become a paramedic or a firefighter, of course. Venues are in charge of things like evacuations and calling emergency services, so beyond making sure that a protocol is in place during your risk assessment, there's nothing else for you to do. What could greatly benefit you, though, is acquiring a public liability insurance (PLI). This cover protects you against liability for damages following injury to a third party person or to a property during your performances.

Some contractors require that you have PLI in order to hire you. Even if they don't, it's best to have one, it really helps everybody work with peace of mind. The Musicians' Union helps members choose and get the appropriate PLI for their activities and profile. You can find more information on their website, and a general introduction in the video below: