Keep yourself safe: risk assessment and public liability insurance

Everything in life entails a risk, even not doing anything at all. Assessing and managing risks is part of life, but it becomes critical in professions that involve large numbers of people,Ā like live music.

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 hadĀ 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

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How To Ensure Safety On Stage (And What To Do If An Accident Happens)

Recently, I have had quite a lot of gigs. The occasions are different and so are the circumstances. Sometimes, I am playing on a terrace, some others, on a function room, or a hall, or at a bar... As I usually have to bring my own PA system, and even when I don't, I have to think about the safety of everybody involved, including myself, when I set it.

A few weeks ago, in London, I arrived to the venue where I was going to play when the guests were already at the bar, coming from the wedding ceremony to attend the drinks' reception. I had to survey where the plug points were, and think where to set up, without the guests seeing me directly. I had to make sure that my speakers were firm on their stands and that the cables connecting them to the console were not a tripping hazard for me or other musicians coming on stage.

Sounds a bit nerve-wracking, doesn't it? Well, it is not too bad, especially not after years of practise, but you have to be attentive and careful, and always make sur...

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