Everybody probably remembers the frenzy the event industry in India went through when Justin Bieber came to perform. For a lot of people, going to a concert is like a pilgrimage trip where they spend hours and money to go witness something that they love and truly believe in. In this scenario, hosting aconcert is a very intricate and important procedure, akin to painting a masterpiece or composing a great symphony. There’s a lot that can go wrong, and the final product is a mirage that people see, without the faintest hint of the processes that conceptualised it, put it together, and help keep it running from behind the scenes. Like every great work of art or music, eachfacet of an event needs to be executed perfectly and function in unison, because every flaw is easy to spot, even with the untrained eye. The reputation of not just the event planner but also the artists is at stake when setting the stage for a concert.
When hosting an event, the first thing one must consider is the infrastructure. The size, quality, capabilities, and location of the place you choose should depend on nature of the event as well as the budget and expected audience. The space must be functional. That is an integral component. For example, a Broadway-style theatrical performance, like Beauty and the Beast would require a smaller venue with good lighting, props, and aversatile stage, while an A.R. Rahman concert would require a very different kind of set up, i.e. lots of space, large speakers, and several screens. Not just this, big events often may side-line the importance of providing basic but important amenities like convenient parking spaces or setting up different routes to ensure there is never too much crowd focused on one area.
Perhaps the biggest challenge to hosting an event is being able to comply with all the laws and regulations in the country. Whenever an event as big as a concert is being planned, it is important to understand the legal obligations like the tax system that one must adhere to while doing so. There are multiple licenses that are required when setting up different amenities within the concert and it is essential to plan for these in advance in case of any delays. Aside from permissions, one must be well aware of the national, state, and regional laws regarding public assembly, noise, alcohol, and food distribution in order to properly comply.
Security is another key aspect of hosting concerts. Handling the crowd is as important as bringing them. The bigger the concert is, the harder it is to manage the security checks. There are multiple points were having a proper security system is pivotal like the entrance and the backstage. Artists need to be in a space with proper security to ensure that they are not harassed during the gig. Personnel assigned to artists are trained differently from the personnel guarding the gates or the main checkpoints of the concert.
Finally, what is the most important aspect of organising a concert is being alert and ready for a lot of curve-balls. It takes managing artists, handling crowds, setting up the perfect venue, handling complex technology and a lot more things to be able to set up the perfect experience for concert-goers. In the end being able to keep calm and enjoying yourself is what the secret behind organising a successful concert is.
By Mazhar Nadiadwala, Managing Director, Dome Entertainment pvt ltd
