The facts are in: Concert safety matters to your customers. The safer and more comfortable your venue’s fans feel, the more likely they are to keep coming back to your shows. Don’t just take our word for it — science backs it up, too.
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to keeping fans safer. But even small steps can make a big difference.
One easy strategy to keep your fans safer and reinforce your organization’s values is to use signage — anywhere and everywhere. Here’s how to design signs that let your fans know that you’ve got their back if anything happens to make them feel uncomfortable in your space.
Use signage to let fans know you’re listening
It’s not easy to speak up about incidents of harassment or transgressions of dignity or safety, so use signs to let fans know you care. Offer a “tip line” for your customers to communicate anonymously: “Text us at 1-800-XXX-YYYY if you experience any problems or feel unsafe at our venue.”
Make it clear to your fans that their feedback is valued. Use your signs to say something like: “We want to ensure you’re having the best time possible at our venue or event. Get in touch by email or social media if you have any concerns, problems, or suggestions. Your feedback matters to us.”
In all your signs, stay positive. Signage that reflects a positive bias — “We want to ensure you’re safe and having a great time” — will be better received than focusing exclusively on negative or “no” statements.
Here’s an example of a poster that Good Night Out Campaign, a U.K. nonprofit organization dedicated to ending harassment in nightlife, distributes to its partner venues:
“We want you to have a good night out. If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, no matter how minor it seems, you can report it to any member of our staff and they will work with you to make sure it doesn’t have to ruin your night.”
Put signage where fans will see it
Repeated signage is effective signage. Make sure signage appears where your customers — particularly vulnerable ones — are likely to see it:
- Outside bathrooms
- At venue entrances and exits
- At the bar and coat check
- On custom napkins or coasters (get creative!)
- On social media — in Facebook events for shows and your venue’s Instagram feed
Use signage to train venue staff, too
Effective signage doesn’t just benefit your fans. It benefits your staff, too. Clearly defined, well-understood signage will help your staff respond more effectively to fan concerns.
In fact, you can include signage in your staff room to make sure employees are always reminded to put fans first. According to Good Night Out, when a customer comes to you with a personal safety matter, “The first thing you say is vital.” Here’s a poster they distribute to partner venues to assist in guiding these conversations:
BELIEVE: “I’m sorry that happened here.”
VALIDATE: “That is not okay.”
EXPLAIN: “I’m going to see what I can do to help.”
CHECK: Confirm with the customer that you have a clear understanding of the matter or issue at hand.
ASK: About any immediate or urgent needs or injuries.
Finally, pass the matter to a manager immediately.
Want to learn more about why safety matters to your fans — and to your business? Read Creating Safer Spaces for Fans: Combating Harassment at your Venue or Festival.
