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big-party safety
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Dark Matter
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
13
Posted : Feb 24, 2003 08:57
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Hello all, this is my first post on the forum. Hope you don’t mind welcoming a new member?
I’ve been reading a lot about the commercialism, vibes, and “trendy-ness” found in big parties in Japan, and I agree with a lot of what’s been said on those topics, but has anybody talked about the safety issue?
Recently in the States, there were two major tragedies at nightclubs. In the first, I think 21 people died from being trampled on a staircase while trying to exit the club and in the second I think 93 people died from a fire that broke out.
Anybody who was at the Crystal Skulls Countdown party this year will remember that there were only 2 exits from the extremely packed dance floor, both of which were jammed with people the entire night. To get out of the building from the doors in which you entered (which is where everybody would have gone in a panic), you had to walk up a staircase filled with about 200 people at any given time.
I myself was at the farthest point from both exits on the dance floor, because that’s where it was the least crowded. If there had been some emergency, there’s no way I or anybody around me could have gotten outside the building in less than 30 minutes. The fire at the club in America killed almost a hundred people within 10 minutes.
How strict are the safety codes in Japan for parties of VisionQuest/Solstice size? I mean, we talk about the vibes and people changing when that many people are packed in, but it would be even more of a bummer if something really bad happened. Does VQ/Solstice even take this into consideration?
P.S. It was still a great party!
PPS. Peace in the middle east
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kowens
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
17
Posts :
218
Posted : Feb 24, 2003 09:13
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glad you joined our forum dark matter, we always welcome new members here...about fire safety, if i remember correctly at an arcadia party two years ago one of the decorations caught on fire, and altough there was nobody hurt i am sure that this made them more aware of the potential for these types of things to happen at parties.. and altough i am not part of the staff of any organization i can pretty much say for certain that they do take into consideration fire safety when setting up the decorations and other aspects of the party..at the crystal skulls party i think there were emergency exits that were there but they had to be closed so people wouldnt go through them, however in the event of an emergency they would of course be in use... |
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Dark Matter
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
13
Posted : Feb 24, 2003 12:51
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Ok, thanks, that's good to know. Though to be honest, in the state I was in, I doubt if I could have found any exit at all... |
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Kaatisu
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
309
Posted : Feb 25, 2003 20:11
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I agree, Dark Matter. The big organizers are reknowned for cramming as many people as possible into the space. I even get leery at the outdoor fests though. If there were some kind of emergency, like a massive storm or something, there would be mass panic and I think very little organized evacuation help. There would be many thousands of people trying to use one small road at once. Party with your fingers crossed I guess...? |
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HIKARI
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
25
Posts :
611
Posted : Feb 26, 2003 04:43
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I think there is no such thing as security over here. I mean just look at how many people bring drugs into parties, they all smoke leave the smoke buds burning everywhere, bring their burning incense, and they do almost everything that in the states would lead to a shut down of the party.
Maybe someday there will be a accident somewhere, but from what i see in Japanese clubs there arent much fire security going on. thats a problem, but at the same time if we had fire security and other security become tighter, I think the party scene is going become limited. |
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russ
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
35
Posts :
275
Posted : Feb 26, 2003 13:05
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My impression is that Japanese laws are much less strict than America, but I am not an authority on this subject as I have never organized an indoor party. At any rate, they are at least less strictly enforced. But I see many things that would result in a club being shut down immediately in New York. I played at a club last month, Cube326, and to be honest I felt uncomfortable the entire time I was there. The dance floors were all accessible only be elevator (2F-4F), and I checked the exits and they were all locked. If god forbid a fire ever broke out there, your chances of surviving are basically zero. Yet another reason why I almost never party indoors! Dancing indoors is like praying in a whorehouse. Technically, it can be done, but why? |
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Dark Matter
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
13
Posted : Feb 27, 2003 06:54
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Russ, I have partied in Cube326 and other clubs like it before and I know what you mean. I wouldn’t go to any indoor parties if there were outdoor parties all year round! I’ve never really thought about it too much until I read about the accidents in America. Now I will be checking where the exits are at a big party. I agree with Hikari though, it’s kind of a catch-22. I go to parties, especially outdoor ones, to enjoy the freedom that comes with being away from strict security and regulations. That’s what I love about the Japanese party scene in particular. Increasing security and safety/evacuation awareness might help for safety, but would bring me down in other ways. I guess we just have to accept the risks. Let’s hope nobody gets hurt and nothing happens to draw attention to the trance scene. |
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