The ILMC Safety Focus Group (SFG) is asking delegates at this year’s ILMC to demonstrate their commitment to safety by donating the 40,000 euros of matching funding needed to complete its European project.

The commitment from the EC will only be fulfilled if the live music industry supports the project with this matching funding.

The project will provide a web-based worker safety “tool” for the organisers of concerts and festivals throughout Europe. This tool - which may take the form of worker safety guidelines or an organiser’s “checklist”, depending on feedback from its potential users - represents the first ever attempt to draw together working practices and legislation used throughout Europe’s live music industries.

By the time the ILMC opens its doors this Friday, the SFG will already have completed the first phase of the project, including an historic seminar at the Royal Albert Hall where around 50 live music production experts from all over Europe will have discussed worker safety issues.

The seminar is a just a part of the research and consultation process to develop a tool that could be used by every concert and festival promoter in Europe.

“It’s vital that the live music industry continues to improve its safety procedures,” says Roskilde Festival’s Henrik Nielsen. “Promoters must also be seen to support safety work if they are to have any influence on legislation imposed by Europe or national governments. By contributing to the Safety Focus Group’s European project, promoters will be demonstrating that safe practices at concerts is their number one priority.”

Payments can be made by bank transfer directly into the SFG’s account:
• Account Number: 70872172
• Sort Code: 20-05-75
• Account Name: International Live Music Conference Limited/ILMC Safety Focus Group Client Account
• Bank: Barclays Bank Plc, Hanover Square Banking Group, 50 Pall Mall, London SW1A 1QD, UNITED KINGDOM
Alternatively, the ILMC Safety Focus Group’s administrator, Mike Gartside, will have donation forms available at ILMC. For further information please call Mike on 00 33 468 24 70 42.