Concert Security: Weighing the alternatives

Concert Security: Weighing the alternatives

By Veronica Soediro

JAKARTA (JP): All things considered, the Jakarta Pop Alternative Festival held last Sunday was a success. The event went smoothly, with thousands in the audience, mostly teenagers, banging their heads in the scorching heat. The organizers thought of everything, including security.

The ensure maximum security, particularly around the stage, a high stage was erected to prevent anybody from bothering the musicians. Water was sprayed from a hose, reaching most of the young audience who were more than happy to cool down. A wide variety of food with reasonable prices was provided. Breaks between the groups were more than half-an-hour long, but many took advantage of the down time to take refuge in the shade before braving the sun again.

The anticipation of disorderly conduct was evident in the hundreds of security guards, armed forces members and policemen roaming around the venue. Those who could not get in, for whatever reason, flocked around the fence, yelling, screaming and looking for a chance to sneak in. Some climbed up the roof over the entrance and squatted there, waiting to jump inside. The security would brush them off, only to have them come back and occupy the same spots.

Dominating the scene were soldiers in green uniforms, police holding bamboo sticks and sniffer dogs and concert officials keeping an eye out for unauthorized photographers. The situation was like a jail yard in reverse, with the prisoners on the outside desperately trying to get in.

Despite the precautions, or perhaps because of them, the show only experienced a few minor skirmishes between security guards and a handful of fence-jumpers, who were quickly rounded up and dragged out of the stadium.

Rock concerts don't always go that smoothly. The highly- publicized Metallica concert in 1993 turned bloody and several young lives were lost. The latest riot occurred in Bandung last Sunday, the same day as the Pop Alternative Festival. After a concert by Iwan Fals, known as a defender of the little people, cars and shops were smashed.

Spontaneous riots continue to perplex and it is still not understood why some concerts get violent and others do not. Haryo Ridwanto, a public relations officer at Java Musikindo, the promoter of the Jakarta Pop Alternative Festival, attributed the success of his festival to audience selection.

"We jacked up the price on purpose, to have a more selective audience. If the tickets had been cheaper, we wouldn't have had a select crowd. We wanted those who could afford to pay because they would be 'serious' listeners."

Plaza Timur Senayan, which is the stadium's east parking lot, was chosen as the venue for this reason.

"Apart from the fact that it is a strategic location and easy to reach from anywhere in Jakarta, it is also in a relatively safe environment," Haryo explained as to why the Ancol circuit in North Jakarta was not the chosen site.

"Many are reluctant to go to Ancol because it's too close to Tanjung Priok and well-known for people trying to get in without paying. Not that we accuse them of being hot-tempered, of course."

Elimination

However, this is the sort of behavior, which, according to psychologist Sartono Mukadis, needs to be eliminated.

"Do not treat lower class people as the source of the problem," Sartono warned.

"They are treated as numbers, as a political commodity. It shouldn't be that way. They are human beings, too."

He labeled as unfair the tendency to associate the working class with unruly behavior. He cited as an example a huge dangdut concert in Ancol, North Jakarta, last year where thousands of working class people attended orderly.

Sartono also criticized the unfairly priced tickets. "Imagine what Rp 55,000 means to them. To have their wages increased by U$2 a day is already a big deal to them, while a concert ticket costs 10 times more than that."

Nevertheless, as Haryo pointed out, "Promoters want safety. Just look at how rough those people behaved outside the venue. Imagine what might have happened if we'd let them in."

According to Sartono, the problem will persist unless people look deeper into the problem. "People simply look away from alternative solutions. Just talk to these promoters, I'm sure they only think of keeping these people away for security reasons."

To reduce the friction often felt at concerts, Sartono suggested having big video monitors installed outside the concert venues, so those on the outside could still see the show.

Haryo dismissed the idea as ridiculous, adding that it would be bad for business.

"Then nobody will buy tickets," he argued.

He added that at the Jakarta Pop Alternative Festival, people from the outside could see the stage since it was held outdoors, which may have been why there was no rioting.

Safety is the number one concern for promoters, Haryo emphasized again. "Without it, we would not have permission to hold other concerts. The government would see us as incompetent and the artists themselves would refuse to come."

Good reputations are critical, Haryo added, especially after the Metallica concert. "Most foreign managers are watching us now, they are really curious about what's going on."

He clarified that all security matters are handled by military and police, and that the promoters themselves are not involved in security affairs.

Sartono agreed with the need for safety, but said security at most concert events is too heavy.

"There was a time when soldiers with full battle gear would guard a concert or football match. It was unnecessary and gave a bad impression. The audience was even more tempted to tease them and push them to their limits."

Sarwono went on to say that riotous behavior is hardly typical of Indonesians, regardless of class.

"We all know that riots happen all over the world. It is not confined to any particular type of people or music," said Sartono.

"Sometimes people involved in a riot are also looking for an element of adventure. To challenge authority is to attract attention."