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."