Singer KK’s sudden demise last week left everyone – the music industry and his fans – shocked and heartbroken. He was laid to rest in Mumbai on June 2. He had an underlying heart condition that was aggravated by lack of oxygen (hypoxia), which led to a fatal cardiac arrest, the final post-mortem report has stated. As love and condolences from his grieving fans and colleagues continue to pour in, so do various reports on how the show at Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha was allegedly overcrowded, mismanaged and lacked medical and emergency facilities. It has sparked nationwide conversations on how concerts and live events in India need sharper focus in areas that the venue of KK’s final performance apparently lacked.

Armaan Malik was among the first to raise his concern over this on social media. He wrote, “Concerts in India need better management, medical and emergency facilities. I’ve seen and been a part of far too many shows that don’t serve the right conditions for us to perform in. But yet, being the artists we are, we continue with performing because we don’t want to disappoint our fans. (sic)”.

Ever since, several singers, composers and musicians, who perform at live gigs, have weighed in and pointed out multiple issues that pose a threat to their and audience safety during live concerts.

Pota, lead singer of Bangla band Cactus, who performed at Nazrul Mancha a day before KK, says, “The performance pressure remains high when we have back-to-back concerts. We are performers and want to entertain people, but not at the cost of our own lives, or for that matter, anyone else’s life. We performed at the same stage of Nazrul Mancha just a day before KK. It was overcrowded; there were around 100-150 extra people. But the next day, the crowd was more than double of the hall capacity. That really puts a question on their management.”

Euphoria’s Palash Sen, who has been performing live since the ’90s, says he insists on adequate safety and security measures, apart from sound, light and technical support. “We have always had a strict rider that states things specifically for halls, auditoriums or open-air stadiums. That is scanned and approved by us before we go for the concert. After this sad and shocking incident, I am going to insist on having a paramedic backstage henceforth. Ensuring proper medical arrangements and keeping oxygen cylinders handy are basic necessities. We have hours of high-energy performances and it can get strenuous. If the artiste is unwell, they must take a call soon. Since I am a doctor myself, there have been instances when I have provided medical assistance to my team members and even to people in the audience.”

Shilpa Rao says organisers should ensure that they don’t exceed the capacity of a venue. “Plus, there should be medical emergency facilities, not just for the artiste, but also for the audience. Say, if a fan is not feeling well during the concert, there should be proper care and medical facilities to get them the right aid at the right time,” she adds.

Composer-singer Jeet Gannguli says, “We need auditoriums that are well-equipped with disaster management teams, emergency response systems, and fire safety compliant. Ambulances, too, should be at the venue for medical emergencies. There should be a strict control on the crowd allowed inside an auditorium.”

He adds that before using special effects, such as the blasts of the confetti machines and the smoke machines, all precautionary measures must be taken.

Talking about performing in other countries, Kailash Kher says the facilities provided during their concerts abroad are way better. “When we go abroad to perform, the organisers take artistes’ and crowd safety much more seriously. They always have a fire brigade, an ambulance and a doctor readily available in case of any mishaps. I know people have immense love for us and they love our work, but there should be respect for our personal space and comfort too.”

Singer-songwriter Silajit Majumder says when he goes for a show, he makes sure to inform the organizers about a few things he requires. “The basic necessities may vary from performer to performer. But many a time, we aren’t even provided with the most basic things. Instead, we are asked why we need this and that, and why we can’t manage with what is being given. So, it’s better to make it clear at the outset. The problem with some organizers is that once they hire us, they feel their job is done,” he adds.