Singer KK’s last live act was at a college event in Kolkata. He had performed at countless such gigs in the past, but how it all went down this time around is something that has got everyone talking about the lack of infrastructure for music performances in India. Many videos that have surfaced on the internet show the late singer sweating profusely on stage, as his team asked for better air conditioning. In addition to that, there were no medical facilities or an ambulance at the venue to tackle an emergency. KK had to walk all the way to his car, surrounded by people.

Singer Armaan Malik tweeted, “Concerts in India need better mgmt, medical & emergency facilities. I’ve seen and been 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 coz we don’t wanna disappoint our fans (sic).”

Singer Shibani Kashyap told NDTV that KK’s concert was a “huge eye-opener”. She said, “There should always be medical aid and ambulance on standby.”

Composer Ehsaan Noorani of the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio says, “Unfortunately, we don’t see ambulances on standby at concerts in India. All the concerts held abroad are insured. This (safety) is something we need to start thinking about. I remember we were once performing at a show and there was ruckus outside with people trying to get in, and a kid fell over a fence. Sometimes, it’s also up to the audience to behave in a particular way.”

Another challenge that singers face during indoor gigs is when the air conditioning is not up to the mark. “Live performances are physically challenging. And it’s summer time, too. The temperature on stage is always higher due to the equipment, lights and LED screens,” says singer Amit Mishra.

What is surprising is that when performing abroad or when international artistes perform in India, it’s a different picture altogether. “Forget the performer, even audience members can black out. Concerts abroad have a team to pull out such people and give them oxygen and CPR. When a foreign band comes to perform in India, that’s always stipulated.”

Singer Mamta Sharma says security arrangements for performers is also a key area of concern at venues. “We, as artistes, are entirely focused on our show, even if we feel uneasy. Organisers should have better security facilities around the stage, especially near the entry and exit points. Fans get too close to us for selfies, and any mishap can happen,” she rues.