Task Force on Concert Safety Report & Event Production Guide
Ryan Bingham photo by Rob Loud.
Governor Greg Abbott’s Texas Task Force on Concert Safety - April 2022 Report
On the evening of November 5, 2021, at the Astroworld Festival near Houston, a concert turned into tragedy as the attending crowd surged, causing multiple fatalities and serious injuries. In an effort to mitigate risk of any future tragedy, the State of Texas is committed to analyzing the aspects of mass gatherings within state jurisdiction and identifying possible improvements.
In furtherance of that goal, Governor Greg Abbott formed the Texas Task Force on Concert Safety (TFCS), saying,
“Live music is a source of joy, entertainment, and community for so many Texans—and the last thing concertgoers should have to worry about is their safety and security. To ensure that the tragedy that occurred at the Astroworld Festival never happens again, I am forming the Texas Task Force on Concert Safety. From crowd control strategies and security measures to addressing controlled substances, this task force will develop meaningful solutions that will keep Texans safe while maximizing the joy of live music events.”
This report is the culmination of the work done by the TFCS.
The recommendations in this report are narrowly tailored to address gaps that were identified as contributing to safety failures at the Astroworld event. The TFCS also proactively used this process to enhance the State’s standard of safety practices for mass gatherings of all types.
While some level of risk is inherent in any mass gathering, it is the opinion of the TFCS that proper planning will allow Texans to enjoy safe performances, concerts, and other culturally significant events.
Safe gatherings are possible when everyone does their part.
Event Production Guide
A large collection of resource documents were submitted to the Task Force on Concert Safety (TFCS). Many of the recommendations laid out in the Concert Safety Report are taken from them. The Texas Music Office will host a depository of these resources on its website as part of the Event Production Guide.