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Can't shake the stereotype: Electric Zoo cancelled over drug concerns

sorry but this has absolutely nothing to do with a stereotype. When people die at events, they get shut down/ended. The same would have happened no matter what genre, or what cause. It mostly comes down to the festival organizers not being able to manage their event.
 
.....and the stupidity of people who think taking recreational drugs cannot hurt them.
 
This looks bad on dance music. Will corporate radio want to take a chance on dance music, knowing they'll have to associate with events like Electric Zoo? The vast majority of people who attend EDM concerts don't do molly. For me, just hearing dance music (especially on the radio) is enough to get me feeling ecstatic, I don't need molly.

Why can't they inspect or ban large bags? NYC has a large police force, put some more officers on Randalls Island for Electric Zoo. There are people that bring in large quantities of molly to sell at the concert, how do they go undetected?
 
Why should it be the NYPD's problem to police this mess? It's the organizers' job to manage that. The city was right for shutting it down...and should think twice next year unless the event organizers come up with a plan to keep things under control.

As for "corporate radio" taking a chance on a format that's not commercially viable, I think we've beaten that horse to death on this board.
 
As a person who's day job involves music events large and small, it is completely on the organizers of an event of any size to maintain order. If it's a city sponsored or co-sponsored event then the city contributes, but for a private ticketed event, it is up to the event organizers ot provide security and insurance. Their failing to do this mostly reflects on them. Drug use exists in many subcultures, and that doesn't effect their viability as mdemographics.

I'd be shocked to see this event happen again next year though.
 
luperm said:
Why should it be the NYPD's problem to police this mess? It's the organizers' job to manage that. The city was right for shutting it down...and should think twice next year unless the event organizers come up with a plan to keep things under control.

As for "corporate radio" taking a chance on a format that's not commercially viable, I think we've beaten that horse to death on this board.
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I've been very busy addressing the issue about Electric Zoo in various outlets. So here I go answering most everyone.

Drugs are in ALL genres. We can go back to Woodstock with LSD, heck we can go back to the 1930's on it. Either or, drugs and music are synonymous with one another. Regarding Electric Zoo, people were looking for "Molly" and unfortunately 2 died from it. I am one that isn't into drugs, figuring the music is the "high" but if something has to happen here, it is EDUCATION. While not doing drugs is the best route, for those that want to trip on MDMA, they need to be informed of what they have to do so as to avoid getting into a bad predicament. According to MANY people that had answered my video on this in FB, the solution there is to drink plenty of water.

Made Event would be smart to provide pamphlets to everyone attending EZoo next year to educate on these drugs. I also think tighter security is a given....considering the fact that Mayor Bloomberg came out SUPPORTING Electric Zoo and chalking the incident up to people doing drugs and dying from it.

And you know what LUPERM, I can still keep going with the topic of dance/EDM as a format continuously. Even though a lot of people under 30 can give two craps about terrestrial radio, there can still be a chance. I don't think it's an issue of not being commercially viable. Radio people, not close to the scene, just don't know HOW TO DO IT.
 
It's not a stereotype if it's actually a thing that happens. Handing out pamphlets isn't going to stop people going to dance music festivals from doing molly. The only thing that MIGHT help is giving away free bottle water to keep the folks that are doing the stuff from getting dehydrated and stroking out. Even that would be a long shot.
 
Small Market Guy said:
It's not a stereotype if it's actually a thing that happens. Handing out pamphlets isn't going to stop people going to dance music festivals from doing molly. The only thing that MIGHT help is giving away free bottle water to keep the folks that are doing the stuff from getting dehydrated and stroking out. Even that would be a long shot.
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What I had meant by education was that by giving out the pamphlets, people can learn what they need to do should they get into any trouble with molly or any drug.

By no means is it solely a "just say no" campaign nor would such a pamphlet pass any judgment whatsoever. You had mentioned water for the sake of hydration; that would be noted in such a pamphlet. It's education, plain and simple, so as to try to deter any other incidents like the two deaths. It would be of Made Event's best interest to show that they care and I'm certain this may have been proposed to Bloomberg, to pass on to the next administration, so that they could do Electric Zoo 2014 for three days without having to cease it due to deaths.
 
TonySantiago said:
And you know what LUPERM, I can still keep going with the topic of dance/EDM as a format continuously. Even though a lot of people under 30 can give two craps about terrestrial radio, there can still be a chance. I don't think it's an issue of not being commercially viable. Radio people, not close to the scene, just don't know HOW TO DO IT.
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I've said it before and I'll say it again...I truly admire your passion for dance/EDM.
 
luperm said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again...I truly admire your passion for dance/EDM.
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Before I go here, let me answer the guy about insurance rates. Yeah, they'll be able to afford it. Let's see $180 for a one day ticket this year.....$200+ next year. Yeah...they'll cover :(

And to Luperm, thank you for the kind words.

I don't post as much about the subject as I've used to because as much as I think such a station could be profitable, "radio politics" (in general) are what they are that little progress can be made on a terrestrial level in that sense even though things have grown in terms of the popularity of the music, amongst those 34 and younger.

Sure, I'd love for a station to happen like that in NYC, and I'll even go as far as say that if such a station does happen I would like to be involved with it somehow. But the realist in me also knows that we can take things farther for dance/EDM on the Internet side of things, whether it's online streams, social media, services like Pandora and Spotify. So as long as those "politics" stay away from there.

Once again, thank you! I do appreciate but as you know, I'm always going to defend dance/EDM :)
 
TonySantiago said:
What I had meant by education was that by giving out the pamphlets, people can learn what they need to do should they get into any trouble with molly or any drug.

By no means is it solely a "just say no" campaign nor would such a pamphlet pass any judgment whatsoever. You had mentioned water for the sake of hydration; that would be noted in such a pamphlet. It's education, plain and simple, so as to try to deter any other incidents like the two deaths. It would be of Made Event's best interest to show that they care and I'm certain this may have been proposed to Bloomberg, to pass on to the next administration, so that they could do Electric Zoo 2014 for three days without having to cease it due to deaths.
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I am all for education, but pamphlets wouldn't be the way to do it. It needs to be presented in an interesting way. For example, I took my kid to the Warped Tour a few years ago. It was in July, on a 100 degree day. They had a big tent with cool air pumped in, and Monster drinks provided free "Monster Water" which was just bottled water in a can. The tent was for parents only, and showed movies, but they also had misters and free water for the kids, too.

Unfortunately, molly is dangerous if not used right, and most people don't know how to use it right. By that I mean, taking it and then dancing furiously until you drop.
 
Small Market Guy said:
I am all for education, but pamphlets wouldn't be the way to do it. It needs to be presented in an interesting way. For example, I took my kid to the Warped Tour a few years ago. It was in July, on a 100 degree day. They had a big tent with cool air pumped in, and Monster drinks provided free "Monster Water" which was just bottled water in a can. The tent was for parents only, and showed movies, but they also had misters and free water for the kids, too.

Unfortunately, molly is dangerous if not used right, and most people don't know how to use it right. By that I mean, taking it and then dancing furiously until you drop.
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Molly is dangerous period. Promoters might be able to pay for the insurance but what insurance carrier is going to want to cover this? The genre as a whole needs to take a stand. The major name DJ's need to see that their cash cow may come to an end and they need to say something. The listening audience continues to get younger and peer pressure at those ages is at an all time high
 
bholcomb said:
Molly is dangerous period.
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No its not. Fake, untested chemicals masquerading as Ecstacy (or whatever they call it today) are dangerous. Prohibition of MDMA is, ironically, the cause of the danger of "Molly". For someone to label a substance as dangerous without considering context is danger.

My question is, where was Dancesafe? It's been probably 10 years + since I last went to a rave, but they were always there with their testing kits. I guess because possession of drugs is illegal, a basic harm reduction capacity, such as being able to tell people whether the actually have the stuff they think they bought , would be prohibited. Prohibition is reckless and the real cause of these deaths, IMO.
 
bholcomb said:
Molly is dangerous period. Promoters might be able to pay for the insurance but what insurance carrier is going to want to cover this? The genre as a whole needs to take a stand. The major name DJ's need to see that their cash cow may come to an end and they need to say something. The listening audience continues to get younger and peer pressure at those ages is at an all time high
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With all due respect Brett, how does one take a stand when there's a lot of conflict within?

You, and other like-minded individuals in the dance music industry, had talked about PSA's on Facebook. While I thought it was a noble idea, is it REALLY going to stop the problem? No. And as far as the big name DJ's are concerned, they are in a "rock and a hard place scenario". Sure they can talk to their fans somehow against "molly" yet they "lose face" because I'm sure some of them have dealt with that drug themselves. If the drug can't be "demonized" as crack was back in the early 90's, then what has to be taught here is personal responsibility and education.

Some of you have, within that sector of the dance music industry, "shot me down" regarding "education". My point is this...if personal responsibility needs to be accounted for somehow, then people NEED to learn for the sake of their own body about the dangers. While "just say no" would still be emphasized, if the young crowd is going to mess around with MDMA anyway despite being told NOT to, then they need to know what THEY have to do to protect themselves. To NOT give them that information would cause greater personal harm for EVERYONE, not just those that do it.

It's not trying to teach them tricks in a positive manner, but more of an alarmist situation like "Oh crap, I'm feeling this way, what do I do?" At least maybe a pamphlet or periodic announcements in certain places passing that education, telling them stuff such as "drink plenty of water" or whatever would be a start. Small Market Guy talked about companies promoting their products such as Monster Water. If that helps, why not.

Yeah, I know where you may go here...people throw pamphlets on the floor and don't care. Well, at least the promoters cover their own butts in that sense to these insurance companies. And yeah, that's what its about in terms of future events...the insurance companies. NOT the promoters, not private companies like Six Flags, not even government officials (unless their constituency goes hard on them). In the case of Electric Zoo, it was held on Randall's Island (which is between Manhattan, Queens and The Bronx, with the RFK (Triborough) Bridge going over it.). NOBODY lives on that island so no one would go hard on that. It is those insurance companies and because of this, EDM events will be categorized as "high risk". Which explains why an upcoming event that was supposed to happen at Six Flags New England on September 28th was "postponed".

And it gets to an answer I had said earlier...IF an insurance company covers eZoo or ANY event, they are going to want a ton of money since events like this are "high risk". And who would pay? The patrons...and they've BEEN complaining how expensive these events are yet they still go anyway. $180 a day this year? I could see promoters pushing $200 - $225. Then comes the question...when does this become TOO MUCH? That will be the "nail to the coffin."

Granted drugs are part of the music experience, like it or not, and that's in EVERY genre. However, there's always been that "disdain" with the media when it comes to dance/EDM...especially in New York and you can go back to the Giuliani days for that.

As much as I support everything dance music, and I can't believe I am saying this, maybe this EDM aspect of things has to DIE OFF. If no one is going to pay the higher ticket prices and these insurance companies rates go further through the roof, maybe its for the best? My logic is for THAT to be the "wake up call" because if you lose something you'll fight harder to get it back. And maybe THEN, things can get corrected somehow, Molly can be "demonized" and while yes, there are still the drugs that happen when it comes to music events, some people may "awaken" to being personally responsible somehow (ok, that's a "pipe" dream..no pun intended lol).

This whole entire week makes TOTAL sense now. Sorry for the length.
 
".....and the stupidity of people who think taking recreational drugs cannot hurt them." I agree.

It is real simple. Post "Zero Tolerance" at this concert entrance. Have drug sniffing dogs at the gate, and bags are subject to search.

and please don't bring up the search, and privacy issue.

You don't need recreational drugs to enjoy a concert...period. If feel the need to, go home, put on your ear buds, and get wasted in the privacy of your own home. Don't ruin the concert for everyone else.

This goes for every concert, not just EDM. The fans and performers, don't want you or need you if you feel the need to get wasted to the point of death.
 
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Groove1670 said:
".....and the stupidity of people who think taking recreational drugs cannot hurt them." I agree.

It is real simple. Post "Zero Tolerance" at this concert entrance. Have drug sniffing dogs at the gate, and bags are subject to search.

and please don't bring up the search, and privacy issue.

You don't need recreational drugs to enjoy a concert...period. If feel the need to, go home, put on your ear buds, and get wasted in the privacy of your own home. Don't ruin the concert for everyone else.

This goes for every concert, not just EDM. The fans and performers, don't want you or need you if you feel the need to get wasted to the point of death.
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Believe me, I AGREE with you.

But, and I'm being realistic, somehow the drugs get in. Even with signs warning zero tolerance and dogs sniffing, drugs find a way. Whether it's corrupt security guards on the "take" or people getting "crafty" in terms of getting drugs in there, there is no escaping it. That's why there has to be some sort of education in that sense for people that get in trouble by NOT following the rules in the first place. By no means it's an endorsement of these drugs, but if a life can be saved somehow without the experience being ruined, that should also be a priority.
 
Dogs can't sniff out drugs already in the systems of the concertgoers. They'll just take a few pills before they walk in the gate.

Zero-tolerance policies NEVER work as intended.

And no, you don't need drugs to enjoy a concert, but telling people who do drugs that is pointless.
 
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