Hello people, welcome to the When In Yorkshire Podcast, I hope you’re well. This is episode sixty and features Tracey Wise, the founder of Safe Gigs For Women, a not for profit organisation who work with all aspects of the music industry to raise awareness of good practices and ways for venues to create safe spaces for women.

This was a really interesting chat for me, as a man my only safety consideration when going to gigs is: how close to the pit do I want to be today and to think that in the times we live in where the basic rights of equality and respect should be a given to anyone, its horrendous that a service like this is even needed.

Tracey was great to speak to and gave a brilliant insight into how Safe Gigs For Women came about, her own journey as a music lover, the people that have stepped up to help spread the word and the services available to people.

Without just rehashing the conversation, after having time to reflect on this, her comments around artists that ‘own their mosh pit’ really stuck with me. Frank Turner was the example here but there are other musicians from Sam Carter of Architects to Drake who have been highlighted as calling out members of their audience after seeing a whole range of abhorrent behaviour and whilst I think it is great that these instances are brought into the public eye, it does spark the question - could artists be doing more to ensure these acts don’t happen in the first place rather than having to react after the event? I would love to see some public service announcements at festivals by headline acts speaking out about this or clear messages that abuse is not tolerated when bands are promoting their vip ticket upgrades and soundcheck passes.

https://sgfw.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/safegigsforwomen

@safegigs4women

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