Audio Engineering Expert Witnesses Opines on Unsafe Cable Management at Concert Venue

Case Overview

This case involves an individual who tripped and was badly injured when he fell on audio cables that ran to-and-from the front of house at a venue during a concert in West Virginia. The cables did not have protective ramps on them, and they ran across the floor where the general public was standing to watch the show. It is claimed that this arrangement was negligent, and that proper safety measures could have prevented the accident and the injuries suffered by the Plaintiff.

Questions to the Security expert and their responses

Please describe your education and professional experience regarding music / audio engineering.

In addition to being an experienced musician, I have a plethora of technical experience that I have exercised at prestigious music training programs across the country, including Columbia, NYU, and Julliard. My clients have included Fortune 500 companies, prestigious museums and institutions, elite restaurant and hospitality groups, individuals, and startups.

Do you routinely run live sound at concerts?

My production company runs sound, video and lighting for live events, such as concerts, several times per week; each event has a Front of House (FOH) position.

Are you responsible for running cables from the soundboard to the stage?

Cables are always to be run in the least obtrusive manner possible.

Can you explain what safety measures are observed in running cables from the soundboard to the stage?

Every effort needs to be made to trace perimeters, go up and over doorways, or apply cable covers. Had these measures been in place they would have greatly reduced the chances of an accident like this from occurring.

About the expert

This expert is a media artist, producer, educator, and entrepreneur. Though he earned his Bachelor's degree in Jazz & Contemporary Media from Humber College and his Master's degree in Jazz Composition from the Manhattan School of Music, his musical expertise spans several genres and disciplines. His recent accomplishments include serving as the technical director of Juilliard's Beyond the Machine Festival, creating Lifelines: A Voiceless Multi-Media Opera, and composing Efflorescence with the North Bay Symphony Orchestra. In addition to managing his own production company, he serves as adjunct faculty at both the Juilliard School and New York University.