2. HOW A ROCK BAND USED
BROWN M&MS
TO CHECK ON SAFETY
3. SAFETY INDICATORS
• Van Halen one of the most successful rock bands of the 1980s famous
for extravagant stage shows with extensive lighting rigs & moving parts
• Their large contract had an 53 page ‘rider’ listing dressing room
requirements
• One line said “M&Ms (WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES)”
• Seen as ‘rock and roll excess’ this actually had another, more subtle,
purpose - If the M&Ms had the brown ones present, the contract had not
been well read
• So, what about the detailed contract instructions for erecting the set and
stage lighting?
4. SAFETY INDICATORS
• What critical safety indicators do you rely
on?
• Are they predictive?
• Do you act on them?
