It’s pretty messed up that sexual assault is even an issue in Australia’s music industry, but a Hobart security company has suggested drones may be the answer to stopping it at festivals.
The owner of the company, who spoke anonymously to The Examiner, recommended large music events use drone cameras in mosh pits to survey ‘bad behaviour’.
The company owner, who The Examiner named ‘Greg’, said sexual assault is a “showstopper for everyone” and that it’s stunting the growth of Tasmania’s festival industry.
“Promoters are trying to get good music for [Tasmania], but if this sort of thing happens, no-one will come,” he said.
‘Greg’ said he currently stations plain-clothed security guards amongst the festival crowd to assist in stopping ‘bad behaviour.’
The article doesn’t actually describe what constitutes bad behaviour, but considering the numerous odious reports from local festivals (Rainbow Serpent cited four reports of sexual assault during this year’s festival), a new method of harm reduction is certainly needed – but maybe drones aren’t the answer.
In 2015, Enrique Iglesias was onstage in Mexico when he reached up and grabbed one of the drone cameras flying overhead getting shots of the cheering crowd. He sliced his hand so badly he fractured his middle finger and required a skin graft and reconstructive surgery.
Then again, Enrique getting cut by a drone seems like a small price to pay for the safety of people at festivals.
