Re: (TV) OT: Rhode Island Tragedy/Pyrotechnics / slightly on topic: NYC, C leveland, Portland /Chicago 2001

["Philip P. Obbard" <pobbard@yahoo.com>]

I don't think NYC has stricter regulations - at least not noticeably. While the
Metro certainly qualified as a "fire trap", the old Knitting Factory - the one
I visited in 1993 - was the worst I've seen. 

While talking about the RI fire with a friend last week, he noted at least a
few NYC venues that are like fire traps. The defining characteristic seems to
be stairwells - if you have to walk up or down a flight of stairs (like Irving
Plaza), it immediately seems less safe. The Bowery Ballroom is exempt from
this, because you walk *down* into the bar, but back-up into the concert hall,
meaning you're at street level (unless you're in the balcony).

There is an article on Slate today about how no-one at the Grammys even
mentioned the RI fire, despite its relevance. http://slate.msn.com/id/2079161/

Very tragic & sobering. I, too, always check for exits at crowded shows. Now
I'll be watching for early signs of fire, too (something a lot of people missed
at the RI show).

--Philip

--- "Casey, Leo J" <CaseyL@VOLPE.DOT.GOV> wrote:
> Philip in his review of Television in May 2001 at Metro in Chicago wrote:
> 
> " . . . At about 6:30, we made our way to the Metro. It's a 
> small, fire-trap venue that feels like someone turned 
> their attic into a concert venue but forgot to tell
> the fire marshal. ...." 



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