ASIAL Security Insider

ASIAL Security Insider


Ep 142 - Managing Crowd Safety At Major Events

August 29, 2025

In this episode of the Security Insider podcast, we’re tackling a topic that sits right at the heart of every security, event, and facility manager’s responsibility—keeping crowds safe.


In 2021, the Astroworld Festival ended in tragedy when ten lives were lost in a crowd surge that investigators later concluded could have been prevented. Out of that heartbreak, the Pink Bows Foundation was created by the family of Madison Dubiski, one of the victims, to ensure no family has to endure that kind of loss again.


At the centre of their work is the Showstop® Procedure. This proven system empowers event organisers and security teams to act decisively and stop a performance if there’s a credible threat to life safety. It’s already been used successfully around the world, preventing injuries and saving lives.


Our guest for this episode is Steve Allen, the developer of the Showstop® Procedure and a leading voice in global crowd safety. Steve has decades of experience working with major artists, festivals, and venues, and he’s now working with the Pink Bows Foundation to make Showstop® training a global standard.

We’ll be talking about the lessons learned from past tragedies, what the Showstop® Procedure looks like in practice, and most importantly, what you—as security professionals and event managers—can take away to make your venues and events safer.”