Concert audiences have come to expect enhanced security at large events.
It’s a sad but necessary sign of the times. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has announced that metal detectors will be in use at entrances to the Fair Grounds site in 2018, in addition to manual bag searches.
« To expedite admission, please follow the simple instructions of security guards and NOPD during the entry process, » Jazz Fest advises.
The Jazz Fest isn’t alone in heightening security. Walk-through metal detectors are commonplace at concerts in the Superdome, Smoothie King Center, and Champions Square. The October 2017 mass shooting at an outdoor concert by country star Jason Aldean in Las Vegas made security issues at music events especially acute. Though the Las Vegas sniper was far beyond the reach of concert security.
Doug MacCash has the best job in the world, covering art, music, and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at dmaccash@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream.
