Can Health Be An Issue At Concerts?

While getting ready to attend a concert or music festival the last thing that anyone thinks about is their health and hygiene. What is normally thought of is; do I have the tickets? What am I going to wear? How are we going to get there, and who’s going to be the designated driver? Do I have enough money to buy snacks and a T-shirt?

No one thinks about the lovely porta potties or the various people handling food and drinks, but we should. At every music festival there’s at least one person who falls ill from drinking bad water or eating something that came from a questionable source.

First off, there’s the lack of running water. Most of these festivals are held in large desert areas that can accommodate vast amount of people. Events such as Burning Man which is held in the deserts of Nevada, and Coachella which is held in Indio, California have no running water available. As such vendors serving food and drinks may not always be washing their hands as they are supposed to do when serving the public. Cloths used for cleaning, counter tops and cutting boards have all been studied from over 150 different events and all were found to have unacceptable amounts of bacteria which can make a person ill.

Keeping an eye on your food and drink is essential as well. Many have reported feeling ill during a concert experience only to find out later that their food or drink was spiked with some substance by an unknown person. There have even been deaths reported; if you happen to look on the back of a Burning Man ticket you will see the disclaimer “You voluntarily assume the risk of serious injury or death by attending.”

Bringing anti-bacterial gel and wipes is a must when attending these types of concerts. Even the wristbands used for these events were found to contain bacteria, so wipe that down too! It’s also a good idea to bring your own water (and food) so you are not dependent on the event personnel to provide safe drinking water.

Most people who attend these events are lovers of music who are unaware that they could parlay that love into a career. Studying music in school is not only enjoyable, it helps children to understand language and also to produce better tests scores. Since most children start their musical training in the school band it also teaches how to work well with others and become more sociable. Careers in music are wide and varied; it really depends on what, other than music interests the person. For someone who enjoys music and management becoming a personal manager for a musical group could be of interest. For someone who enjoys jazz music a career in jazz composition would be ideal. Those interested in computers could use that in conjunction with a love of music to become a sound designer. There are also options in the medical field such as one who provides therapy with music, which is particularly helpful in treating those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Children with learning disabilities can also benefit greatly from music therapy.

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