Crowd Cushion Safety Notification System: Innovating Live Event Safety for a Better Fan Experience
by Catherine Curtin
I’ve been a lifelong concert and festival fanatic. There’s nothing like the energy of a live show—the music, the lights, the collective experience of thousands of people singing together. And for me, the best place to be has always been right up front, pressed against the barricade. This fascination with live music events led me to pursue a degree in Sports & Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina, focusing on festival promotion and crowd management.
As I entered my final year of college, I started to feel less safe in those packed crowds. One moment, in particular, changed everything for me. The crowd was so dense that my feet were lifted off the ground—I was no longer in control of my own movement and I fell to the ground. Luckily someone came from behind me and scooped me up, but I then realized how quickly excitement could turn into danger. Around the same time, a tragic incident at a festival in Texas left 10 people dead and hundreds injured. That’s when I knew something had to change.
Introducing Crowd Cushion Safety Notification System
Crowd safety has long been reactive—waiting for signs of distress before taking action. But what if we could identify crowd pressure build up on barricade, before it reached a crisis point? That’s exactly what Crowd Cushion was built to do.
How It Works
Crowd Cushions attach to stage-front barricades and are equipped with pressure sensors that detect horizontal pressure from the crowd. When the pressure builds to a pre-set threshold, the system automatically alerts key members of the event team, including security, event managers, and production staff.
The system includes role-based notifications, meaning the right people get the right information at the right time. One of its most important features are security facing lights that visually signal security staff, showing them the exact area where pressure is forming so they can intervene before things escalate.
Blending Fresh Eyes with Experience
There is a recent blog post on this page by Henry Bordeaux—someone I’ve met and respect deeply—where he said, “Fresh eyes drive change, while wisdom ensures stability.” That idea perfectly captures what Crowd Cushion is all about. I came up with this idea as a fresh approach to an old problem, not to replace existing safety measures, but to enhance them with a new, proactive tool.
For years, crowd management has relied on experience, training, and observation. Those are essential, but with Crowd Cushion, we’re adding real-time data and early-warning capabilities to give safety professionals an even stronger understanding of the crowd. It’s about innovation that respects and builds upon the knowledge that already exists.
Being recognized as Innovation of the Year this year at Future of Festivals in Berlin was an incredible honor and a sign that the industry is embracing advancements in crowd safety. It’s exciting to see leaders supporting new solutions that enhance both safety and the fan experience.
Enhancing Fun and Safety at Live Events
Crowd Cushion is more than just a safety tool—it’s an early warning system designed to prevent crowd crush before it happens. By giving event professionals real-time data and actionable insights, we’re helping create safer environments where fans can enjoy themselves without fear.
We like to say: Fans love the comfort. You’ll love the peace of mind. Because at the end of the day, live events should be unforgettable for all the right reasons.
Let’s make concerts and festivals safer together!
Please visit CrowdCushion.com or call us at 800-854-6822 x232 / email catcurtin@crowdcushion.com for more information or to schedule a demonstration!
