Noticing there were several representatives from the Clear Channel management team 'monitoring' things on site, it begged the question, how is the new marriage affecting things? "It's business as usual this year," explained Benn. "I'm aware things may change, but I've been left to get on with what is already working, with no interference."
"This is the 7th Leeds Festival and the third on this site and I think it has evolved over the years to what we have today. You always look to learn and improve things and I think we've created a better site this year, adding a lot more in terms of things like tracks [temporary roadways] and made better use of the existing roads on the site."
How about Leeds' reputation for a troublesome crowd? "This is a large group of teenagers out to have a good time. Some are a bit boisterous but mainly it's well contained, with no incidents of major concern so far this year."
Benn says the Local Authority is generally supportive and are aware of the efforts made by the organizers to improve the festival. He says: "In 2003 the barrier moved around eight inches when System of A Down were on stage. It was difficult to establish why it had moved - the local authority suggested that it was due to excessive crowd pressure. There were no injuries, but I felt the only way forward was to develop sensors to measure the actual pressures."
Although it's known what the barriers can withstand when they are made, little is known about what they will actually withstand in particular ground conditions or crowd conditions. Benn says: "I approached Mojo [Barriers] to develop a system that could measure the pressures during a gig," - also offering to assist with the development costs. "Patrick Jordan, MD of Mojo Barriers, was in the process of developing a system that could do what I wanted and we invested in the project so that the BLMS [Barrier Load Monitoring System] was available for us to take readings at the Leeds Festival in 2004."
The first big test for the system was on this festival in 2004. Melvin recalls: "We saw spike of significant pressure. As a result of that we widened the barrier to deflect the pressure. I design the shape of the barrier based on my experience watching crowds."
Benn hardly needs to point out that to be able to measure the pressure applied to a section of barrier by a crowd represents a significant step forwards in health and safety and the management of crowds attending live events. "As a promoter the welfare of the audience is my responsibility and this info is another piece of the jigsaw that helps us prepare and react better."
Gordon Forrest was Mojo Barriers' project manager on-site at Leeds. Keeping an eye on the readings on the apple computer under the main stage, he gave an overview on the system: "The Mojo BLMS comprises an innovative system of pressure sensors, built in to the load-bearing arms of the front of stage barriers. These are linked via Ethernet to an Apple computer [using specifically developed software] to display the pressures being exerted in real time, and can be set to record the reading at set time intervals. The whole system is totally unobtrusive to personnel working in the pit and has been carefully designed to be practical in a concert or festival environment."
Mojo BLMS is a tool to provide information that can be useful in two main ways. Firstly, feeding information back about monitored pressures to the crowd management company and the promoter during an event means that they will be aware of emerging problems and be able to act accordingly. Secondly, as it collects information at regular time intervals throughout the
