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| David "Skinny Devil" McLean, author, guitarist, teacher. |
If you're reading this, I probably don't have to scare you first with stories about the murders of Christina Grimmie or John Lennon or Mia Zapata or Dimebag Darrell....or the less than lethal but still horrible stories about Connie Francis or Sarah McLaughlin, or Frank Zappa or Eminem. Or the "long game" victimization of Kesha or members of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC....and too many others like them.
If you're reading this, you are likely a performer and already concerned about personal safety.
But just for the record, let it be said (not that I should have to say it after the examples above) that both women and men are the targets of stalkers, crazed fans, and others, including their own management and label and production partners....and the often violent way they express themselves. If the readers feel I need to include statistics, I'm more than happy to edit this article to add the data, but for now, let's forge ahead.
One of the best resources I ever saw on the topic was Sage Harrington's interview with the incredible Tonya Kay. The piece is titled "Burning Questions for Tonya Kay" and I used to post it for students several times a year and still recommend it. However, I've been asked for a more bullet point style approach as well as an updated list that includes newer technological options (and new technological concerns), so we'll attempt to do exactly that.
Full disclosure: I will be leaning heavily on examples and experiences from the music industry, but ANY type of public figure or performer should be able to utilize the information herein. Additionally, my hope is that venue owners/managers and management folk will read and utilize these suggestions as well, so the weight is not just on the shoulders of performers.
Enough introductions - The title says "practical guide" so let's get practical, folks.
If you're reading this, you are likely a performer and already concerned about personal safety.
But just for the record, let it be said (not that I should have to say it after the examples above) that both women and men are the targets of stalkers, crazed fans, and others, including their own management and label and production partners....and the often violent way they express themselves. If the readers feel I need to include statistics, I'm more than happy to edit this article to add the data, but for now, let's forge ahead.
One of the best resources I ever saw on the topic was Sage Harrington's interview with the incredible Tonya Kay. The piece is titled "Burning Questions for Tonya Kay" and I used to post it for students several times a year and still recommend it. However, I've been asked for a more bullet point style approach as well as an updated list that includes newer technological options (and new technological concerns), so we'll attempt to do exactly that.
Full disclosure: I will be leaning heavily on examples and experiences from the music industry, but ANY type of public figure or performer should be able to utilize the information herein. Additionally, my hope is that venue owners/managers and management folk will read and utilize these suggestions as well, so the weight is not just on the shoulders of performers.
Enough introductions - The title says "practical guide" so let's get practical, folks.
1. Concrete Safety Suggestions
Going Solo:
Remember "the Buddy Rule"? Always have a bandmate, manager, or trusted friend with you for all gigs, as well as riding/driving to and from the event. This is especially crucial for solo performers. Being alone is the biggest immediate physical risk.
Communication Privacy:
Use a separate business phone line or call-forwarding service instead of sharing your personal mobile number with clients, bookers, or venues. Other options include Google Voice number or dedicated VoIP app (such as Sideline or similar, or even something like Burner) mapped to your primary phone rather than exposing your carrier cellular number.
Online Footprint & Digital Masking:
Remove personal home addresses and personal contact details from public websites, domain registration WHOIS data, and promotional literature. Register web domains with Privacy Protection/WHOIS Guard and/or use a PO box or UPS Store box address instead of your home address.
Venue & Venue Contact Vetting:
Venue & Venue Contact Vetting:
Verify the identity of the event organizer and cross-reference venue credentials before accepting a gig at an unfamiliar location. Require a formal performance agreement outlining arrival times, designated performance zones, and emergency contact details before arriving on site.
Meet-and-Greet Protocols
The Physical Barrier Rule: Never conduct a photo line or signing session at open floor level with zero physical separation. Always place a sturdy merchandise counter, table, or raised stanchion rope between you and the public.
"Clear Hands": Establish a strict policy that fans must keep their hands visible, empty, and free of large bags, heavy objects, or wrapped packages before approaching the signing table or photo mark.
Dedicated Security: Position a designated crew member or venue guard behind or immediately beside the fan line facing the guest - not facing the performer. Their sole job is monitoring incoming body language, hands, and perimeter movement.
Preset Exit Route: Ensure the meeting area has an unblocked, direct exit path to a locked green room or vehicle so you can clear the floor instantly if an interaction turns volatile.
Green Room & Backstage Protocols
The "Two-Person" Rule: Never remain alone in a backstage green room, dressing room, or tour bus with an unvetted promoter, venue owner, guest, or fan. Always keep a bandmate, manager, or trusted representative present.
Credential & Access Control: When possible, restrict guest access strictly through wristbands or physical passes with clear expiry times. Never allow "open door" policies where non-lineup individuals can wander through dressing corridors.
Lock & Secure From Within: Ensure green rooms have functioning interior deadbolts or door wedges. Keep personal bags, car keys, IDs, and devices locked inside gear cases or a secured locker - never lying out on backstage tables (and purchase a cheap door wedge to take with you to every gig).
Stage Wing Clearance: When possible, require venue staff to keep the side stage wings completely clear of non-essential personnel during your set to eliminate rear and blind-spot physical approach hazards.
Contractual & Financial Shielding:
Process client deposits and payments through dedicated payment platforms (e.g., Stripe, PayPal Business, Venmo Business) rather than personal cash apps that expose full legal names or personal emails.
On-Site Environmental Awareness:
On-Site Environmental Awareness:
Locate all emergency exits, security personnel positions, and well-lit entry/exit paths immediately upon arriving at a venue. Perform a quick Google Street View check of unknown rehearsal spaces, studio locations, or private event venues prior to departure, and share real-time location details via smartphone (Google Maps location sharing, for example, or Life 360, for another) with a trusted contact for the duration of an off-site gig.
Boundary Protocol:
Boundary Protocol:
Establish clear physical and professional boundaries with event organizers, audience members, and venue staff during initial communications and load-in.
Physical Gear & Personal Protection:
Keep equipment cases locked in a trunk or covered back-seat compartment before and after load-in to avoid drawing attention during transit. Keep a designated personal item bag (keys, phone, ID, wallet) secured in a locked room or on your person - never left unattended in an accessible backstage area.
Load-In Load-Out Protection:
Load-In Load-Out Protection:
For solo performers ignoring the first item above, arrange for an escort to your vehicle or secured transport when leaving late-night gigs, especially when carrying equipment or cash payments. But even if you are with a trusted associate, having a venue security member escort you is still a good idea!
2. Additional Safety Concerns
Social Media & Real-Time Tracking Risk:
Concern: Posting real-time "at the venue" updates or story tags allows unwanted individuals to track your exact physical location in real time.
Concrete Fix: Implement a rule of delayed posting. Post venue photos, rehearsal clips, and performance highlights after leaving the venue or the next morning, never from the show in real-time.
Ride-Share & Independent Transit Security:
Concern: Getting into unverified vehicles or waiting alone on street corners after late-night gigs with gear.
Concrete Fix: Verify the vehicle plate number and driver name within the app prior to entering. Ask the driver "Who are you picking up?" rather than asking "Are you here for (your name)?".
Location Metadata & Photos:
Concern: Photos posted online often contain EXIF data (GPS coordinates) pinpointing home studios or rehearsal facilities.
Concrete Fix: Disable location services/geotagging for your phone's camera app or scrub EXIF data before uploading photos of home teaching studios or personal workspaces.
Digital Stalking & Impersonation:
Concern: Bad actors setting up fake event inquiries to harvest personal schedule details or trace daily routines.
Concrete Fix: Require prospective clients to complete a structured booking form on your website rather than engaging in unstructured direct messaging on social platforms. Contact can also be made via your business line, business email, and the like, of course.
Social Media & Real-Time Tracking Risk:
Concern: Posting real-time "at the venue" updates or story tags allows unwanted individuals to track your exact physical location in real time.
Concrete Fix: Implement a rule of delayed posting. Post venue photos, rehearsal clips, and performance highlights after leaving the venue or the next morning, never from the show in real-time.
Ride-Share & Independent Transit Security:
Concern: Getting into unverified vehicles or waiting alone on street corners after late-night gigs with gear.
Concrete Fix: Verify the vehicle plate number and driver name within the app prior to entering. Ask the driver "Who are you picking up?" rather than asking "Are you here for (your name)?".
Location Metadata & Photos:
Concern: Photos posted online often contain EXIF data (GPS coordinates) pinpointing home studios or rehearsal facilities.
Concrete Fix: Disable location services/geotagging for your phone's camera app or scrub EXIF data before uploading photos of home teaching studios or personal workspaces.
Digital Stalking & Impersonation:
Concern: Bad actors setting up fake event inquiries to harvest personal schedule details or trace daily routines.
Concrete Fix: Require prospective clients to complete a structured booking form on your website rather than engaging in unstructured direct messaging on social platforms. Contact can also be made via your business line, business email, and the like, of course.
3) Backstage & Meet-n-Greet Protocols
The Physical Barrier Rule: Never conduct a photo line or signing session at open floor level with zero physical separation. Always place a sturdy merchandise counter, table, or raised stanchion rope between you and the public.
"Clear Hands": Establish a strict policy that fans must keep their hands visible, empty, and free of large bags, heavy objects, or wrapped packages before approaching the signing table or photo mark.
Dedicated Security: Position a designated crew member or venue guard behind or immediately beside the fan line facing the guest - not facing the performer. Their sole job is monitoring incoming body language, hands, and perimeter movement.
Preset Exit Route: Ensure the meeting area has an unblocked, direct exit path to a locked green room or vehicle so you can clear the floor instantly if an interaction turns volatile.
Green Room & Backstage Protocols
The "Two-Person" Rule: Never remain alone in a backstage green room, dressing room, or tour bus with an unvetted promoter, venue owner, guest, or fan. Always keep a bandmate, manager, or trusted representative present.
Credential & Access Control: When possible, restrict guest access strictly through wristbands or physical passes with clear expiry times. Never allow "open door" policies where non-lineup individuals can wander through dressing corridors.
Lock & Secure From Within: Ensure green rooms have functioning interior deadbolts or door wedges. Keep personal bags, car keys, IDs, and devices locked inside gear cases or a secured locker - never lying out on backstage tables (and purchase a cheap door wedge to take with you to every gig).
Stage Wing Clearance: When possible, require venue staff to keep the side stage wings completely clear of non-essential personnel during your set to eliminate rear and blind-spot physical approach hazards.
4) Unique 21st Century High Tech Concerns
Location Risks
Concern: Location metadata & EXIF scraper risks are very real. Posting live photos directly from camera phones can leak exact GPS coordinates embedded in photo metadata. Bad actors use automated scrapers to pull location tags off casual behind-the-scenes rehearsal photos.
Concrete Fix: Turn off camera location services for default photo apps, or run images through a simple metadata stripper before uploading.
Deepfakes & Voice Cloning Scams
Concern: AI toolsets allow bad actors to clone an artist's voice or face from short audio/video clips. Attackers then contact an artist's family, emergency contact, or bandmates claiming the artist is in custody, injured, or stranded at a venue, demanding immediate money transfers.
Concrete Fix: Establish a private "Family Code Word" or verification protocol for financial or emergency situations.
Physical Transit & Gear Security
Concern: Stalkers or thieves following an artist's car, tour van, or rideshare directly from the venue to their home or hotel.
Concrete Fix: Check rear-view mirrors after pulling out from a gig. If a vehicle follows through two consecutive unnecessary turns, drive to a public, well-lit gas station or police station rather than pulling into a private driveway or hotel lot. For local, regular gigs (like a weekly or monthly appearance), take different routes home each time for an extra layer of security.
AirTag & Bluetooth Tracker Drops
Concern: Stalkers or thieves following an artist's car, tour van, or rideshare directly from the venue to their home or hotel.
Concrete Fix: Check rear-view mirrors after pulling out from a gig. If a vehicle follows through two consecutive unnecessary turns, drive to a public, well-lit gas station or police station rather than pulling into a private driveway or hotel lot. For local, regular gigs (like a weekly or monthly appearance), take different routes home each time for an extra layer of security.
AirTag & Bluetooth Tracker Drops
Concern: Unwanted tracking devices (Apple AirTags, Samsung SmartTags, etc) slipped into instrument cases, gig bags, jacket pockets, and similar during crowded meet-and-greets or stage load-outs.
Concrete Fix: Scan bags during post-gig packing and respond immediately to "Unknown Tracker Detected" notifications on smartphones.
Concrete Fix: Scan bags during post-gig packing and respond immediately to "Unknown Tracker Detected" notifications on smartphones.
In reference to the opening of this article where I anticipate some readers being interested in statistics, allow me the following:
Stalking affects 1 in 3 female performers and 1 in 6 male performers, yet the threat vectors differ. To wit: Women face drastically higher rates of persistent domestic/erotomanic stalkers, while male performers statistically face higher rates of sudden and violent public stage-front confrontations. But outside of stalking, very real (and often simple opportunistic) threats can be alarmingly common.
Please take your personal safety (or, if you are management or a venue manager, the safety of your performing artists) very seriously, and implement as many of the above suggestions as possible immediately.
If you have any other suggestions, please contact me directly or leave them in the comments section below!
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