The first real blog - theatre safety

So there are two items on note that I've discovered in the last few days.

Yesterday, a piece appeared in the Chicago Tribune announcing the cancellation of a few shows by My Morning Jacket, a Louisville, KY band, due to the injuries sustained by lead singer Jim James. Apparently, he fell off the stage while stepping on to a speaker and the lights went out while performing in Iowa City. Imagine what a few strips of glow tape could have done. The Tribune piece is here:

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2008/10/jim-james-injur.html

And the band's web site is here:

http://mymorningjacket.com/gogo/

And in Wales today, a case was heard regarding a county owned theatre. In May 2007, a drama teacher fell 9' down an open 'lift shaft'. Sounds like a trap that wasn't properly covered or barricaded. What is even more disturbing, is that the county repeatedly failed to inspect their own facility while granting themselves an entertainment license permitting operation. The full story is here:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/10/09/theatre-warned-after-drama-teacher-s-fall-91466-22003210/

The unfortunate thing is that both of these accidents were preventable. I wish both men a speedy recovery.