Framework for Safer Dance Floors – Promoter Rider Annex
Purpose and Applicability
This Annex establishes a standardised safeguarding and conduct mechanism designed to support safer event environments across music and nightlife settings. It provides promoters, venues, festivals, cultural institutions and event organisers with a structured contractual tool to formalise behavioural expectations, clarify safeguarding obligations and strengthen protective measures linked to artist bookings.
The Annex is intended to be incorporated into artist booking agreements as a binding rider. It translates safeguarding principles into enforceable contractual provisions, enabling organisers to move beyond informal expectations and embed professional standards within the legal architecture of an event. The objective is not punitive, but preventative: to reduce risk, protect attendees and staff, reinforce professional accountability and create clear pathways for response where concerns arise.
The Framework may be adopted by independent promoters, venue operators, festival organisers, collectives, cultural spaces, hospitality-linked event producers and touring entities seeking to implement consistent safeguarding standards. It is designed to be scalable and adaptable to events of varying size and structure while maintaining core principles of safety, proportionality and professional responsibility.
By operationalising safeguarding through contract, the establishment of such a contract supports a shift from reactive crisis management to structured risk prevention, helping organisers create environments where welfare protections are clear, enforceable and integrated into the booking process itself.
ARTIST SAFETY, CONDUCT AND SAFEGUARDING RIDER
(Standard Rider to be Incorporated into Artist Booking Agreements)
- Scope and Status
This Artist Safety, Conduct and Safeguarding Rider (“the Rider”) forms an integral and binding part of any engagement, performance agreement or booking confirmation entered into between the Promoter and the Artist, including the Artist’s management, agency, touring personnel, subcontractors and representatives (collectively referred to as “the Artist”).
Acceptance of a booking constitutes full acceptance of the obligations, standards and enforcement mechanisms outlined herein.
- Professional Conduct Obligations
The Artist shall at all times maintain professional behaviour consistent with a safe working environment. Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, harassment, unwanted physical contact, coercion, intimidation, discrimination, exploitation or abuse of professional influence or status. Conduct obligations extend beyond stage performance and include backstage areas, hospitality spaces, accommodation, travel arrangements and all interactions connected to the engagement.
- Venue Safeguarding Framework
The Artist acknowledges that the Promoter operates active safeguarding and welfare mechanisms. The Artist agrees to comply with all venue protocols, access restrictions, accreditation systems and welfare procedures implemented by the Promoter. Backstage and artist areas shall be treated as controlled professional workspaces, and the Artist shall not grant access to unauthorised persons without prior approval from the Promoter.
- Reporting, Investigation and Information Sharing
The Artist accepts that the Promoter may receive reports or complaints through formal or informal welfare channels. The Promoter reserves the right to conduct internal safeguarding reviews where credible concerns arise.
Where deemed appropriate and proportionate, the Promoter may communicate safeguarding-related concerns to the Artist’s agency, management or relevant professional stakeholders. The Artist acknowledges that the evidentiary threshold for safeguarding intervention may differ from criminal thresholds and may be based on reasonable risk assessment by the Promoter.
- Immediate Protective Measures
Where the Promoter reasonably believes that behaviour presents a risk to attendee or staff safety, the Promoter reserves the right to implement immediate protective measures, including restriction of backstage access, removal of guests connected to the Artist, interruption or termination of the performance, or removal of the Artist from the venue. Such measures may be taken without prior notice where necessary to protect welfare.
- Termination and Cancellation Rights
The Promoter reserves the unilateral right to terminate or cancel the engagement where allegations of misconduct, abuse of power or safeguarding risk arise prior to or during the event, where the Artist breaches the conduct obligations contained in this Rider, or where information becomes available which, in the Promoter’s reasonable assessment, poses reputational, ethical or safety risks to attendees or staff.
In circumstances where termination or cancellation occurs under this clause, the Artist acknowledges that no financial liability shall attach to the Promoter. This includes, without limitation, booking fees, deposits, technical fees, travel expenses, per diems, accommodation costs or any related financial claims.
- Cooperation with Authorities
Where behaviour may constitute a criminal offence or safeguarding concern under applicable law, the Promoter reserves the right to refer matters to competent authorities and to cooperate fully with any investigation or proceedings. The Artist acknowledges that safeguarding obligations may require disclosure of relevant information where legally justified.
8. Survival and Precedence
This Rider shall prevail over any conflicting informal arrangements relating to artist conduct. The obligations contained herein shall survive cancellation or termination of the engagement where safeguarding matters remain ongoing.
- Event-Related Conduct Beyond the Venue
For the purposes of this Rider, “Event-Related Conduct” shall include behaviour occurring outside the physical venue where such behaviour arises from, is connected to, or is facilitated by the Artist’s engagement with the Promoter. This includes conduct taking place in promoter-arranged accommodation, hospitality environments, transport arrangements or any setting where access is derived from the Artist’s participation in the event.
Professional and safeguarding obligations are not limited to on-stage or in-venue activity. Any conduct which reasonably demonstrates an abuse of professional position, misuse of access to attendees or behaviour inconsistent with the standards outlined in this Rider may be treated as a breach irrespective of whether it occurs within the venue itself.
Where credible safeguarding concerns arise in connection with hotels, after-parties or other event-adjacent environments linked to the engagement, the Promoter reserves the right to apply all measures outlined in this Rider, including investigation, termination, future booking refusal, agency notification and cooperation with competent authorities, as appropriate and proportionate.
For the avoidance of doubt, the location of the conduct shall not, in itself, limit the Promoter’s safeguarding response where a clear nexus exists between the Artist’s engagement and the circumstances giving rise to the concern.
Acceptance
Confirmation of the booking or performance agreement constitutes binding acceptance of this Rider by the Artist and its representatives.