World In Solidarity With Paris

Prodiss, the French union of producers, distributors, festivals and music halls, lived through the dramatic events “with sadness and fear, like all the French.”

Prodiss “wishes to lend its full sympathy to all those who have been affected by this tragedy. The union expresses its solidarity in particular with the Bataclan staff and its managers Jules Frutos and Olivier Poubelle, as well as Salomon Hazot and his team at Nous Productions. All [Prodiss] members shall take all necessary measures to organize a new public reception, following the declaration of the state of emergency all over the French territory by the authorities.”

According to Le Monde, 150 of the 340 Prodiss members met in Paris Nov. 17 to discuss a roadmap for the future: public reception, security issues and economic problems. The results weren’t available at press time. Nous Productions, the promoters of the Eagles of Death Metal concert at Le Bataclan, like so many others had “no words in the face of horror. Our thoughts, naturally, are with the families of the victims,” a statement read.

Fedelima, the French federation of contemporary music, “wishes to express its solidarity and support to the families and friends affected in their flesh and in their minds by Friday’s atrocities in the streets of Paris at the Bataclan. Music continues to resonate in our places, for all without fear and without hate.”

In Germany, Berlin-based club network LiveKomm showed its concern by saying, “We grieve with the relatives and hope for the injured. We especially empathize with our colleagues in Paris, who operated the respectable music club Le Bataclan. We suffer vicariously with the relatives of one crewmember of the band Eagles Of Death Metal, we mourn for the many slain music lovers visiting the concert. The inconceivable turned reality and we will have to deal with it. We condemn the attitude of mind behind the terror against a concert.”

Karsten Schölermann, chairman of LiveKomm, added, “LiveKomm, in these days, is solidly united with all musicians, club operators and the audience, all of whom are asking whether appropriate actions have to be taken after this mass murder. Our answer is ‘no.’ Let us continue to make and enjoy music!

“LiveKomm calls upon all music clubs to not be intimidated by terror and fear, but continue to live rock ’n’ roll,” the statement ends.

The German promoters’ association published a letter signed by its president Prof. Jens Michow that said the attacks on Paris “made us realize how vulnerable our free world is. The assault on the audience in Le Bataclan in particular shook us as a national promoters association. We stand united with our friends in Paris, and we will not allow this dreadful act to influence the way we live in a free and open society.

“For us as promoters, music, concerts and live entertainment are celebrations of diversity and freedom. And we will not abandon this diversity, on the contrary. As promoters, we are more than aware of our responsibility in regards to the safety of our concertgoers. We face this responsibility. We’ve always declared that safety for our guests is our top priority.

“Safety measures at events have been increased in a consequent and sustainable manner over the past years. We are working closely with security personnel and are going to strengthen our efforts even more. For us as promoters, as well as for the many concertgoers, one thing is certain: The terrible attacks in Paris are going to enhance our vigilance, but they cannot lead to a restriction in the German cultural sector and its diversified event landscape. A limitation of this variety would mean a victory for the Terrorists – and we are not going to let that happen.”

European Festival Association Yourope, which encompasses 90 members from 27 European countries, published a banner on its website declaring, “Culture connects people. We will continue! Out thoughts are with all the innocent victims in Paris.” The association of Dutch pop music venues and festivals VNPF is “shocked by the horrific events in the concert hall Le Bataclan and at other places in Paris. The members of VNPF sympathize with the victims and survivors and feel solidarity with France. It was an attack on freedom.”

Danish organization for festivals and venues Dansk Live stated that a venue is a place “where music, joy and celebration brings people together – until [the day] the live music community was brutally slaughtered by terrorists at the legendary venue Le Bataclan in Paris. Danish Live condemns this despicable attack on innocent human community in the public domain, and sends its deepest condolences to our colleagues at Le Bataclan and our French sister organization Fedelima.”

Norwegian society of concert promoters Konsertarrangorer said, “A concert should be safe. It is a place where we humans get together and seek great cultural experiences. To attack a concert audience gathered to share a happy day is absolutely inconceivable for us organizers. “Today, all concert promoters stand with our colleagues at Le Bataclan and our sisters and brothers in Paris. [We are in] deep sympathy with the victims and the survivors of yesterday’s tragic attack on Le Bataclan and elsewhere in Paris.”

In Romania the press naturally made the connection to the Colectiv fire that took the lives of 53 concertgoers two weeks earlier in Bucharest. The overall reactions show that, rather than increase security measures in a hurry, promoters and club operators intend to display strength and courage. This is in line with French clubs reopening in spite of the state of emergency that has been declared by the government.