Features
‘We Like To Think With The Client’: Q’s With Stanley Jilesen Of Dutch Barrier Services
Dutch Barrier Services may have only officially launched 1.5 years ago, but combines some 50 years of production experience. The business launched with a new barrier system, which it describes as “an absolute game-changer for events and venues across the world.”
Name one festival, and chances are, Dutch Barrier Services has supplied it: Down The Rabbit Hole, Hellfest, La Défense Jazz, Les Ardentes, Lollapalooza Paris, Lowlands, NN North Sea Jazz, Primavera Sound, Pal Mundo, Pinkpop, Sziget, Tomorrowland, Wireless, to name but a few from 2023 alone.
The company also provided its system at tours by Bruce Springsteen, Blink 182, Depeche Mode, Ed Sheeran, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Roger Waters, Volbeat, and many, many more.
Pollstar reached out to senior account manager Stanley Jilesen to talk shop.
See: All Of Pollstar’s Inaugural Dutch Focus
Pollstar: Taking into account the two insanely busy past two years, the challenging economy at present, and any post-pandemic effects that may still affect your business in terms of supplies, staff, audience behavior: what’s your state of mind as we approach the end of the year?
Stanley Jilesen: It was challenging at the beginning, when it all started again, but to be honest: it all went back to normal really, really fast. The only real challenge was crew, lots of people left the business and didn’t come back. But we managed the first season post-Covid, and built a new team, with some great guys! The good thing was, the clients needed to make money again after Covid, an the artist had to do the same. So there was a lot of work. Festivals added an extra day, more stadium shows, etc. More work for us!
What are the biggest changes to security and safety requirements that you’ve had to adapt to since launching your business?
So, we started 1,5 year ago, with a brand-new type of stage barrier, an all-new design. We learned from [our combined] years of experience what is best, safe, easy to work with. So, for us, it only got easier. Our material is faster to install, easier to load out. As far as security, and safety requirements are concerned, things are getting a bit more strict. Which means, that more barriers are needed, which is, of course, good for our business. But we like to think with the client, how to make it as easy, and cost-efficient for them.
The stadium business is in rude health, artists have never performed more shows in these gigantic buildings. How does this trend affect your business?
It’s great for us! Sorry, but we love it. Stadium shows and festivals are our core business, and we love doing them.
Shows, live entertainment in general, seems to only get bigger, which will raise new requirements to ensure these large numbers of people can enjoy a show feeling safe.
We work together with the crowd-control specialists, the festival, and [concert] promoters. They all know our product, and if a special piece or material is needed, we will manufacture it for them. If they’re facing a certain problem, say in terms of the layout, we will come up with a safe solution together. Having our own factory in house means, it’s very easy to produce whatever is needed quickly.
Is there a limit to how big an event can get, in order to ensure everyone’s safe? In other words: can it get too big?
Of course this is possible, at some point, it can’t be controlled anymore. But we are a barrier rental company, so that is not really our concern. It’s more of a government licensing issue. Once the license I there, and the client wants to do the show, we will do everything possible to get it done. We did some really big shows with Bruce Springsteen in Italy last season, which were really really challenging. The weather was awful, but we got it done. If if hadn’t considered it safe, we would heave said so.
Which are the most important parts of a live show to look at, from ingress to the actual show to egress?
These are three different, but equally important things. The ingress, very, very important. You want to keep it going, but it needs to be safe. So, you need enough entrance gates, enough security, so it doesn’t get congested.
The show, very important, as well. You don’t want too much pressure on the audience, so you may need a secondary barrier. You need enough emergency exits if something happens, etc.
Egress, people want to leave, so make it as easy as possible for them by providing enough doors that can be opened. Remove the line up gates before the show ends. At the end of the day, you always have [to work with] the venue’s layout, that is something you can’t change.
Can you name a few recent and upcoming event highlights in the Netherlands you have or are going to be involved in?
We provide barriers, and other materials, for all stadiums shows, and almost all arena shows in the Netherlands, as well as most major festivals. But we also do a lot of work in France, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, wherever where we are needed, and that is going very well. More and more clients are finding us. And we try not to say no.
Anything you’d like to add?
We are the best! The newest barrier supplier in the industry, but with many years of experience.