‘The Best Training Course I Have Partaken’: Pink Bows Foundation Hails Successful NCS4 Conference
Pink Bows Foundation had partnered with the 17th Annual Sports Safety and Security Conference in Palm Springs, June 23-25, to share details of the Showstop® Procedure, the only internationally accredited training and Showstop specific qualification.
More than 600 event and venue safety professionals gathered in Palm Springs for the conference hosted by NCS4.
Pink Bows Foundation Co-Founder Brian Dubiski opened the conference with an emotionally insightful talk, dedicated to his daughter, Madison Dubiski, one of the ten young people who lost their lives in the crowd surge at the 2021 Astroworld Travis Scott concert.
Dubiski recounted his personal experience of how the horror of November 5, 2021, unfolded for him, as a father, and the family for the first time publicly, and took listeners through the ensuing years of pain as well as the journey out of that darkness with the launch of the Pink Bows Foundation, which has but one mission: to reduce the likelihood that other families are forced to go through similarly devastating events in the future.
The core element of this work is the Showstop® Procedure, developed by Steve Allen and Dr Mark Hamilton, and launched in March 2025 to establish a globally recognized standard for stopping live events due to emergencies.
More than 850 event professionals have been trained in the Showstop® Procedure. They represent events attracting audiences of over 50 million.
The Pink Bows Foundation has established its Safe Space initiative at event all over the U.S., offering a place where event visitors can retreat during events to receive mental health support or just relax for a while. These safe spaces are large, custom built, pink 20-by-30 tents with comfortable furnishings, an AC unit for hot days, and
mental health professionals on site, and they have welcomed over 400,000 fans across a range of U.S. events so far.
Dubiski, during his opening remarks at the 17th Annual Sports Safety and Security Conference, announced the formation of the Pink Bows Advisory Board, comprising 16 global event safety professionals, eight of who are expert witnesses. The full list of Pink Bows Advisory Board members can be found below.
He summed up his keynote address with the following words, he received a heartfelt standing ovation from the audience: “We are inspired by the support of these incredible people and excited by the vast experience and professional capability this highly respected and knowledgeable group adds to the progression of The Foundation to contribute to safer events.
“A huge thank you to the NCS4 board. We feel a strong bond with the conference organizers and delegates and admire their professionalism and devotion to prevent the likelihood of similar future incidents.”
Pink Bows Board President Stephanie Stegall also spoke at the conference, outlining the importance of the strong bond being created with NCS4, with the common ethos to “Make Events Safer” through training and driving positive progression.
Showstop® Procedure co-founder Steve Allen was guest on a panel called “Showstop Procedure: A proven Emergency Intervention Measure for the Sport and Entertainment Industry”, moderated by Graham Brown, who led an educational, interactive discussion for an engaged audience.
Fellow panelists included Doug Bruce, CSSP, Senior Director of Operations, Creative Safety Inc; Donald Paisant, CSSP, Vice President, Security & Guest Services, Texas Rangers Baseball Club; and Kevin Swope, Security Director, Illitch Sports & Entertainment (Tigers Baseball), who all sharing their experiences and insights having recently hosted Showstop® Procedure courses.
Swope said it was “a great course which has improved procedure with consistency across our venues, staff and stakeholders.”
Paisant described it as “the best training course I have partaken. This has improved our emergency response protocols, which we have implemented at all of our events.”
Allen also hosted two “Decision Making Under Pressure” workshops across the conference program.
Delegates at the 17th Annual Sports Safety and Security Conference were encouraged to partake in one of Showstop® Procedure training courses being rolled across the U.S. after the Fall, and take advantage of the Introduction to Showstop Procedure e-learning course.
NCS4 Executive Director Dr. Stacey Hall said, “We are deeply grateful for the partnership and participation of the Pink Bows Foundation at our 17th Annual Conference. During the impactful opening keynote, the Foundation’s founder, Brian Dubiski, reminded our industry why we strive every day to ensure the highest standards of safety and security at events — to save lives and ensure participants, spectators, and staff return home safely. The NCS4 industry stakeholders are highly engaged in training, research, and outreach initiatives in pursuit of safety and security standards and benefit greatly from the Foundation’s resources.”
The Pink Bows Advisory Board Members:
Steve Allen – Expert Witness and Crowd Safety Management & Event Safety consultant
Dr Mark Hamilton – Expert Witness and Crowd Safety Management & Event Security consultant, Tour Security Director for Sir Paul McCartney
Anne-Marie Chebib – UKCMA Chair, Global Expertise in Operational Risk, Sustainability & Program Development
Professor John Drury – Expert Witness and Crowd Management expert
Professor Keith Stills – Expert witness and international Crowd Management expert
Lloyd Major – CEO Halo Solutions
Morten Therkildeson MSC – Roskilde Festival Director of Safety and Guest Relations
Dr Pascal Viot – Professor of Sociology, Event Safety and Security consultant
Dr Steve Frosdick – Expert Witness, Sport Safety Consultant
Tami Richter – VP Operations at SXSW, VP Event Safety Alliance
Tim Roberts – Expert Witness, CEO Tess and Creative Safety
Jim Gaffney – Expert Witness, stage and crowd barrier design
Doug Bruce – CSSP, Senior Director of Operations, Creative Safety Inc
Andrew Tatrai – CEO Dynamic Crowd Measurement
Bryan Huneycutt – Event Safety Alliance Board Member, Mental health advisor
Colin Lish – Tour Security Professional & Crowd Management consultant
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