Posted By David Brede I am fulfilling the role of Planning Supervisor for a project to build a new students union building. This includes a music venue. As well as drawing attention to the new legislation (for music and entertainments it starts in April 2008) can readers tell me of practical or innovative solutions they have used to protect the workforce who will be working in the environment either as bar staff or bouncers and other activities. Thank you. David

Posted By Chris Knagg Fantastic! Some one asking the right questions at the right time. Sorry but I have been involved in the music industry and live sound in venues indoors and out for 25 + years and have a great insight into both sides of the fence. My advice is that you need to consult with all interested parties to get the best design solution for the venue. On my list would be: Access and egress. Flight cases have wheels and roadies don't like lifting them. Ramps Ramps and more ramps. From truck to stage and dont forget the front of house gear too. Flying points. Many touring light and sound systems are designed for hanging from the roof of a venue. If flying points were well thought out and dedicated points part of the design fantastic! Power, availability, ease of connection, distribution of and separate power for sound and lighting rigs. Do not put bars in directly front of the sound systems, put the bars in areas not directly affected by the PA systems. You need to consider very carefully the design, layout, throw and dispersion of the sound system also modern sound processing systems can be set up to optimum performance for a venue and then locked so they can not be tampered with. However if a touring system is used in the venue this is not as easily controlled. In house systems will need to be of a resonable specification if they are to be used instead of a touring system. Think about focussing the sound onto the audience and use multiple arrays with delay technology to reduce overall sound pressure levels whilst maintaining the 'concert' sound experience. I could go on all day on this subject!! Stage barriers. Always get hired in, but could be an integral part of the design. Disabled viewing areas and access is always an after thought in many venues. Multicores, the bits of cable that connect Front of House & Lighting Mixing desks to the stage always have to be slung and strung around the venue, it would be great if there was a dedicated channel back to the stage to run cables in without crossing pedestrian routes or doorways. Storage. Adequate storage areas! Stages always end up being cluttered with things people cant find elswhere to store. Last thing. Talk to the end user about how the venue is actually going to be used, talk to a sound engineer and a lighting engineer about how they need to use the venue, think about the amount of manual handling involved in setting up and striking stages and do all you can to reduce the need for steps. A dedicated loading bay so equipment can come straight out of the vans and trucks and onto stage is a dream when they are available. When you have built this ideal venue let me know!

Posted By Glyn Atkinson As a musician who still has to lug their own equipment, please also consider a changing / dressing room facility for artistes with hot and cold water, lighting of a decent standard, and a good sized mirror for artistes to apply makeup if required. A hanging rail for stage clothes is always appreciated, and suitable electrics so that hot drinks or ironing can be done is useful, along with amp / tuner hook ups to avoid tuning on stage for replacement guitars or string changes. A toilet within the changing room area is useful if caught short after getting changed to stop people seeing those ace Kiss outfits and the like ??