The Music Safety Summit, and a Message About Being Safe and Responsible for Halloween

Two weeks ago the Music Safety Summit was held at the Experience Music Project at Seattle Center. The mission of the summit was to invite members of the rave community to come and ask questions about the field of harm reduction from experts in the scene. This included medical professionals, police, promotion companies and non-profits like Dance Safe. We were there as moderators for the proceedings and provided live tweeting from the event. But what did we get out of the event? The answer is “a lot.” Below are the things you NEED to know when you’re out raving in Washington.

• No one wants to get you in trouble! Every security member, Conscious Crew member, and medical staff is there to make sure you return home safe and sound.
• The “Good Samaritan” law is there to protect you and your friends. NO ONE INVOLVED CAN BE PROSECUTED FOR GETTING HELP. If you feel your friend is in need, go to the medical staff, get help, and be honest.
• At most massive raves there is a chill out area you have access to. Look for a Conscious Crew member, and they will take you there.
• Make a plan and stick to it. Raving alone can be fun, but you’re better off doing it sober. Have meet up spots, Plan breaks, and keep an eye on one another.
• If you’re choosing to get high, take one dose and see where it takes you. Medically speaking, that’s all you’re supposed to take.
• Be Responsible! That’s it. Just be responsible. You’re a fucking adult, act like one.
• Drink water. Water is your friend, be nice to water. Have a bottle or two per hour, but don’t over do it.
• Take breaks.

We wanted to get that information out of the way right off the bat, because those are the most important basics. But for love of music, please keep reading. It could be the seed that grows to save a person’s life. If you REALLY want to step up your harm reduction knowledge, head to our Harm Reduction Hub, and get informed. We have all types of information on how to keep yourself and others safe.

The summit was held in the JBL Theater at the EMP. Greeted with a pretty full room, Kate Becker of the Office of Film and Music welcomed all of the people who attended and applauded them for their attendance. The first thing we did was watch a video put together by Ashton Soete, whose close friend, Shane Zimmardi, passed away after an event at the Tacoma Dome.

Shane Zimmardi

In the video, Ashton describes his friend in the way anyone would want to be remembered; “He was a brother, he was an uncle with three nieces, he was one of the most honest and genuine people I have ever met.” After that, Ashton described the pain of having to say goodbye to a friend and how people need to look out for each other and act responsibly.