Today, I will talk about what a barricade is at a concert and why it is important in every live event. You will also learn their benefits and different types available in the market.
Further, we will discuss average rental and purchase costs for these barriers. We have also shared expert tips on how you can choose the right barricade for your event.
What is Barricade in a Concert?
Concert barricade, also called a stage barrier, is a strong safety barrier that is placed between crowd and stage to create a clear boundary. Event organizers mostly install them in front of the stage, around restricted areas, and along entry and exit paths.
You can find concert barricades at music festivals, indoor arenas, stadiums, outdoor events and other large gatherings. In short, a concert barricade is an important crowd control tool that protects the audience and performers during live events.
How Do Concert Barricades Work?
Event barricades are designed to handle strong crowd pressure with the use of smart engineering features. These include weight distribution, interlocking steel frames & angled footplates. Below is the basic working principle of barricades.
Upward Weight Transfer: When a person moves forward, the pressure will push down on the footplate. The barricade uses this downward force to increase stability.
Strong Modular Framework: Most concert barricades use durable steel or aluminum frames. They are lightweight but strong enough to resist bending and damage under high pressure.
Continuous Barrier Strength: Individual sections of barricade connect tightly with heavy-duty bolts and pins. This way, the barrier can spread the audience impact across multiple sections.
| Barricade Parts | How It Works |
| Interlocking design | Connects barricade sections together and prevents gaps between panels |
| Anchors or ballast | Adds stability and keeps barricades in place during windy conditions |
| Flat & smooth top rail | Reduces risk of injuries in case people lean against or touch the barrier |
| Integrated spacing | Creates access points for security teams and allows equipment to move through |
| Proper height design | Stops people from easily climbing over plus allows front row attendees to see stage clearly |
| Built-in cable protection | Barricades include cable ramps/protected channels to keep wires covered and reduce trip hazards |
Purpose of Concert Barricades
- The safety of the audience, artists and event staff is the top priority for every show organizer. This is one of the main reasons why these barricades are important at large events.
- They also prevent fans from rushing the stage and reduce the risk of unwanted contact between the audience & performers.
- You can create a controlled buffer zone (front-of-stage area) which reduces pressure on the stage.
- Another purpose of these crowd control barriers is to provide a clear pathway for security personnel and stage crew to reach people during emergencies. In this case, you can also combine these barricades with police barriers.
- They safeguard valuable equipment such as sound systems and lighting setups.
- These barricades are also a great way to prevent aggressive audience behavior and improve overall audience safety.
Types of Barricades You Can Use At Concert
1. Aluminum Concert Barricade
Aluminum barricades are lightweight and easy-to-transport tools. Most of them weigh around 66 to 122 lbs. Plus, you can fold them flat for easy storage and transportation. That’s why they are among the popular choices for live events. Due to their rust-resistant material, you can also use them for both indoor and outdoor shows.
2. Concert Stage Barricade
Stage barricades are one of the most reliable crowd control solutions for concert pits. You can place them directly in front of the stage. This will create a secure separation between performers and public. You will find some models with small steps or platforms for security staff. These allow guards to monitor the audience more easily.
3. Crowd Control Barricades
Crowd control barriers are widely used to manage and organize people at public events. They are very stable and have a lifespan of 5+ years. Some common types of these barriers are galvanized steel barriers, retractable/expandable crowd barriers and rope barriers. You will commonly see them at sporting events, outdoor festivals, parades & political gatherings. They are also known as French barriers in America and mill barriers in Hong Kong.
4. Plastic Barricades
These barriers are your perfect choice for outdoor concerts and low-pressure crowd control situations. They have one-piece units with smooth surfaces and no sharp edges. So you can reduce the risk of cuts and injuries during public events. Moreover, the wide base of the plastic barrier provides excellent balance for audience management.
5. Steel Barricades
These are heavy-duty barriers that you can use to handle large crowds and high-pressure situations. They provide strong protection between the audience and restricted areas. Steel barricades are also ideal for major shows and outdoor events. Due to their durable construction, they can stay stable and reliable during heavy audience movement.
6. Straight Concert Barricade
These are simple and linear barriers that create a clear separation between the audience and the stage area. Because of its design, it’s easy for you to connect & install these barricades. Unlike curved or adjustable barricades, they provide a fixed layout which keeps the people line organized. You can also use them to cover wide stage areas with fewer connection points.
7. Flex Corner Concert Barricade
Suppose you need to adjust barriers at corners to fit curved stages, angled areas or unique venue designs. In these situations, flex corner barricades are your perfect choice. You can bend into different directions (-90° to +90°) to create inside or outside corners.
Further, any models of these blocks are available without a bottom floorplate, so you can use them for narrow-area setups. We advise you to install & lock them between two straight barricade sections for maximum strength.
8. Hinged Gate Barricades
If we talk about hinged gate barriers, they actually have built-in gate sections. The purpose is to allow authorized staff, security teams, as well as performers to move through the barrier easily. You can swing its gate to 180° or 270° manually or through automated systems. It means you don’t need to remove entire setups for quick access in case of emergency.
9. Bike Rack Barricade
Bike rack barricades are lightweight and portable blocks. Their simple design includes connected metal frames that create temporary attendee lines. You can use them for quick setups. Basically, they have a design that looks similar to the metal racks where you park your bicycle. That’s why they get the name “bike rack barricades”.
10. VIP / Secondary Barriers
VIP and secondary barriers are ideal to create separate areas within a performance venue. They control access to VIP sections, backstage zones, media areas and other restricted spaces. The best thing about these barriers is they don’t affect the main viewer’s flow. So they are ideal to only allow authorized guests and staff to enter areas but keep the event layout clear.
Getting Barricade At a Concert Meaning
Well, getting a barricade at a concert means you can secure a spot directly against the front barrier or metal which creates a boundary. This position gives you the closest view of the performers. That is why many concertgoers try to get there.
How To Get a Barrier At a Concert?
Mostly, barricade spots are not sold separately. So, the way you reach the barricade depends on the type of show. It is mainly possible at shows with a general admission standing area near the stage. For fully general admission concerts, you have to arrive very early and then secure a front position. Plus, you also need to stay there throughout the event. Some events also offer paid access to a closer viewing area.
Note: General admission concerts are events where tickets do not have assigned seats or reserved spots. Instead, fans enter the venue & choose their own place in a standing area near the stage.
How Can You Choose the Right Barricade For Your Event?
To select the right concert barricade for your event, you must consider these factors.
- Event Size: Choose stronger barricades for large crowds & major performances.
- Crowd Pressure: We recommend you use heavy-duty barriers where fans are in large numbers.
- Venue Layout: Select straight or flexible barricades based on your stage design.
- Indoor or Outdoor Use: You can also analyze weather conditions and surface type.
- Security Needs: Pick barricades that allow quick access.
- Installation Time: Go for easy-to-install options for temporary events.
- Durability: Use strong materials like aluminum or steel.
- Access Points: We also advise you to select designs with gates or openings.
Concert Barricade Rental
Concert barricade rental service allows you to use professional crowd control barriers. But you don’t need to buy or store them permanently. It is a practical option for one-time events and temporary. If you want to rent concert barricades, you need to pay around $13 to $125 per section. Many rental providers handle delivery, setup plus removal.
Concert Barricade Price
On average, event barriers cost you around 13 to 216 US dollars. For the basic model, you can expect to pay anywhere between $13 to $29. Metal barricades are available at $65 to $80. Crowd control barriers with extra features and unique design are expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Barriers At Concerts Called?
Concert barriers are also known as crash barriers, front of stage (FOS) barriers, pit barriers and bike racks. Although people use different names, they refer to similar barricades. The exact name based on the barricade’s design or function.
Do All Concerts Have Barricades?
No, not all concerts use barricades. Small local shows, acoustic performances, coffeehouse events and some outdoor community shows often do not need them.
Why is There a Gap Between Barricade and Stage?
The space between the concert stage and the safety barricade is called a photo pit or security pit. This area gives photographers, security staff and medical teams enough room to work safely. It also allows them to respond quickly to emergencies.
How Much Weight Can a Concert Barricade Hold?
A professional heavy duty interlocking stage barricade can handle 5 kN/m (5 kilo-Newtons per meter) of horizontal fans pressure. This equals approximately 1124 pounds of force per linear foot.
Final Thoughts
We understand that audience safety is a top priority for every successful show and live event. That’s why we manufacture durable and high-quality concert barricades. So, you can use them to control public and protect attendees without worries.
If you are an event organizer and you want standard or customized barricades, JACKWIN is your trusted business partner. We offer factory-direct pricing and bulk order discounts. Contact our team today for a free quote.
