Bag searches at concerts…

[pastoralguy]

Mrs. PG and I have just returned from our first Edinburgh Festival concert. An absolutely outstanding performance from Yuja Wang. (Seven encores!)

However, a rather officious member of the Usher Hall’s staff insisted on searching Mrs. PG’s handbag. Now, we’re both in our 60’s and were quite well dressed. What exactly are the staff looking for?

Ive been going to concerts since 1977 and this is the first time I’ve ever experienced a member of staff rifling through my wife’s handbag. Seems a bit inappropriate and heavy handed.

[mikealdren]

I guess it's the world we live in now. From time to time C and I go to concerts after rehearsals and we have to leave our violins in the cloakroom, not a good idea and a fairly recent change for the worse.

[Pulcinella]

I don't have a handbag, but I usually offer my small backpack for inspection (often deemed unnecessary) at Opera North in Leeds and even the minster here.
As Mike says, a sign of the times, but not particularly recent. Perhaps alert levels have been higher longer (recent riots notwithstanding) south of the border.

[burning dog]

I guess it's the world we live in now. .

Yes,,,,

I suppose staff or stewards can't racially or "age" profile people, so they make a point of searching everyone.

I expect some of us fit into the "profile" group of "Just Stop Oil" protesters.

[Howdenite]

I carry a small bag when in London and am ready for bag searches at the Royal Opera House, Barbican, Tate, etc. A few places don't check, but so many do now!

[LHC]

If you wanted to profile a Just Stop Oil protestor likely to cause disruption with a loud klaxon or a tin of red paint, a white, middle class, well dressed, retired professional would definitely fit the bill.

More seriously, if a venue is going to search bags (as almost every large venue in London does), they have to search everyone's bag. They would be in serious trouble if the only bags they searched were those belonging to ethnic minority patrons under the age of 40.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Mrs. PG and I have just returned from our first Edinburgh Festival concert. An absolutely outstanding performance from Yuja Wang. (Seven encores!)

However, a rather officious member of the Usher Hall’s staff insisted on searching Mrs. PG’s handbag. Now, we’re both in our 60’s and were quite well dressed. What exactly are the staff looking for?

Ive been going to concerts since 1977 and this is the first time I’ve ever experienced a member of staff rifling through my wife’s handbag. Seems a bit inappropriate and heavy handed.

Pretty much par for the course at the Royal Opera House , West End Theatres and the RFH these days with heightened terrorist threats following a whole catalogue of outrages in London over the last twenty years. . I have absolutely no objection. For some reason the Royal Opera bag searches are always more efficient or at least quicker than West End Theatres where a dismal queue seems to stretch into the far rain sodden distance.

[pastoralguy]

Yes,,,,

I suppose staff or stewards can't racially or "age" profile people, so they make a point of searching everyone.

I expect some of us fit into the "profile" group of "Just Stop Oil" protesters.

The problem was that not everyone was being checked. A friend sitting in the most expensive seats told me no one was being checked. Obviously just the great unwashed who were under suspicion…

[duncan]

Many London venues do a search now. The Royal Opera have been pretty relaxed about flasks of tea and other snacks which could very easily disguise something worse. The Albert Hall (at The Proms) don’t let in any food or drink, presumably mostly interested in the bottom line of their bars and restaurants. Picnicking has to happen in Hyde Park now rather than the arena of yore.

[Old Grumpy]

Many London venues do a search now. The Royal Opera have been pretty relaxed about flasks of tea and other snacks which could very easily disguise something worse. The Albert Hall (at The Proms) don’t let in any food or drink, presumably mostly interested in the bottom line of their bars and restaurants. Picnicking has to happen in Hyde Park now rather than the arena of yore.

So one can't smuggle a bag of popcorn then...


...one is forced to buy their own product if one wishes to endear oneself to fellow arena prommers!

[burning dog]

The problem was that not everyone was being checked. A friend sitting in the most expensive seats told me no one was being checked. Obviously just the great unwashed who were under suspicion…

If that's true, I'd make an official complaint.!

[LMcD]

Having a bag searched is not a problem for me, but I might risk a mild objection if somebody decides to introduce random strip searches or full body frisking.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The problem was that not everyone was being checked. A friend sitting in the most expensive seats told me no one was being checked. Obviously just the great unwashed who were under suspicion…

That’s truly absurd isn’t it ?

[Petrushka]

The problem was that not everyone was being checked. A friend sitting in the most expensive seats told me no one was being checked. Obviously just the great unwashed who were under suspicion…

Presumably, bags are searched before one enters the building, or in the foyer, but before one has shown a seat ticket? If so, then security staff would not know where people were sitting nor can I imagine them being interested. Security should search everybody or nobody otherwise it's a pointless exercise.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes,,,,

I suppose staff or stewards can't racially or "age" profile people, so they make a point of searching everyone.

I expect some of us fit into the "profile" group of "Just Stop Oil" protesters.

Hmmm - long-haired hippy layabouts have long been a stereotype of the past - judge for yourself by the appearance of many of the (non-masked) rioters now regularly on TV.