The Killer Show

Reflection Assignment |

The Killer Show |

EVNT 6000: Event and Operations ManagementElizabeth A. VanPatten, MS, CH |

You Li

11/11/2013

|

Contents

5 Points: 2

1. The Condition of the Building 2

2. The Club Owner, Staff, Band manager, and the Fire Marshal 4

3. Failed Crowd Control and Evacuation 5

4. Damage Caused by Fire 5

5. Visible and Invisible Harm 7

Justice: 8

Legal Action: 9

Safety for Future: 10

Reference: 11

5 Points:

1. The Condition of the Building

The Station nightclub was a single-story wood frame building with a footprint of about 4484 square feet and a small basement. The building was constructed in 1946 and it was sold, modified, and changed function multiple times over its 57 years. The modifications included small additions, multiple reconfigurations of the interior. On the night of the fire, The Station nightclub looked different from when it was built (Grosshandler, Bryner and Madrzykowskil).

Surprisingly, in this building’s 57 years history, none owner seems had ever considered to improve the safety feature of the building. Even after the fire in 1971, the owner at that time repaired only the interior paneling and partitions, and left the smoke-stained and charred structural framing in the building continuously on until the February 2003 fire. Ironically, for “safety” reason, several windows and emergency exits of the building were walled-over by its owners (Barylick) and the following modifications actually make the safety condition worse.

In 1995 the building was turned from restaurant into rock club by Howard Julian. To avoid the complaints about the loud bass pounding music from nearby resident, Julian filled plastic foam blocks to the walls of the stage, and kept the door (a double door) next to the stage tightly closed. And to prevent patrons sneaking tickets, the path through the ticket desk was narrowed into only 33 inch wide. And later when Derderian brothers took over the club in 2000,...