Speedy Ortiz Launch Help Hotline To Ensure Fans Feel Safe At Their Shows
Speedy Ortiz is going the extra mile to make sure their live shows are a safe space for fans. The Boston-based quartet head back out on tour in support of their excellent new album Foil Deer tomorrow, and they’ve launched a help hotline that fans can text or email directly if they have any issues.
The band posted information about the new hotline on their Facebook page. Here’s the full flier:
And here’s what the band shared as the caption to this new policy:
We’re back on the road today, but we’re bringing something new with us: (574) 404-SAFE, our help hotline you can text if you are being harassed or feel unsafe at a Speedy Ortiz show. Texts will go to us and we will work with venue security to try and get you out of harm’s way. It’s a new system we’re trying out and we’re sure it will require tweaks along the way, but we hope in the long run it can make our shows safer and more fun for everyone. We love you all.
Frontwoman Sadie Dupuis also took to Twitter to spread the word and comment on the band’s new policy:
This help hotline is a new system we're trying out, but one we hope will make our shows a lot safer & more fun for all. We love you folks.
— sadie dupuis (@sad13) September 7, 2015
sometimes as a showgoer i've felt unsafe & didn't know what to do. as a performer i've always have an easier time getting security's ear
— sadie dupuis (@sad13) September 7, 2015
i'm hoping we can leverage our privilege as performers to help keep our friends in the crowd safer. we'll see how it goes but i'm optimistic
— sadie dupuis (@sad13) September 7, 2015
and if this hotline help system does seem to work, we hope other bands will set them up too. hint hint 😉
— sadie dupuis (@sad13) September 7, 2015
The tour kicks off in Columbus, Ohio tomorrow night. Check out the full dates below.
09/08 Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness
09/09 Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Back Room
09/10 Champaign, IL @ Institute 4 Creativity
09/11 Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest
09/13 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
09/14 Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub
09/23 Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
09/24 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
09/25 Portland, ME @ State Theater
09/27 Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
10/05 Berlin, Germany @ Comet
10/06 Hamburg, Germany @ Golem
10/07 Cologne, Germany @ Blue Shell
10/09 Turin, Italy @ Spazzio 211
10/10 Bologna, Italy @ Covo Club
10/13 Düdingen, Switzerland @ Bad Bonn
10/15 Brighton, England @ The Haunt
10/16 Manchester, England @ Sound Control
10/17 Dublin, Ireland @ Whelan’s
10/18 Leeds, England – Brudenell Social Club
10/21 London, England @ Tufnell Park Dome
10/22 Glasgow, Scotland @ Stereo
10/23 Birmingham, England @ All Years Leaving
10/26 Brussels, Belgium @ Le Botanique
10/28 Nijmegen, Netherlands – Merleyn
10/29 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bitterzoet
10/30 Lille, France @ La Péniche
10/31 Nantes, France @ Soy Festival
11/06 Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest