The Pink Bows Foundation, established by the Dubiski family, has introduced a pioneering global crowd safety training and certification programme aimed at enhancing safety at large-scale events. This initiative, known as the Showstop® Procedure, has garnered support from Sir Paul McCartney and various international event safety organisations. Developed by leading experts in crowd safety, the programme seeks to foster collaboration within the event industry to prevent tragedies akin to the Astroworld Festival disaster in 2021.
In November 2021, the Astroworld Festival in Houston witnessed a catastrophic crowd crush that resulted in the deaths of ten individuals, including 23-year-old Madison Dubiski. Investigations by the Houston Police Department concluded that these fatalities and numerous injuries were preventable. Motivated by this tragedy, Madison’s parents, Brian and Michelle Dubiski, founded the Pink Bows Foundation to advocate for improved crowd safety standards.
“Our mission is to collaborate with the event industry, raise awareness, and establish a global standard for crowd safety and management at large-scale events,” the Dubiskis stated. “With the expertise of world-renowned crowd safety professionals and the support from global alliances, event organisers, families, and the broader community, we are driven by the memory of our daughter Madison to effect meaningful change.”
Sir Paul McCartney expressed his endorsement, stating, “I’m very happy to support Pink Bows Foundation and the great work they do for crowd safety.”
The Showstop® Procedure is a decisive emergency protocol designed to swiftly address potential hazards during events. It emphasises continuous event monitoring by qualified professionals capable of identifying emerging threats and implementing proportionate responses to avert disasters. Steve Allen, a global crowd safety consultant for the foundation, highlighted the industry’s commitment to audience safety: “Our aim with a global standard for the Showstop® Procedure is to significantly reduce the risk of preventable deaths and injuries.”
Dr Mark Hamilton, another esteemed consultant associated with the foundation, elaborated on the procedure’s efficacy: “The Showstop® Procedure is a proven and decisive emergency measure that has been successfully implemented worldwide. It rapidly focuses the audience’s attention to mitigate incident escalation, injury, or worse. The efforts of the Pink Bows Foundation will diminish safety risks for audiences during unforeseen events and save lives.”
The foundation’s initiative has received endorsements from several prominent organisations, including the Event Safety Alliance, Event Safety Alliance Canada, Global Crowd Management Alliance, and the United Kingdom Crowd Management Association.
The inaugural Showstop® Procedure training and certification session is scheduled for 26 March in Houston, Texas. This event has attracted significant interest from festivals, stadium and venue management, safety alliances, risk managers, insurers, and other large-scale event organisers. Due to overwhelming demand, the Houston course is fully booked, with additional sessions planned for later in the year.
In addition to the training programme, Steve Allen and Dr Mark Hamilton are set to present the benefits of the Showstop® Procedure at the International Live Music Conference (ILMC 37) on 26 February 2025 in London. Their presentation will focus on how the procedure enhances safety for venue managers, promoters, artists, and audiences alike.
The Pink Bows Foundation derives its name from the pink bows that adorned Houston in memory of Madison Dubiski following the Astroworld tragedy. The foundation remains steadfast in its belief that every attendee deserves to return home safely, a principle that continues to drive its mission to revolutionise crowd safety standards globally.