With news of the negligence that contributed to the recent nightclub tragedies in Chicago and Rhode Island settling in, Buffalo residents have begun to question the safety of the establishments they frequent.
In response to the climbing number of deaths in February's club disasters, local bar owners and their patrons are considering the likelihood that they too could become victims, should a similar emergency occur.
"I was absolutely shocked. I was stunned. As a nightclub owner, to have that happen to you," said Joseph Guagliardo, chief executive officer of The Sphere, a downtown Buffalo club. "That's everyone's worst nightmare."
Many owners believe these tragedies were partly due to inadequacies within the respective clubs. According to Guagliardo, if the buildings were properly equipped for large crowds to exit in a timely fashion, many of the deaths could have been avoided.
"We have wide double doors. I mean, there are garage doors here. In this building we have big wide doors to accommodate that kind of crowd," said Guagliardo. "If you have a single door, do it for yourself, do it for the patrons. Get double doors."
Club owners have also expressed faith in the Buffalo fire department and their strict enforcement of fire code.
"(The fire department) stopped by yesterday," said Peter Perrone, owner of Mohawk Place. "They're good, they know what they're doing."
Inspections have become even more frequent since the club disasters in Chicago and Rhode Island. Though the Buffalo fire department appears to be keeping a close eye on the safety of local bars, patrons still keep the tragedies in mind when they go out for the evening.
"It certainly does run through my mind, but you can't change your life from a tragedy that occurs. You do have to protect yourself and look for potential escape routes," said Marla Greenberg, a senior political science major.
Guagliardo and Perron also said they are using these tragedies to point out places to improve the safety of their own buildings.
"We've had fire drills. The employees are more alert of what's going on and how to handle a situation if it happens," said Guagliardo.
The pyrotechnics disaster that occurred in Rhode Island is especially disconcerting to Buffalo concertgoers who pack the dance floors of smaller clubs.
"My initial reaction was how irresponsible owners were to allow overcrowding and pyrotechnics," said Krisha Hewitt, a graduate pharmacy major. "Pyrotechnics should not be allowed indoors."
According to Perron, Mohawk Place will not allow bands to use pyrotechnic displays as part of their stage shows. Though the building does not contain the flammable soundproofing material used in the club in Rhode Island, Perron said he feels bands should be judged by their talent, and not the visual display they add to the show.
"If you're a band, don't do pyro. If you're a club owner, don't put that flammable stuff up on the walls for soundproofing," said Perron. "We watch everything that happens. We just don't want anybody getting hurt."
The owners of The Sphere have a similar attitude toward flammable visual displays, and refuse to cater to bands that use them in their acts.
"Any performer who has to use that to make their act don't need to be on stage, period," said Guagliano. "If I want to go see fireworks, I'll go to a fourth of July party. Kids are looking for thumping music, and just to have a good time."
Another cause for concern of those who attend crowded bars was the ease with which these tragedies occured. Though the United States has yet to experience the nightclub bombings that are common in Israel, there is a newfound sense of awareness among young people, according to Greenburg.
"It's an easy target," said Greenberg. "I didn't think of suicide bombers in clubs, but it did make me think that this is a way we could be affected by terrorism. The clubs just need to be made safer."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
