these are reflections on the horrendous terrorist attacks that occured at the Bataclan in Paris on November 13, 2015.
My mind has been heavy this week. Aside from the overwhelming, tumultuous political climate here in the States, this week marks one year since the #Bataclan attacks in Paris. Countless lives were forever changed, a tragedy made only worse because of it’s setting: a live music venue, a space I regard as sacred.
Concerts are meant to be a safe space, a coming together of individuals to honor something bigger than themselves, to celebrate the transcendence of emotion, the beauty of live performance. I am consistently humbled and honored to find myself in a variety of positions where I get to help this magic occur. When I work as a merchie, I am the first person fans see, the one they can most directly share excitement with, the person who gets to help shape their experience through meaningful interactions. Nick Alexander was doing just that when he was gunned down last November.
There isn’t a night where I don’t think about this, about the people lost, and the reality that I myself stand where Nick stood, doing that same job. It’s in those moments when I recognize the immense gift that is getting to help create a safe space full of love, full of magic, in a world so full of hate, violence, and fear. I’m reminded that every day I work a show is a miracle. Every minute I spend running through venues, sending emails, even watching my band play, is a blessing.
Nick was a casualty of senseless hate, but this week as the Bataclan re-opened, we honored his and all the other lives lost through that most sacred act: gathering in the name of live music. The simple act of moving forward is itself a defiance of hate.
I implore all of you this week to take a moment and explore how you can continue to usher light, positivity, and love into this world that so desperately needs it. How to create safe spaces, defying the hate that so easily engulfs us. Art is one of the world’s few universal languages, and in this time when we need it most, it’s up to us to continue share it however we can. For me, that means continuing to work shows, and create shared moments between fans and artists - honoring Nick and the other Bataclan victims. Every day we get our own unique chance to make the world a better place - don’t, for a minute, take that for granted.
(For another read related to being a part of the touring community struggling to understand this tragic event, this is my personal favorite, "We Are The Road Crew".)