CASE STUDIES Backstage Pass Freak-3K, a popular European band, was giving a concert at the Gen-Z Center.
Question:
CASE STUDIES
Backstage Pass
Freak-3K, a popular European band, was giving a concert at the Gen-Z Center. Kenson was a friend of the band who was invited to attend the show and discuss other promotional opportunities while touring in the United States. A meeting was scheduled backstage after the show. Kenson was given a VIP Pass and lanyard. This was a big opportunity for him since he had just begun his own music promotion company.
The night of the concert, Kenson went to the gate at Gen-Z Center and displayed his VIP pass. He was escorted to a VIP box overlooking the arena. He was afforded complimentary snacks, wine, and beer. Kenson enjoyed the show immensely. After the show, Kenson asked for directions to the backstage area. Things seemed to be going well until he approached a security guard standing in front of the entrance to the backstage area.
Kenson smiled and displayed his VIP pass. The security guard told Kenson that no one was permitted backstage without a backstage pass. Kenson began to explain that the VIP pass is what he was given and that he was scheduled to have a very important meeting with the band backstage after the concert. The guard told Kenson the Director of Security told all guards that he would terminate any of his security staff who admitted someone without a backstage pass. He added that because of an enhanced security imperative everyone had to have proper credentialing, and the Director fired other guards who breached orders. It was zero tolerance, no questions asked.
Kenson explained his situation again. The guard politely replied that he had no knowledge of this and reiterated that he could be terminated if he admitted Kenson, who pleaded for the guard to call the band or manager or anyone and verify his story. The guard replied that people say all kinds of things to get backstage and that he wasn't going to call the band every time someone requests it. Meanwhile, the band wonders where Kenson is.
1. Was the security guard correct to disallow Kenson to gain a backstage pass. He added that because of an enhanced security imperative everyone had to have proper credentialing, and the Director fired other guards who breached orders. It was zero tolerance, no questions asked.
Kenson explained his situation again. The guard politely replied that he had no knowledge of this and reiterated that he could be terminated if he admitted Kenson, who pleaded for the guard to call the band or manager or anyone and verify his story. The guard replied that people say all kinds of things to get backstage and that he wasn't going to call the band every time someone requests it. Meanwhile the band wonders where Kenson is.
1. Was the security guard correct to disallow Kenson to gain backstage access?
2. What could be done to salvage the situation at this point?
3. How could this have been avoided?