Obtaining a license for musical performance and outdoor festivals

This involves musical or festive events where a musical group or artist is hired to perform a show in an outdoor space, which typically includes:

• Stage, with its sound equipment, mixers, lightning and effects
• Enclosure boundary fences and anti-intrusion fences in front of the stage.
• Backstage area: Delimited space including the stage and the rear part where prefabricated modules for dressing rooms, storage rooms, sound equipment, etc… are located.
• Areas where the attending audience is situated.
• Gastronomic areas that include bar service, food trucks, ticket booths, tables and chairs, etc.
• Sales areas such as merchandise stalls or booths for organizations, among others.

According to Decree 112/2010, the regulation of public shows and recreational activities, outdoor concerts or festivals are considered extraordinary public shows with the following conditions:

• They take place in a public open space.
• They take place in establishments or areas where this type of show can be held.

There are two types of shows:

• Free and open access in non-delimited spaces.
• Paid access in delimited spaces.

These types of shows require:

• Authorization from the Generalitat (Regional Government) in municipalities with fewer than 50.000 habitants.
• Municipal license in municipalities with more than 50.000 habitants or for the occasion of popular festivities and celebrations.

In order to carry out an outdoor concert or festival, several documents need to be submitted to the respective municipality, which essentially consists of:

• Accreditation of the availability of the outdoor space, venue, or area where the event is planned to take place.
• Civil liability policy covering the acts or concerts to be held.
• Memory of the public show taking place, describing the show, the measures taken, and providing descriptive plans.
• Saving of the analysis the mobility generated if the expected capacity exceeds 2.000 people.
• Self-protection plan if there is anticipated a capacity exceeding 200 people in delimited outdoor spaces or in non-delimited outdoor spaces exceeding 10.000 people.
• Assessment of the acoustic impact of the planned show or events.
• Fire safety study if the anticipated capacity exceeds 1.000 people in outdoor venues.

The basic requirements that must be completed within the organization of concerts and festivals are the following:

• Availability of private security guards, at a ratio of one guard per 1.000 spectators or fraction, and if the capacity is below 500 people there are no guards needed.
• Availability of access controllers in delimited venues, at a ratio of 2+1 controllers per 1.000 spectators or fraction thereof, with a minimum of 2 controllers (150-500 people) and 3 controllers (up to 1.000 people).
• Provision of toilet facilities, at a ratio of one cabin per 150 people in outdoor venues, or the existing bathrooms in the case of buildings or locals.
• Availability of a first-aid kit for concerts or shows with capacities below 1.000 people.
• Availability of a medical station or the presence of ambulances for concerts or shows with capacities exceeding 1.000 people.
• Certification of assembly and stability of the stages or platforms being installed.
• Sound limiters and recorders to limit de sound to 100 dB(A) at the audience level and also control the maximum noise levels at residential facades or buildings.
• Fire protection measures, including powder extinguishers and carbon dioxide extinguishers located in various elements within the concert areas and gastronomic spaces.
• Ensuring food safety in the gastronomic areas. 

At Bertran Enginyeria, we take care of all the necessary documentation to obtain the corresponding license for extraordinary public shows for the celebration of outdoor musical performances and concerts. This includes submitting all the required documentation to the town hill where the event will take place, responding to any requirements, and providing the final certification prior to the start of the event.

The responsible of this area is Joan Bertran Jordà, an industrial engineer with over 10 years of experience in legalizing outdoor concerts and festivals, as well as senior technician in occupational risk prevention.