People who attended the Chainsmokers Drive-In concert in the Hamptons say it was safe despite public criticism

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A massive Chainsmokers “drive-in” concert in the Hamptons over the weekend has sparked a huge online reaction. But a handful of concert goers told BuzzFeed News that they felt “very safe” and did not unknowingly risk contracting or spreading the coronavirus.

The Water Mill concert sold ticket packages starting at $ 850. VIP access was up to $ 25,000 and included an RV. The event website stated that all proceeds will go to local and national charities.

An estimated 2,000 people attended the concert on Saturday. And while many Chainsmokers fans bragged on social media about their unique and exclusive concert experience, a video originally taken by someone onstage with the band, and then shared on Twitter, has people concerned about potential health risks that an event of this scale could pose. .

Specifically, people are concerned that a crowd gathered in what appeared to be a section of the well was not adequately distanced socially. Social media photos on the ground showed widespread distancing between people having fun in or near their cars in their designated lots, but photos taken from the hole at night don’t show clear marks of where and how they were controlled the crowds.

At Know Experience, one of the main organizers of the event, said that there were dividers separating the individual parts in that contested area from the hole, and that “the guests were also instructed that they would not be allowed to leave their places designed by any another reason”. than using the bathroom. “

A site representative also provided BuzzFeed News with images taken inside the hole showing where black retractable belts were used in an attempt to cordon off groups of 10 fans at once.

“There were steel barricades and dividers separating each section in the front viewing area with groups of ten guests, with marked dots to stay inside and security guards stationed in front to enforce masks to be worn,” the representative said.

Three people who attended the Chainsmokers concert on Saturday confirmed that they saw some kind of barrier or restrictive boundary inside the well.

“Everyone was distancing themselves socially and being responsible,” said Jamie Books, a Southampton resident. “We had an incredible time and look forward to seeing more events like this,” he added.

Those who could not see the well, but were partying near their cars, said they “felt very safe” in attending the concert.

“There were a lot of security guards who made sure that people didn’t leave their designated areas,” added Sierra Smith, another concert assistant. “[I] I felt very safe and it was a lot of fun. “

Additionally, the In the Know Experiences representative told BuzzFeed News that “they collaborated with all state and local health officials to keep everyone safe.”

BuzzFeed News has contacted the Suffolk County Department of Health Services.

The representative and at least five concert attendees stated that everyone was required to have their temperature checked upon entering the drive-in, and that hand sanitizer and masks were available.

“Event organizers followed all current and appropriate protocols,” they said, adding that public toilets were also cleaned every 10 minutes.

Still, the Chainsmokers special concert being held amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the US has critics ridiculing attendees for risking other people’s health, as well as their own.

Despite the fact that many of those who attended on Saturday insisted that all the proper protocols were taken and that they would like to attend another great party / concert, experts are warning against it. A massive congregation like this is “really difficult to have safely,” said Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Safety.

“Every time you have a mass meeting, you have to worry about the spread of the virus. I think a transmission will decrease the risk … but there will never be a zero risk,” Adalja told BuzzFeed News. “At a concert, people will scream and sing and create droplets en masse, so it will be a challenge.”

“A general mass meeting is not advisable during this environment,” added Adalja, but he believes that if “aggressive social distancing” measures are applied, it can be done more safely.

“If you do it in Miami, it’s probably not a good idea,” he added, noting the recent alarming increase in cases in Florida.

Pamphlets circulating on social media announcing the Chainsmokers’ first show in the Hamptons list “other major cities to come,” including Miami. But the representative of the concert company could not say whether these other cities were still confirmed.

People online are tweeting directly on the spot, preemptively begging them to cancel possible stops on the Chainsmokers tour during the pandemic.

BuzzFeed News has reached out to the band for comment.