South by Southwest (SXSW) Adopts LiveSafe Mobile Safety Communications Solution for 2018 Conference & Festivals

SXSW Combines Team and Technology to Create Early Warning System for Staff and Volunteer Safety & Incident Prevention


ARLINGTON, Va., March 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals has selected LiveSafe, the world’s leading mobile safety communications solution for use by staff and volunteers at SXSW 2018, March 9-18, 2018 in Austin, TX. SXSW staff and volunteers – nearly 5,000 people – will use LiveSafe to report concerning behavior or safety concerns and identify facility issues or risks in real-time.

“Safety is a top priority at SXSW. The real-time, location-based capabilities of the LiveSafe solution will help our team communicate and share important safety information effectively, while empowering the entire SXSW team to report concerns or problems quickly,” said SXSW CEO Roland Swenson. “Our intention is that by adding LiveSafe, our staff and volunteers will have the tools to proactively assist our event and its attendees in having a safer, more enjoyable experience.”

SXSW will use LiveSafe to quickly broadcast messages via text, email, and push to staff and volunteers. LiveSafe’s geo-targeting capabilities also give SXSW the ability to broadcast specific messages to the team based on location. Additionally, the SXSW staff can send text, photos, videos and precise location information to report incidents ranging from routine maintenance needs to suspicious activity to safety concerns. LiveSafe’s cloud-based command dashboard receives tips in real time and allows organizers to respond via secure live chat.

“Early warning and action are critical elements in risk reduction and often prevent hazards from turning into emergencies,” said Carolyn Parent, CEO, LiveSafe.  “Through LiveSafe the SXSW staff and volunteers will become an expanded network of eyes and ears for safety and security during the conference and festivals. We are very excited to be working with the SXSW team.”

In further support of raising awareness around the value of prevention in keeping attendees safe, SXSW and LiveSafe are co-presenting a session entitled “Turning Tragedy into Action” featuring LiveSafe co-founder and Virginia Tech shooting survivor Kristina Anderson; Production Manager for Jason Aldean and Las Vegas shooting survivor Drew Brown; and event safety pioneer and founder of the Event Safety Alliance, Jim Digby. The session will take place March 15th at 5:00 PM in the Austin Convention Center, Room 15.  That press release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/ReleaseNg/2144326.

Media attending SXSW that are interested in attending the session and/or arranging interviews with LiveSafe or the panelists should contact alan.mangelsdorf@livesafemobile.com

About South by Southwest
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2018 will take place March 9-18, 2018.

About LiveSafe
LiveSafe is the world’s leading mobile safety communications platform delivering actionable crowdsourced safety and security intelligence, preventing incidents before they occur and connecting people to the help they need. LiveSafe is used by more than 150 forward-thinking enterprises, universities and organizations including Hearst, Cox Communications, the San Francisco 49ers and many others. LiveSafe can be downloaded for free from the Google Play or iTunes app stores.  Follow LiveSafe on Twitter @LiveSafe, and learn more at LiveSafeMobile.com.

Press & Analyst Contact:
Alan Mangelsdorf
alan.mangelsdorf@livesafemobile.com
(845) 235-4628