Jim digby

President / Founder of the Event Safety Alliance

im’s four-decade journey in production and project management roles within the live entertainment and music touring industry has seen him collaborate with a diverse array of artists, including Linkin Park, The Killers, Neil Young, Hootie & the Blowfish, Backstreet Boys, the Bolshoi Ballet, and Phil Collins. Most recently, he contributed to the successful execution of entertainment mega-projects in Saudi Arabia, including the Kingdom's inaugural international music festival in 2018.

Tragic events throughout his professional career, dating back to 1983, have deeply influenced his commitment to safety. He was present on stage in 1992 when James Hetfield was seriously injured by a flame special effect, leading to a riot involving 55,000 audience members at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. Additionally, he served as a stage manager on the main stage at Woodstock ’99, where 200,000 attendees engaged in riotous behavior. He later found himself working with Marilyn Manson in the aftermath of the Columbine shooting, witnessing subsequent riots. These experiences, among others, have instilled in Jim a steadfast dedication for the prioritizing safety within the industry and have driven Jim’s leadership of the Event Safety Alliance since its inception.

As President and Co-Founder of the Event Safety Alliance, lecturer at the University of Southern California, board member of the Behind the Scenes Charity, and a sought-after speaker on topics such as event safety, career paths in event production, and personal wellness in live events, Jim tirelessly advocates for the health and sustainability of the industry.