In Memoriam: Randall W.A Davidson, PhD AKA Dr. Doom

Decades before the Event Safety Alliance was formed, Randall W.A Davidson, PhD, AKA Dr. Doom, was a guiding light for safety in performing arts.

Randy began his career as a child performer in silent films, but quickly moved behind the scenes and spent the majority of his life as a safety consultant to venue operators, insurance companies, and standards creation organizations. From Lloyds of London to the local elementary school, no one was too big or too small to benefit from his expertise and he treated all with equal respect.

He helped found the Health and Safety Commission of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, served on the commission leadership team, presented numerous workshops and sessions, and was made a Fellow of the Institute.

In 2004, he founded ISETSA: the International Secondary Education Theater Safety Association and provided training for theater teachers.

He served as an expert witness for hundreds of lawsuits and claimed he "only lost 2!" He shared the knowledge learned from these tragedies with ESTA, NFPA, and other standards and code creating entities along with holding thousands of workshops and seminars all over the world.

He wrote the "Pocket Guide to Theater Safety," Practical Health and Safety Guidelines for School Theater" and hundreds of monographs, articles and white papers.

In short, he dedicated his life to raising awareness and providing the tools to make live events safer for everyone. While our opinions on some issues differed, his status as a trailblazer is unquestionable.

We honor his founding contributions to the world of event safety, and send our deepest condolences to his family. May his memory be a blessing.