Ariana Grande’s Fashion Forward Approach to Venue Safety
Image Courtesy: BBC
There is no mistaking the fact that Ariana Grande is becoming a household name around the world. The last few years have held some monumental highs, like breaking the record previously held by The Beatles, the last artists to hold the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time – a feat that hasn’t been done since 1964. She’s also had some somber lows, as life in the public eye pushed her to center stage amidst tragedy and grief, between her personal love life becoming tabloid headlines as she broke off her engagement with comedian Pete Davidson, as well as the heartbreaking news that her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller had passed away. But now, embarking on her first tour since the tragic bombing of the Manchester Arena on her Dangerous Woman tour, Ari has set her sights on making venues a safe space for all to attend, and she’s starting with a bag.
In May of 2017, a terrorist attack occurred at her concert at the Manchester Arena in England, now known as the Manchester Arena Bombing. As fans were leaving the show and Ariana was still performing onstage, a suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel bomb that killed 22 people and injured many others. The attack made waves around the world and Ariana turned to the only thing she knew how to heal: music. She wrote and recorded the 2018 album Sweetener with thoughts still swirling in the aftermath of the attack. Now, in 2019 she is embarking on an album tour worldwide, right on the heels of releasing a new album thank u, next. With only a matter of weeks before fans once again flock to arenas in an outpouring of love and dedication, Ariana has made safety at her venues a top priority.
On February 26, 2019 Grande tweeted a series of photos with the caption “they’re up. clear, venue safety approved bags for sweetener / thank u, next tour available now” with a link to her merchandise website. The bags are made of a clear vinyl material and have “Sweetener World Tour” printed on one side. They’re available in a trendy fanny pack style, a wristlet, or a tote and are not required to be bought in order to bring a bag to her shows – if the bag fits venue safety and security guidelines, fans will be fine bringing their personal items to shows. Grande is understandably adamant about her fans’ safety as the singer reiterates her venue guidelines. The singer made an incredibly smart, safe, and savvy move by offering venue-approved bags as tour merchandise and has every right to prioritize the safety of concertgoers. The bags themselves are stylish and follow current popular trends – for instance, the fanny pack style became the first of the three styles to sell out just hours after launching on her merch site. In the wake of a tragedy, the singer is taking a stylish route to promote better venue safety procedures.
Image Courtesy: Twitter
While the singer is no stranger to merchandising her own personal brand on each tour, she has made safety and style in the form of these venue-approved clear bags even more accessible by setting their price point at eight dollars each. Include domestic shipping, and fans are paying less than fifteen dollars to own a practical and functional bag to take not only to Grande’s upcoming tour, but any other concerts they may go to in the future. The singer is taking huge steps by embarking on her first tour since the terror attack at her 2017 show, and she is making safety a top priority without compromising on style or value.
You can purchase your very own Sweetener tour bag here.
Strike Out,
Writer: Giselle Parks
Editor: Savannah Tindall
Tallahassee