House rules

General – Scope of application

These house rules apply to all events and room rentals at the venue Musikvereinsplatz 1, 1010 Vienna, Wiener Musikverein (from now on, “venue” or MV), and regulate the rights and obligations of the participating persons (visitors, organisers and their employees or persons and companies commissioned by them). The house rules are published on the Internet (organiser’s homepage) and displayed at all entrances/entrances. Persons participating in the event must comply with the provisions of the approved and announced house rules. Otherwise, they may not remain in the event venue.

These house rules apply to the event venue for the event duration, including set-up and dismantling times.

The abovementioned venue includes all buildings, rooms, facilities, and open spaces used during the event.

According to § 27 para. under Section 5 of the Vienna Events Act 2020, persons who do not comply with the provisions of these approved and published house or site rules are not permitted to stay in the event venue. Violating these house or site rules may result in expulsion from the venue. According to § 27 para. section 6 of the Vienna Events Act 2020 points out that failure to comply with the order to leave by the supervisory bodies of the Vienna Provincial Police Directorate constitutes an administrative offence. Any conduct relevant under administrative or criminal law will be reported to the competent authorities without exception.

In addition, our General Terms and Conditions apply, available at www.musikverein.at.

Admission, expulsion

Attendance at an event is only permitted with a valid admission ticket. In special situations, access may be subject to an ID check by the organiser and lessor’s supervisors/security service/security personnel (from now on, also referred to as “authorised persons”). The persons above are authorised to search the participating persons’ clothing, bags, containers, etc., for prohibited or dangerous objects before entering the event venue.

The security service/the supervisors/the stewards/the organiser (from now on authorised persons) are entitled to deny access to persons who could disrupt the orderly course of the event (this also includes, for example, disturbing other concertgoers or who could pose a security risk (e.g. due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs, other impairments, conspicuous behaviour or the carrying of prohibited or dangerous objects), to refuse admission to the venue or to prevent them from doing so and to expel them from the building despite a valid admission ticket, excluding any claims for reimbursement. This also applies to persons who refuse to allow their clothing, bags, or containers to be searched or their ID to be checked. The persons above are also authorised to carry out such checks on persons participating in the event who are already present at the event venue. We reserve the right to assert our domiciliary rights.

Latecomers may not enter the concert hall independently after the performance has begun. Admission is not possible during a pause in the performance. Admission may only be granted during a prolonged interruption or the interval between sets – in any case, only if a supervisor is present. This also applies to seats in the parterre, balcony boxes, and standing-room visitors.

Depending on the type and program of the events, the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien reserves the right to determine the age of admission for visitors to selected events. In all other respects, the Vienna Youth Protection Act applies in full.

Only a maximum number of tickets corresponding to the maximum number of participants approved by the authorities may be issued. If the number of event participants reaches this maximum, the admission of further persons must be prevented suitably.

Special seats are provided for wheelchair users and their companions. Tickets for these seats must be requested when purchased up to one working day before the event. The entrance for wheelchair users is located at the main entrance. A ramp on the right side allows barrier-free access.

Animals may not be taken into the hall. This does not apply to guide dogs and partner dogs for accompanying disabled persons, provided they are harnessed and on a lead and wear a muzzle.

Visitors may only enter the rooms and areas intended for spectators. In particular, spectators and other external persons are prohibited from entering rooms and areas not intended for them (e.g. stage, magazines, changing rooms) during an event. The stage area may only be entered before, during and after the event with the express permission of the organiser.

Taking any objects and substances that could endanger the persons mentioned in § 18 para is forbidden. 1 of the Vienna Events Act 2020 (in particular, threatening the life and health of people or operational safety).

Prohibited in particular are:
Glass containers, bottles, cans, plastic canisters, hard packaging or other objects made of glass or any other fragile, splintering or particularly hard material;
Laser pointer;
Large or bulky items such as large bags, rucksacks, suitcases;
racist, xenophobic, national socialist, sexist or political propaganda material.
In case of doubt, classifying objects as prohibited or permitted within the meaning of these house rules is the responsibility of the security service/the supervisory staff/the security personnel/the organiser and the bodies of the City of Vienna and the Vienna Provincial Police Directorate.

At the end of the event, all visitors must leave the venue as quickly as possible.

Checkroom, food and drinks

Coats, jackets, umbrellas, canes, walking aids, prams, bags (except everyday handbags), rucksacks and other items not necessary for attending the event, especially if they are or may be bulky, dangerous or increase the risk of danger, are to be handed in at the cloakrooms. Frail persons may carry walking sticks or other walking aids, such as rollators, if indispensable. Hats are to be removed from the hall. Unattended items will be removed and can be collected from the cloakroom after the concert by paying the cloakroom fee. If they are not collected, they will be handed over to the lost property office.

Only clothing items and objects typically brought along during a concert visit may be handed in at the cloakroom. In the event of a dispute, supervisors will make the final decision. Animals may not be handed in under any circumstances

Food and drinks may not be brought into the venue but may only be purchased from buffets. They may also be consumed only in designated rooms, especially not in event halls.

Events at which the taking of glasses, drinks, and food is expressly permitted or provided for are excluded from this ban.

Behavior of the audience

Every visitor to the event must behave in such a way that the traffic safety of the event venue is not impaired or that other persons are not endangered, harmed, hindered or inconvenienced. Furthermore, they must behave so that there is no disruption to the orderly course of the event and no damage or impairment of structures, facilities, equipment or any other objects.

Smoking and lighting cigars, cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, vaporising tobacco products and the like are prohibited throughout the building. Waste, packaging materials and empty containers are to be disposed of exclusively in the waste containers provided at the event venue.

Cell phones and other mobile electronic devices (tablets, laptops, photo and video cameras, gameboys, etc.) are prohibited during the performance (i.e. in particular during the concert, during breaks in the set, etc.).

Unauthorised persons may not touch or operate technical equipment such as lighting equipment.

Escape routes and emergency exits are only to be used in the event of danger, if necessary, by the instructions of authorised persons.

Security

All traffic routes and exits to the street must be kept clear of performances and storage during an event.

Objects that are or could be dangerous may not be brought into or deposited in the event venue or the area around the event venue.

Visitors and participants must inform an authorised person of any personal perceptions of danger.

The organiser (tenant) is not obliged to take security measures. This is particularly the case if such measures are not taken by security police authorities – due to their assessment of the dangerous situation and notification of possible dangers by the organiser or despite a request by the organiser.

Enforcement of regulations and house rules

The building’s information, instructions, prohibition signs and other announcements must be followed precisely and immediately. Likewise, especially in the event of fire or danger, instructions from authorised persons and supervisory bodies of the municipal authorities, police (and other authorities), fire department and rescue services must be complied with immediately. Authorised persons are identified as such (e.g., the logo of the music association on the service clothing, service badges, or armbands). They are entitled to check that visitors comply with the house rules, demand identification, and issue the instructions required to enforce them. They are also entitled to exercise domiciliary rights and call on the support of the official supervisory bodies in the event of non-compliance with the house rules and their instructions by visitors.

If the instructions of authorised persons are violated, the person concerned must be expelled from the event venue, and a general ban from the premises must be issued in the event of repeated violations of the house rules. Tickets or subscriptions will remain the same.

Failure to comply with an official order to leave is punishable under Section 43 of the Vienna Events Act 2020.

Suppose the tenant (organiser) issues its own house rules. In that case, these must comply with the organiser’s house rules and must be agreed with the organiser before publication or submission to the authorities for approval. The organiser’s house rules shall be contractually transferred to the tenant’s (organiser’s) contractual partners. Therefore, any instructions the organiser gives during the rental period (event) are legally binding for all those on-site and must be followed immediately. In particular, it would need to make sure that the organiser passes on instructions received from the operator to its contractual partners (participants) without delay.

Information about the premises

Regular cleaning of the event rooms takes place at least 2 hours before the start of the performance.

Before visitors are admitted, the prescribed emergency lighting, a sufficient part of the leading lighting, and the emergency power batteries for the additional lighting must be switched on. The lighting, including emergency and extra lighting, may only be switched off once the spectators have left the building.

Fire and other hazards

In the event of danger, it must be ensured that visitors are requested to leave the hall in a calm and orderly manner in good time. In addition, an evacuation signal should sound in the event of danger. The emergency services (fire department 122, police 133, ambulance 144) must be informed or alerted immediately.

In such a case, the landlord’s or organiser’s employees must open all exits and request visitors to leave the building as quietly, orderly and quickly as possible using all exits and, if necessary, ventilate corridors and staircases.

If the building is evacuated, no checkroom items will be returned at this time.

In case of doubt, the final decision on crisis-related measures such as evacuation, evacuation, demolition, etc., is always the responsibility of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (landlord) within the framework of any official orders and state-of-the-art applied, which will, if possible, reach an agreement with the organiser. The responsible contact persons on the part of the lessor (Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde) are generally the management service and the head ticket inspector.

The organiser shall be free to set up an operations management or crisis team in coordination with the responsible authorities in general or depending on the situation, whereby the lessee (organiser) shall be involved accordingly. In such committees, the operator – apart from the representatives of the authorities – has the right to chair and make the final decision.

The above regulations also apply in the case of several events taking place simultaneously (rentals).

Tasks and conduct of the organizer’s employees

All participants must be familiar with the house rules.

Employees who interact with visitors must wear official uniforms (e.g., the logo of the music association on their uniforms or official badges or armbands). They must also behave politely towards visitors, address any grievances, and mediate in disputes.

All employees must ensure that the halls are emptied orderly through active and purposeful intervention. The last employee may only leave when no more visitors are in the building. Employees of the organiser are entitled to ask external persons to leave the building after a reasonable period following the end of the event.

The orders issued by the official supervisory bodies in the course of their duties must be complied with at all times. The questions asked of employees by the official supervisory bodies concerning the company must be answered truthfully. These supervisory bodies must also be permitted to use a telephone for official purposes.

Visitors’ complaints about the operation, perceived defects, and damage must be brought to the management’s attention.

Items found by staff or handed over to them as lost and found must be handed in at the checkroom or the lost and found office after the event. Particular attention must be paid to lost or abandoned items during the search of the premises at the end of the event.

Equipment

The officially approved capacity must not be exceeded.

Employees are only permitted to remain on stages for as long as is necessary.

Carpets, floor coverings, mirrors and pictures must be securely fastened.

All exit doors and gates must be kept unlocked in the direction of escape from when visitors enter until the rooms have been emptied. The auditorium doors must be opened immediately before the end of the event.

Appropriate supervision must be ensured if commercial work is carried out in the building.

The use of naked flames is prohibited in the entire event building. Petroleum, spirits and other highly flammable liquids and objects may not be stored or used. Exceptions only apply to medical and make-up rooms. The state of the art must be observed, particularly OIB Guideline 2.1.

On stages and podiums, in changing rooms and all rooms accessible to visitors, the furnishings (furniture, curtains, etc.) must be suitably flame-retardant or impregnated to be flame-proof. Scenic accessories (decorations, curtains, set pieces, etc.) and materials used to decorate rooms (floral decorations, garlands, wax-soaked flowers, etc.) may only consist of non-flammable or flame-retardant (flame-impregnated) materials, except furniture, props, carpets and window and door curtains. The provisions on “fire-fighting equipment” of the MA 36 event venue guidelines must be implemented.

For events with more than 500 visitors, at least one inspecting doctor (as defined in Section 30 (5) of the Vienna Events Act 2020) must be available for the duration of the event in the Great Hall. The medical equipment required to provide adequate first aid for event participants must also be ensured.

The medical equipment required to provide adequate first aid for event participants is ensured.

Essential medical equipment in good and hygienic condition must be available for first aid. This crucial medical equipment must include at least a first-aid kit type 2 by ÖNORM Z 1020 or equivalent equipment.

Separate rooms (inspection rooms) are available for official acts by the official supervisory bodies and the purposes of medical assistance.

The directorship

AUTHORIZATION:
Determination of suitability based on the Vienna Theater Act in the version of 1930 No.: MA38-2863/46, issued on 21.11.1946, and subsequent decisions. (In the event of a dispute, the latest German version of these house rules shall apply.)

INFORMATION ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THE ORGANISER OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES DURING THE EVENT:
Organiser: Telephone number:
Porter: +43 1 505 86 81-35
Head ticket inspector: +43 1 505 86 81-554

Different (duty) managers
Dr. Stephan Pauly: +43 1 505 86 81-20
Renate Futterknecht: +43 1 505 86 81-528
Benedikt Müller: +43 1 505 86 81-128
Klaus Krenn: +43 1 505 86 81-23
Alessandra Dämon: +43 1 505 86 81-21
Andrea Wolowiec: +43 1 505 86 81-519
Martina Montanari: +43 1 505 86 81-189
Karin Frey: +43 1 505 86 81-527
Anna Doogue: +43 1 505 86 81-126