SXSW learns crowd control from expert

AUSTIN (KXAN) - South By Southwest fans might remember the near-riot that happened at Auditorium Shores in March.

Officials don't want a repeat of that situation, so a crowd-dynamic expert is now teaching SXSW officials how to prevent stampedes.

"It is anticipating ahead, rather than looking at any problems that currently exist," said Keith Still , who is doing the teaching. "How do we improve process procedures? How do we move things forward?"

"You can have the same problems with a crowd of 300 that you do with a crowd of three million, and they can be every bit as dangerous," said Roland Swenson, SXSW co-founder and managing director.

Still has a lot of experience with crowd control. His planning helped keep the peace at the last two summer Olympics and the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.