a current topic of interest to a group running a ceilidh series.

I would instruct the caller (in our case) to be aware and make intelligent decisions, based on their experience and superior vision of the venue. Fee Lock reckons to know where the fire exits are before she gets on stage. And I don't think that is at all excessive - she and I want to know that info and I'm not a caller.

They are the one person who the audience (or dancers) are looking to and taking notice of, (alledegely, usually, mostly). The caller should have public liability insurance, and clauses therein would stipulate something about due diligence. The organisers should have insurance (we have) which would demand same. The venue would also hopefully have the same and, in our case, local government would demand observances of yet more niceties. Reputation comes way down the list after the usual folkie considerations of the folk they are entertaining, but it should be there.

The point is the person given the job of controlling the assemblage from the stage has a responsibility in, no small part, in preventing problems and if that means emptying the venue until punters can conduct themselves (as a mass) safely then I would support that person 100%.

With dances mayhem can grow and is obvious but concerts have to have chairs strapped together because of the mayhem in panic mod, and tie wraps don't answer all that problem.
I for one would prefer a concert/session/etc was stopped by a responsible caller/MC. Grudgingly, at the irresposibility of fellow punters. And take a dim view of organisers that felt anything other than sadness that the action was necessary.

Lets face it - we look both ways when crossing the road, because of enormity of the consequences when we get it wrong. Mob behaviour is far more unpredictable................