Fortunately I've never had to resort to violence in a gig setting, wouldn't want to either. I Have seen a few close calls and some equipment damage due to drunks.
Biker party, Jambalaya festival outside Baton Rouge, our agreement was any equipment damage they pay for. Drunk biker dumped a full pitcher of beer into one of the monitors...Sound guy and I were standing beside the monitor and flipped it over really quick, we had about an hour for it to dry (mid summer) and it seemed OK and worked fine so they didn't have to pay for it.
Few weeks later one of the same bikers' girlfriend was way drunk - always - trying to get us to let her sing. Knowing she was way drunk and definitely NOT a singer I kept telling her no, we don't do sit-ins. Bass player wanted some so he told her she could. I didn't know this. In the middle of Turn the Page she decided to hop onstage, grabbed my mic and knocked it down. I caught it, told her to get offstage and carried on.
Next summer, Jambalaya festival again, same biker group hired another band and hired sound man and I to run sound. Same drunk girlfriend was twirling around and knocked a 5' tall Peavey column speaker over on top of two Harleys...almost knocked one of them down...we both had the presence of mind to ignore her and just pick up the speaker. The bike owners made sure she stayed well away from the bikes...
Yet another bar gig the same drunk girl was dancing, twirling around with arms stretched out, knocked my mic stand over onstage, this time it hit the floor. It still has a dent in the wire screen from that one but works...
The same mic has been knocked over a few other times, pedals stepped on, beer dumped on everything I can think of, including me, amps knocked over...
I never even think about getting violent, much as I would like to sometimes, first I hate to fight, second I don't want the reputation that could initiate. I usually try to keep my cool and if necessary talk to the club owner and get the drunk removed.
At the biker parties we always had a strict agreement that any damaged equipment THEY would pay for. You may think Yeah right, but one thing about biker groups you can depend on, their word is definitely good, and they will keep their promises. They are very proud of that fact. So once they shake hands and say "You got it", we didn't worry about it.
I'm a member of the BOMB SQUAD.
If you see me running, better catch up!
http://billy-griffis-jr.artistwebsites.com/