You’ve worked hard to organize a flawless event. From tapping the right creative and detail-oriented people to plan the event and addressing the myriad of decisions you need to make about the event, everything seems poised to go off without a hitch.
But whenever you’re staging a live event, you always have to keep event security at the top of your mind. The venue may provide general security, but there are specific concerns that you’ll need to deal with. The best way to maximize event safety is to automatically assume that an event will not be safe and take steps to plan for every possible risk.
U.S. Security and Protective Services will work with you to develop and implement a proactive, comprehensive safety plan for your event. We work with you to customize a plan to protect people and property at your event.
During the pre-event check-ins, and the event itself, our security guards serve as the first line of defense against outside threats. In case your event’s safety is still compromised, our guards can help nip the problem in the bud.
Event Security Planning
Event security starts long before guards arrive at the venue. Relying on our years of experience, we here at U.S. Security and Protective Services will craft a customized security plan for your event. We’ll consider your event space, plan out evacuation routes, and identify potential threats. Armed with that information, we’ll custom-design a plan to safeguard human rights, lives, and property at your event.
The security plan will include controlling access at your event, whether by vehicle or pedestrian traffic. Some possible access-controlling tools include:
- Vehicle identification during pre-event registration or on-site
- Designated parking areas for attendees, event personnel, VIPs, etc.
- Pre-screened guest lists
- Pre-screened vendor personnel lists
- Identification badges or pins
We also plan for the worst-case scenario of emergencies. For more information, please contact us here.
Checking Bags and Vehicles
Depending on what kind of event you’re putting on, you may need to check bags and vehicles. U.S. Security and Protective Services’ guards will politely and professionally carry out any checks you need. We’ll also conduct perimeter sweeps as needed.
Screening Guests
If your event is closed to everyone but designated guests, our guards will check your guests’ identity credentials against a pre-screened list. They will be especially vigilant about preventing people from sneaking in without an identity check or by masquerading as another person.
Even if you don’t require identity checks, our guards will carefully check to make sure guests aren’t carrying arms or ammunition. Even when people aren’t armed, they may exhibit some strange behavior that may be cause for concern. Our trained security guards can detect unusual nuances in guest behavior. They also have people skills necessary to deal with all potentially sensitive situations.
Controlling the Crowd
If your event pulls in a large crowd, you may encounter the following.
- Gate crashes
- Stampedes
- Long lines
Ideally, pre-event planning would have foreseen this possibility, but if your projections are a bit askew, there’s no need to worry. If those situations occur, our guards will use their authority and various strategies to control the crowd, maintain order, and expedite passage.
Emergency Planning
One of the components of every U.S. Security and Protective Services’ plan for your event is an emergency action plan. The plan tells who will do what, and when, where, and how they will do it.
All event staff and security should be briefed on the emergency plan. At a minimum, the EAP will include the following contingency plans:
- Evacuation routes
- Location of the assembly point
- How to communicate with emergency service personnel
U.S. Security and Protective Services has all the tools to effectively plan for— and respond to—crisis situations and deliver on our responsibility to both your attendees and your organization. Our emergency planning ensures the safety and security of all attendees, limits damage, and restores services in the event of an emergency.
Safeguarding Expensive Items
When your event features high-dollar items such as art or jewelry, security is a common-sense precaution to ensure the items are not stolen. Your insurance may well mandate such security coverage or charge you punitive rates if you chose to forego the protection.
You may also rent high-dollar equipment for your event. If anything happens to that equipment, you’re on the hook for it. Protect against such scenarios by employing our security officers to protect costly equipment from theft or vandalism.
Protecting Against Crimes
When our security officers pre-screen guests, they’re likely to weed out people who show potential for causing problems. Unsavory characters can still slip through, however. They may attack, rob, or harass people.
People may also try to steal or vandalize property from vendors or damage equipment you’re using for the event, as we discussed in other sections. However, whatever the unwelcome activity, our trained security guards can deal with the issue.
Guarding Special Guests
The headliner for your event may be a VIP, such as a political figure or a celebrity. Or maybe your event is a VIP gathering that’s chock-full of stars. Whatever the case, you’re responsible for your special guests’ safety.
VIP security begins with a plan for their arrival and departure. If possible, provide a VIP-only entryway. Vehicle and pedestrian access to this area should be limited to VIPs and working staff.
Although this area is physically separated from the public, the VIPs may still be subject to abuse and embarrassing gestures. This can be rectified by concealing the VIP under a layer of cloth.
People may want to take pictures with VIPs or solicit autographs from them. Our guards will keep the VIPs safe from those eventualities and protect them from possible attacks.
Securing Vendors’ Personnel and Products
Vendors add to your event’s financial bottom line and your guests’ enjoyment. Still, they also add an additional layer to your security planning. You’ll have to help the vendors secure their products, people, and temporary on-site storage.
Securing vendors’ personnel and property begins with planning. All staff members representing the vendor should be pre-screened. They should access the site through a vendors-only area. Our trained guards will allow them access to the event at the time you specify, which will be earlier than the general public entry.
Based on our extensive industry experience, we recommend you position vendor tables away from entrances and exits to prevent “snatch-and-runs.” We’ll include such recommendations in your proactive security plan.
Contact U.S. Security and Protective Services Today
Event security considerations take the fear out of the unknown and ensure that your event goes off without a hitch. You’ve planned your event professionally, so make sure you hire professionals to carry out your event security. Contact U.S. Security and Protective Services today at 773-455-1220 to discuss a customized plan for your event security needs.
