Whether you’re planning on organising a red carpet event, a fashion show, a trade show or a small exhibition, having the correct security measures in place for the size of your event can ensure that it will run as safely and as smoothly as it should. Below, we’ve put together seven security tips that you should follow when organising your next event.
- Hiring a security firm
Even when hiring a company dedicated to security, it is important to get references and accreditations to ensure that they are fully qualified and licensed. Accreditations such as SIA licences and DBS checks are essential. It is also a good idea to ask other event organisers for recommendations regarding which security firms they may have worked well with in the past.
- Choosing an appropriate venue
More often than not, the biggest problem when it comes to event security is the fact that organisers have chosen a venue that is not appropriate for what they have planned. During the initial stages of planning, you should try and see the venue yourself and consider things such as entrances and exits, emergency parking spots and even knowing the location of the nearest fire station, hospital and police department. If possible, get your security team to go with you to the venue, as it’s likely they will spot potential safety risks before you.
- Checking IDs and bags
If you are the event organiser, it is your responsibility for knowing exactly who is coming in and out of the venue. You should, therefore, have a list of everyone that is due to attend the event and get staff to check for the relevant ID as they enter. Both guests and event staff should be prepared to have their bags searched, and these should be done by security, as it is more likely that people will be willing to comply if uniformed personnel is in charge. There should also be an area for items taken from guests that they can retrieve as they leave. To make sure this goes smoothly, it could be worth mentioning the issue of bag searches on the invites.
- Getting the balance right
One of the most important things that should be considered when organising an event is the balance between the number of people attending and the amount of security you will require. If your event is relatively small, don’t overcrowd guests with a huge amount of security staff, as this may make them feel intimidated for no reason. With a large event, you may need to consider issues such as crowd control, but by liaising with your chosen security firm, they should be able to provide you with the best solution.
- Brief your team
Before the start of your event, it is always worthwhile to brief your security team on any problems that you think may arise. You can also ask these security professionals if there is anything that they think you could improve on regarding the security of your event. Your security staff should be aware of how many people the venue is legally allowed to hold and how many are due to attend the event.
- Have medical support
For large events, it is particularly important to have an onsite medical team available for first response action to major things such as food allergies, heart attacks, panic attacks or even minor problems such as slips and falls.
- Stick to a clear safety budget
If you’re planning a high-profile event, it may be wise to save a bulk of your budget to go toward event security. Indeed, implementing a clear safety procedure at your event is a legal requirement, so it’s important that you can deliver a safe
and effective service for all guests.
