June 12th, 2019

In the current climate that we live in, it’s absolutely pivotal that you ensure your event, whether it’s a local carnival or massive festival, is secure and safe for your attendees and staff. At Tactical Response Security, the premier security company in Philadelphia, our priority is to provide top-tier, diverse security services to provide our clients (and their clients) with peace of mind knowing they’re safe and protected. Because of this, we’ve created our blog where we discuss everything you could possibly want or need to know about security and security services. Today, we’ll be discussing event security, and more specifically, some tips you can use to ensure that your event is safe and secure for all those in attendance.

Assess The Event With Professional Assistance

During the process of planning your event, make sure that you’re considering security options, potential risks or problem areas associated with the event venue, and the audience who will be in attendance. Essentially, you need to be familiar and comfortable with the ins and outs of your venue, audience, and staff, especially in this day-and-age where mass acts of violence are so prevalent. First and foremost, the most effective way to be secure and safe during an event is to be properly prepared. By anticipating and preparing for the worst and best case scenarios, you’re already doing your part to make sure everything goes smoothly, the attendees have a great time, and the event is an overall success. Additionally, the best way to prepare for and assess your event is to enlist a professional, trained, and experienced security company, like the experts here at Tactical Response Security. When you do this, you’re taking the extra step to ensure that you’re prepared. This is because an experienced security company a) Has worked on myriad events similar to yours and will be able to provide insight as to what precautions are a priority. b) Understands logistically how best to secure areas and events as well as what steps are necessary to regulate and protect the attendees and event staff. c) Has an entire aspect of their security services devoted to security management and planning (like our Philadelphia security company). Ultimately, when you enlist expert security services, you’re filling in your gaps of knowledge. After all, a security company’s entire livelihood is centered around security, so they will be equipped to do things like identify the best exit and entrance points, determine if you need armed or unarmed security, efficiently arrange and prepare your staff, and much more. That being said, when contracting a security company, it’s important to remember that you’re essentially hiring employees. Thus, treat it as such. Make sure that when you’re working with a security company, you check their references, interview them thoroughly, and be certain that they’re insured.

Be Transparent and Consistent in Communication

Another aspect of successful event security is communication on every level. When you’re planning the event, communicate with your security services about your general concerns; any contentious relationships with your event, business or organization that could pose a threat; and your expectations. Make sure that you communicate with attendees and staff, informing them on expectations and any security measure that they will be subject to. With regards to expectations, make it clear if there are items that are not allowed in the event (phones, weapons, substances) and make it clear as to what types of behavior will not be tolerated. In regards to communicating security measures, inform staff and attendees as to whether they’ll be undergoing screenings/background checks, if they’ll be subject to searches upon arrival or during the event, and any general security measures that will directly affect them. This way you’re being transparent, and you’re doing your due-diligence to have an informed crowd. This makes everyone safer. When it comes time for the event to take place, communication needs to be the center of your security operation. Whether it’s walkie talkies, headsets, or routine tag ups, it’s vital to have a communication system for two reasons. First, by having clear lines of and expectations for your security service’s communication during the event, everyone will be on the same page, and you’ll have a standard level of communication that can indicate there are no problems. Second, in the event of an emergency, not only will you have a direct line for efficient and effective communication, but you will also be able to recognize if there are problems via your communication channels. If someone stops responding to routine check ins or there is suspicious activity, it’ll be easier to identify if there is a standard for communications in place. Additionally, it’s important that you’re communicating with the event attendees and staff. Let them know where they can find resources, assistance, exits, etc. That way everyone’s up to speed on what’s expected from them, and they’re enabled to seek help if they need it.

Execute Your Plan

After planning your event and how it will be secured, the next step is to execute. You have your plan, so now it’s time to follow it. Run through potential scenarios that you may need to deal with before the event so you’re extra prepared if they happen. When it’s time for the event, be prepared to control the crowd and enforce your expectations. Once you’ve made the expectations clear, do not hesitate to reprimand staff or attendees who do not meet them. Again, it’s about setting standards and expectations and then enforcing them. At the end of the day, you’re trying to make sure that everyone gets home safe, so stay true to your expectations, and follow your gut. That being said, the great thing about contracting with a professional security company in Philadelphia, specifically the security experts we have at Tactical Response Security, is that you’ll be able to trust that they enforce and uphold the expectations and security for the event. When you work with Tactical Response Security, you’re in great hands. Not only are we equipped to plan and manage your event security logistics, but we’re also equipped to enforce the plan when it’s time to. If you’re in need of security, call the experts at Tactical Response Security today.
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