Event Security 101: 10 Vital Tips for Keeping Your Guests Safe

1.      Hire Security Guard for Event

Large-scale events call for elevated security levels, and event organizers cannot take care of it on their own. Therefore, it’s recommended to hire special event security to ensure top-notch privacy on your party and protect you and your guests from any unexpected threats.

You should listen to the trained professionals you’ve hired since they can identify any vulnerabilities in your security that you may not see. Since they are able to think like agitators, they will help you enhance your security plan and prioritize its most vital sides.

Depending on the type of event you are hosting or organizing, you will choose between armed and unarmed security. Larger events often call for armed security, while unarmed guards can be convenient for less crowded ceremonies.

2.      Identify Your Security Risks

Addressing security threats is one of the most important things you should have in mind. Not all the events carry the same risks, which is why it is vital to identify the type of peril you are dealing with in order to get an adequate security level.

Here are some of the factors you should consider:

• Type of the event – a politician’s campaign, a child’s birthday party, a business dinner, etc.
• The topic of the event – specific contexts may provoke security problems
• The presence of media – an event for a broader audience may attract media
• The venue – outdoor events may be harder to secure, while indoor areas have fewer escape routes
• The location – some locations are more prone to risks like floods, animals, fires, and similar non-human

Consider these factors when creating an event security plan since they will help you identify the volume and kinds of perils you are dealing with.

3.      Enhance Security Measures and Make Them Visible

Protection aims to prevent potential threats from happening, and the best way to do that is by making the security measures visible. That said, hiding security cameras or putting your security guards undercover is not as efficient as you might think. When attackers see no obstacle, they will be encouraged to act, ruining your event.

By making your security measures more obvious, you will make your invitees feel much safer, as well. Therefore, don’t put too much effort into camouflaging metal detectors with some lovely décor or make your guards look like regular attendees. Such actions may do more harm than good.

4.      Ask for Attendees’ IDs

To make sure your event will be attended only by people who should be there, we suggest you collect their personal information in advance when they register. Collect their name, date of birth, address, and other data you find necessary for taking your event security to the next level.

The best would be to ask an attendee to send you a digital copy of their ID so that you can compare it to their ID as they are entering the venue. If someone forgets to bring ID or the one they got doesn’t match your registration information, the best solution is not to let them in.

5.      Don’t Make Your Private Event Public

One of the most common mistakes made by organizers is a public announcement of the event that is not supposed to be open for the audience. It opens the door for many threats, especially since it is mentioned on websites, newsletters, press releases, and even social media, which makes it visible to anyone.

It’s always a good idea to keep the private event far from the public. Suppose it is about a business dinner or an important corporate meeting. In that case, you’d like to have the maximum privacy, which is why it is recommended to keep it a secret and prevent any potential threats or perils.

6.      Monitor the Crowd

The more people attend your event, the higher the risk of security vulnerabilities. Therefore, your event security guards must be able to manage large crowds and act in case of a potentially dangerous situation.

Your security team should perform the following actions in order to maintain a safe environment:

• Ask guests to move if they are somehow blocking the exit
• Use cones or yellow tape to monitor the registration line and prevent people from cutting
• Make sure guests don’t enter into personnel-only areas or rooms reserved for VIP.

Another critical aspect you should bear in mind is that the number of people in the venue doesn’t exceed the capacity limit.

7.      Consider the Risk of Cyber Threats

Not all the risks come as a result of physical threats. In fact, most of the perils come from the online world, affecting your guests’ private information, identities, and devices. The first step to enhancing your cyber privacy is protecting your Wi-Fi network with a password, which will prevent any unwanted access that could jeopardize safety.

To ensure your network is fully protected, have someone from the IT department run all the security measures to ensure safety and lower the risk of any cyber-attack or security breach.

8.      Control Your Staff

Unfortunately, the majority of threats come from the inside. Even if you trust your personnel completely, it’s better to check all of them to ensure they don’t have any malicious intentions.

According to many security guidelines for events, organizers are encouraged to run background checks on all their employees, especially on those who have recently started to work. Introduce them to one another before the event and remind them to look out for people that don’t belong there.

9.      Come Up with an Emergency Plan

It’s essential to have an emergency plan before the event has started. That way, everyone will follow the procedure in case of emergency and protect themselves from potential disasters.

The plan should consist of the following aspects:

• Different ways of evacuation
• Things to do when there is an active shooter
• The locations of safe areas
• Place where the staff should meet during an emergency
• Ways of communication among staff during an emergency
• The way of directing guests in case of an emergency.

10.      Check for Any Unusual Behavior

Apart from checking the guests’ bodies and bags, the private event security you’ve hired should also monitor for any suspicious activity and unusual behavior among the attendees. For instance, they should act in case someone:

• Keeps staring at the staff.
• Shows no interest in event activities.
• Inspects the venue layout.

It’s recommended to check for abnormal activity outside the venue before the guests have entered. That way, any severe damage can be prevented.

How to Choose the Best Event Security Companies?

Taking care of your event security can be quite overwhelming, which is why it is recommended to hire a third-party company that will make sure nothing goes wrong at your party. Still, hiring security for an event requires some time, primarily since you want someone professional to safeguard your venue and your attendees.

You probably have some important questions regarding venue security, so we have prepared the 5 useful tips for hiring security for an event.

1.      Hire Licensed and Trained Security Guards

To get the highest level of protection for your event, make sure you hire well-trained and licensed guards that possess adequate certificates. Do comprehensive research on the company’s hiring process and ensure they hire only people qualified for the job, as well as those who have gone through the right training process.

2.      Make sure Your Guards are Insured

Insurance is another thing that matters when it comes to security companies. The best thing you can do is choose the company that carries proper insurance policies that cover property damage, bodily injury, and similar occurrences.

3.      Consider the Company’s Regional Experience

It’s vital to hire guards with years of experience in providing services across your area. These guards understand your unique concerns as they know the locale very well, which is a great advantage compared to the agencies far away from you.

For example, consider hiring event security from Los Angeles if you live in LA to get the best experience.

4.      Choose a Company that Covers Various Industries

Consider versatility anytime you can. Companies that protect various industries (banks, schools, corporate, residential, and other spheres) tend to have a more comprehensive approach to security, meaning that they are capable of protecting many different kinds of events and parties.

5.      Pay Attention to the Company’s Availability

Always look for guards that are available around-the-clock. That way, you won’t have to worry about the protection of your property and valuable assets, regardless of the time and day. Companies that provide a 24/7 availability are usually more dedicated to safeguarding your event.

How Many Guards Should I Hire to Get the Best Event Security?

The number of guards that will protect you depends on your event’s size and the number of people that will be there. You should seek advice from a reputable company, who will suggest a convenient number of guards based on your specific needs.

Still, here are some practices you may find useful:

Small and Medium-Sized Events

Although you might think that smaller events require less security, it is not always like that. If a small or medium-sized event is held outdoors over a wide area, you may need more than one guard to supervise various spots.

Another potential problem that calls for various guards is so-called “party crashers” that make the event overcrowded and more prone to security vulnerabilities. Hence, you need experienced and professional security guards who’ll know how to act in these situations.

Large-Scale Events and Parties

Large crowds carry a higher risk of potential threats, which is why you need advanced security measures. If it is about a high-profile event, you may want to hire professional armed security to take the overall protection to the next level.