Event Security Services
Even if you’ve never hosted a big event before, you know that any event you host requires some level of security. Colorado Springs residents may have a reputation for being generally peaceful, but when you bring a lot of people together in one space, especially when there is excitement happening, there is always the potential for danger.
How Does Event Security Work?
Event security companies in Colorado Springs provide trained security personnel to oversee your event and make sure the fun doesn’t get out of hand. An event security guard may be armed, but due to the large numbers of people and potential for chaos, it’s often better if they are unarmed and highly trained in unarmed defense and crowd control techniques.
Crowd control is an important element to consider when hiring event security service. Security staff who are trained and skilled at preventing escalation of conflicts before they happen can help ensure your event plays out perfectly and everyone has a good, safe time.
Do You Need Security for Your Event or Concert in Colorado Springs?
If you’re trying to decide whether you need to hire a security guard for an event, you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions. How big is your event going to be? If it’s just you and a few friends, security probably isn’t necessary — but if this is a paid event and you are hosting hundreds or even dozens of people, you may want to consider added protection.
Where is your event located? Do you control the venue? If you’re having your event in a stadium, the owner of the stadium will probably take responsibility for security, although you will want to make sure. If you’re having a party in a reception hall that is admitting only your friends and family, you’re probably safe.
But if you’re arranging a concert in the park, you’re getting into an area where extra security is often a must.
Benefits of Quality Private Event Security in Colorado Springs
When you hire a company for special event security services, it’s important to be discriminating about the company you choose. The most important reason for this was mentioned above — crowd control.
You want your private security team to be skilled in controlling crowds, have a plan for spotting potential problems before they arise, and to have the skills for putting that plan into action.
How to Ensure a Safe Event 
There’s a lot that goes into the planning a safe and successful event. Most event planners focus on issues like catering, beverages, speakers and attracting attendees. Unfortunately, one of the most overlooked yet vitally important aspects of running a successful event is event security.
Whether you’re running a Colorado concert, trade industry event, fashion show, public event with a speaker or a red-carpet affair, the need for good event security cannot be understated. A look at headlines from recent events with tragic results over the past few years shows just how much security is needed in a world where your event may attract demonstrators, protesters, unwanted guests or even individuals with mayhem on their minds.
With these cautions in mind, here are some tips to provide good security for your event.
KNOW THE VENUE LAYOUT
The security needed for an indoor concert as opposed to an outdoor concert is completely different, but event organizers often overlook this difference. For instance, an outdoor event is much more “porous” than an indoor event – porous meaning it is a little easier for non-invited guests or those without tickets to enter the venue.
You need to identify every point of entry into the venue. This means not only the entrances and exits used by your guests or ticketholders but any backdoors or windows that can uninvited attendees can easily open if your event is indoors. If the venue is outdoors, you need to create boundary limits well removed from where the actual event is being held. You can establish those boundary limits using temporary fencing or barricades or even something as simple as cones, provided you have security personnel stationed in these areas.
Once you have identified the points of entry, convey them not only to members of your staff but all event security personnel as well. You’ll need security at every established entry and exit point, as well as a few extra security members to cover those less well-known areas.
CHECK THE GUEST LIST AND GAUGE ATTENDEE RISK
While you can’t perform a background check on every possible attendee or guest — especially if you’re conducting an event such as a concert or fair in an open area — there are things that you can do to help keep everyone safe.
If you invited a guest speaker who is known for expressing controversial viewpoints, or if your company or cause are known to have vocal opponents, this may increase the risk of a demonstration or protest from people who are only interested in attending your event to cause a commotion. One thing to watch for is anyone who buys tickets in bulk. This could be someone who is planning to bring a lot of protesters to your event.
The likelihood of this happening increases according to the amount of media that will be present at the event. We’ll have some suggestions on how to handle media below, but be aware that their presence could bring more protesters. Also, remember that these risks will vary according to whether or not your event is inside or outside.
Another good idea is pre-registration for the event with a time window of 24 to 48 hours before registration closes down. That will allow you and your security team to prepare a complete list of registrants. This is more appropriate for an indoor event, such as a red-carpet party. For an outdoor event, security personnel can check tickets, and then use a marker — from something technologically advanced like RFID chipped wristbands to something as simple as a hand stamp — to show that this person has passed through the registration area.
There will always be people who will try to talk their way into an event without a ticket or the preregistration. The more popular the event, the more likely this is the happen. This is why you need trained security personnel to handle these situations.
CONSIDER A BUDGET FOR EVENT SECURITY
As we mentioned above, appropriate security for an event is often one of the last things organizers consider. Money flows into other items and perhaps if money is left over it can be used for security – this is the way many event organizers look at the situation.
This can be a serious mistake for several reasons. If you don’t budget for appropriate security for your event, think of what would happen if there was a disruption of some kind or someone was injured. This can lead not only to very negative media coverage for your company or organization but also to lawsuits for damages by both the venue or by injured or traumatized guests.
Don’t think of security as an afterthought. As one event organizer put it, save a little money by not having the shrimp appetizers and put money into security instead. Make it a line item in any budget you prepare. Remember the bigger or more important the event, the more trained security you will need to ensure a trouble-free environment for you and your guests. Work with a security firm that has experience in dealing with events like yours. They can advise you on how much security is appropriate. Too much security can be as bad as too little. Working with an expert security firm can solve this problem.
Some Other Issues to Consider That Help Ensure a Safe Event
The three items mentioned above are what you would call your due diligence. They are the basic requirements for ensuring a safe event. But there are other considerations that can play just as important a role.
CREATING A VISIBLE SECURITY PRESENCE
This expands on the advice in the last point above – knowing how much security is enough and how much is too much. You don’t want so much security presence that it undermines the event. But you want to make sure that the security that you do have is front and center.
You need visible security for several reasons:
- You want your guests to feel comfortable.
- You want anyone who might be thinking of causing a commotion to know there are people on-site watching for them.
- You want people to be aware of their surroundings and thinking about how to respond to a situation. This awareness is part of the job of your security team. They can provide guidance and direction during moments of high stress or danger. Make sure your security team is uniformed properly and carries clear identification so guests or attendees know these are the people they can turn to for help.
It is extremely important to have the right people with the appropriate training and experience in your security team. For instance, while you may have some off-duty police helping who are licensed to carry firearms, many security personnel cannot. You need security personnel who know how to deal with a situation without having to resort to the use of a firearm.
CROWD CONTROL
Without appropriate crowd management, an event of any size can descend into chaos. The likelihood of chaos increases, for instance, if your event includes alcohol. Security can help move people blocking entrances or exits who have gathered for chats or selfies. They can help control the entrance line and prevent people from cutting in line, which can often lead to unpleasant confrontations. They can also ensure that your guests won’t wander into off-limit areas, such as locations that are being held for VIPs or staff. It’s also a good idea to have several trained security members wandering through the crowd during the event to keep an eye out for potential trouble.
COMMUNICATION
If there is any one factor that can undermine a reception, a concert or even a book signing, it’s poor communication. If Person A does not know what Person B is doing, they may give contradictory instructions to guests or other staff. Make sure everyone is on the same page.
Plan everything out ahead of time with not only your event team but with your security team as well. They will need to know the layout of the venue, who they will be working with, who to contact in case of a problem, how registration will work, a complete list of all those you have invited to attend — if appropriate — and who will relieve them when their shift is finished. Make sure all the right people have the phone numbers of the key organizers and know the best way to reach them. If you’re using handheld communications devices, get them to everyone who needs them.
The better the communication, the smoother the event will run.
AVOID INTRUDERS
As we mentioned above, the more popular and the better-known the event, the more likely they will be uninvited people who will try to enter. Occasionally these people will become violent or try to use lines such as “Don’t you know who I am?” to gain entrance. While your event staff may feel intimidated or threatened by the actions of the uninvited, security personnel are trained to deal with these individuals and resolve these incidents as peacefully as possible.
KEEPING UNWANTED MEDIA OUT
Your relationship with the media is a two-edged sword. On the one side, most people want positive media coverage for their events. On the other side, organizers don’t want to be so overwhelmed with media that they have trouble knowing who should be there and who shouldn’t be there.
It’s important from the beginning to establish how much media you want and which members of the media you want to attend. Require media apply for credentials ahead of time. This way you can ensure that only the appropriate media will be allowed to enter or register for the event.
Pre-registration of media also helps you to control access the actual day of the event. If you’ve held a similar event before, you may already be familiar with the media member who shows up uninvited and protests they just forgot to register or are entitled to attend because they are media. They are not. This is more likely to happen at an event where celebrities or politicians are in attendance.
Your best bet is to use trained security personnel to deal with unwanted members of media. They are trained to deal with these situations in the best way and help prevent negative media coverage of your event.
IF POSSIBLE, KEEP YOUR EVENT INVISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
If your event is not public, it is in your interests to advertise it as little as possible to the public. This is especially true in industries which can generate outspoken opposition. Don’t announce these events on social media or broadcast media. If you can’t hide your event from the public, take steps to prevent public access, such as protecting your registration site with a password.
KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON WI-FI
These days, almost anyone attending an important event, a convention or a company meeting is going to want to have a connection to the Internet. If you provide Wi-Fi, make it password-protected. Do not leave it open. Yes, this makes it easier for your guests to connect, but it also makes it easier for uninvited users to gain access. Share the password through an event app or the appropriate registration materials.
Also, have your security team work with the Wi-Fi company to ensure that their network has the appropriate technology to block one user from accessing another user’s computer or Internet-enabled device.
SCREEN ALL VENDORS AND STAFF
Everyone attending the event who is not a guest or attendee should also be screened. This includes anyone supplying food or beverage, waitstaff, cleaners and even the security team. When you work with a professional security company, they will only send you people who can best handle your event.
HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN OF ACTION
Once you know the layout of your event and how you will be handling security, create an emergency plan of action. This plan should cover several situations in including:
- How to deal with unidentified boxes or bags
- The quickest route to the nearest hospital and the appropriate telephone numbers
- The fastest way to lock down the venue if appropriate
- Emergency evacuation for all attendees and guests
- VIP emergency evacuation
- If an emergency evacuation is needed, the fastest way to secure sensitive material and products
- If an emergency evacuation is needed, plan ahead to establish appropriate pickup and drop-off locations
- A code or password that can be shared among event and security staff to deal with threats or concerns about guest safety
Make Event Security A Priority
Unfortunately, it is no longer appropriate to think, “It can’t happen here,” or, “Our event will never attract that kind of trouble.” As we mentioned briefly above, tragic events take place frequently at venues around the country. Working with well-trained security personnel from the well-established company that provides security services is the best way to ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible.
Remember planning and constant vigilance during the entire lifecycle of the event are your best resources.
Vigilant Tiger Security Is the Company You Want for Your Special Event
When you want the best security for your event in the Colorado Springs area, you should contact Vigilant Tiger Security. Founded by veterans, we are a local company that can provide you with the experienced and knowledgeable security personnel you need to ensure the success of your event.
When you hire us to provide your security, you can be confident your event will be safe for you and your guests.
If you want high quality and reasonably priced security for your event, contact us today. We’ll be happy to talk to you about your security needs and how we can help meet them.
