Security concerns are perhaps the No. 1 logistical issue event organizers face in planning festivals, trade shows, and other high traffic events.
Smart organization and good communications tech, including two-way radios, can help event organizers ensure safety and security for attendees, presenters, and staff.
When organizing your next event, keep these security tips in mind to improve safety and security:
- Listen to the experts – If you’re not a security guru yourself, enlist the services of a local law enforcement agency or security firm to provide advice on logistics. Find out how many security staff you need, how you need to control entrance and egress, and what policies you need in place for the event.
- Screen everyone – Screen all guests and staff, as you can never be too careful. For guest screening, have signs clearly placed far ahead of the entry explaining that a search is required, and that guests also need to have proper ID.
- Have a credentialing system – Make sure you have secure and clearly identifiable tags for event staff and media, so security can immediately identify whether a person in a restricted area is authorized to be there or not.
- Enlist medical support – For large events, it’s always wise to have emergency medical responders on hand for medical events that may arise. There are a variety of things that can happen at events requiring medical assistance – allergic reactions, slip and falls, altercations, heat exhaustion, etc. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- Have solid event communications – Good communications allow event organizers to maximize the effectiveness of their staff. Two-way radios are indispensable for event organizers, allowing quick, convenient communication so event staff can quickly respond to situations as they arise. A good PA system is also important to deliver messages to all attendees, and event organizers are also using apps that allow communication with attendees’ smart phones.