When you’re running an event, the safety and well-being of your staff, guests and anyone else in the venue should always be your number one priority. Luckily, most event organisers recognise this and make the responsible decision to hire some professional security for their event.
If you’re one of these people, it’s likely that you’ve very quickly stumbled upon a key question - how much security do you need for your event? Let’s take a look at what you need to consider when finding an answer to this question.
Why Do You Need Event Security?
As a general rule, the more people you have at an event, the more likely it is that you’ll experience some trouble. Having said that, smaller events aren’t immune to trouble either, which is why you should always consider whether you need security at your event. From alcohol or drug-related misbehaviour to overcrowding or even external factors such as counter-protestors, events are vulnerable to a number of dangers.
How Many Security Guards Do I Need at My Event?
To answer this question, you’ll need to really examine your event. Here are a few of the biggest questions that you’ll need to ask, with the answers affecting how much security you’re going to need.
The number of people at your event
Unsurprisingly, the more people your event has coming to it, the more security you’re likely to need. You should generally have at least two security attendants on hand for every 100 guests at your event. If your event is on a larger scale, or if it’s a bit more complex for some reason, then a lot more factors are likely to come into play, which is why it’s highly recommended that you speak to an expert security provider.
The venue location
Events being held in a remote location are usually much easier to control, with there being less chance of external criminal activity interfering with your event. On the other hand, venues in city centres are much harder to control access to. Additionally, the number of entry or exit points to your venue will make a difference too.
Will there be alcohol?
While many eventgoers enjoy having a drink, particularly at music events or festivals, it’s also more likely to cause security problems. Guests who drink too much are far more likely to be violent or need some form of assistance, which is why events serving alcohol should always err on the side of caution when it comes to security. If you have even one drunk and aggressive person, you’re going to want an absolute minimum of two security guards on hand.
What’s the nature of your event?
It will usually be quite intuitive whether the nature of your event is more likely to mean you need more security guards. If your event revolves around sport, music or a rally that could be seen as contentious, you should strongly consider bringing in additional security.
Is there a Legal requirement?
While there are no legal requirements for you to have a certain number of security guards at your event, you will be held responsible if someone gets hurt because of negligence on your part, and that can include not having enough security. That’s just one reason why safety should be your number one priority, and why bringing in the right amount of security to your event is always a good idea.
Do I Need Stewards Too?
For large events, stewards are always great to have. They can provide customer assistance, guest supervision, and manpower when it’s needed. However, you should always remember that stewards don’t have the same training as a qualified security officer, and can’t be used in place of them.
Instead, they should be used together. By getting your stewards and security team working in conjunction with each other, you can more effectively control the crowd while also ensuring that guests at your venue will be in close proximity to a point of contact should they need first aid or any other kind of assistance.
How Much Does Event Security Cost?
Again, this will depend on the nature of your event. Larger events with more security will naturally cost more, and location can make a difference too. For example, London will generally cost more than other locations.
Luckily, you can get a quote from any professional security provider before you sign a contract, meaning you can shop around and make sure you’re happy paying for the security service that you’ll be receiving.
How Do You Find Reliable Event Security?
When you’re seeking out a professional security provider for your event, there are several things to look out for. First of all, you want to make sure that your provider is SIA (Security Industry Authority qualified, which gives them the right to provide private security services.
You’ll also want to make sure that your chosen provider is able to deliver a wide range of security services. You don’t want to sign them on for your event, only to realise that while they can provide a door supervision service, they have little or no experience delivering supporting services. For example, since Taybar also has a wealth of experience delivering door supervisor and concierge security services, it bolsters our effectiveness at delivering our comprehensive event security service.
It also helps if your security provider is familiar with the local area, although this isn’t a must.
Taybar - Expert Event Security
At Taybar, we’re experts in a wide range of security services, making us the perfect choice for any event. We provide bespoke solutions for every event we work on, regardless of whether it’s a small gathering of 20 people or in a stadium packed with thousands of people. We’ll get to know your business and your event before carrying out an in-depth risk assessment that ensures you’ve got every box ticked, and have taken every step possible to keep your guests safe.
What’s more, in recognition of the fact that we’ve consistently delivered premium event security, mobile patrols, and other services for over two decades, we’ve been awarded the NSI Guarding Gold Medal.
To see how we can help your event run safely and smoothly, get in touch with us today.
