Organising an event is a challenging and complex task, fraught with numerous responsibilities. Among the multitude of concerns, one stands out as paramount: security.
In South Africa, with its unique set of challenges such as high crime rates, potential electricity shortages, and the possibility of civil unrest, the need for comprehensive and professional event security services cannot be overstated.
The last thing you want is gate-crashers, fights or theft.
Imagine you're hosting a small corporate event or a lively music concert. The last thing you want is gatecrashing or theft. Such incidents not only disrupt the event but can also harm your reputation.
As an organiser, you're not just responsible for the event running smoothly, but also for the wellbeing of everyone present. This includes:
- Protection of people: Ensuring the safety of all attendees, including guests, staff, and performers.
- Protection of property and premises: Safeguarding the venue and the belongings of attendees from potential damage or theft.
- Prevention of crime: Deterring potential criminal activity, including gate-crashing, theft, fights or vandalism.
Event security guards guarantee the safety and smooth execution of any gathering, be it a lively music concert, an important corporate conference, or a private celebration.
What types of special events require security?
- Music concerts: Professional security services can help ensure the safety of performers and attendees.
- Corporate events: Whether it's a team-building event or a product launch, security company ensures a seamless experience and represents the company in a positive light.
- Trade shows: Trade shows often involve a large number of participants and valuable display items.
- Sports events: Even a local football match can attract a large crowd and emotions are bound to fly high.
- Film shoots: Filming locations often involve valuable equipment. Event guards ensure the cast and crew can work uninterrupted, or maintain the confidentiality of the project.
- Wedding receptions: Personal events carry a strong emotional significance. It's important that guests feel comfortable, and remember the event for the right reasons.
- Local markets: These bustling events require effective crowd management, theft prevention, and swift incident response, for a positive atmosphere.
- Community events: From school fairs to charities, these events bring together a diverse crowd and often involve various activities.
What do event security services include?
Event security covers a wide range of safety measures:
- Risk assessment: Before any event, the security company identifies potential threats. These could range from assessing the likelihood of gatecrashers at a private party to potential crowd control issues at a local music concert.
- Event security planning: A tailored security plan is then created to address the identified risks. This could involve strategizing on the best positioning of security personnel at a charity event, or detailing access points for a corporate gathering.
- Crowd management: Security staff are responsible for ensuring smooth movement of people, preventing overcrowding, and checking everybody is at its place. This could mean guiding visitors at a tradeshow or ensuring timely movement of guests at a wedding.
- Access control: This involves controlling and monitoring entrances and exits to prevent unauthorized access and ensure only ticketed or invited guests can enter the event.
- Incident response: Security guards are trained to respond swiftly and effectively to resolve any situation, from handling a minor dispute at a sports event to administering first aid at a concert.
- Customer service: Security staff often serve as the first point of contact for attendees. Their interactions can set the tone for the entire event, whether it's guiding an attendee to the restroom, helping a lost child find their parents, or calmly managing a disgruntled guest.
Each of these elements is critical for ensuring the safety and security of all event attendees and staff, thereby contributing to the overall success of the event.
How many security guards do I need for my event?
The level of security required at the event depends on:
- nature and type of the event
- event size
- location and surroundings of the venue
- time of the event
- event participants
"I believe having 10 officers and 1 manager per 100 attendees is effective. This way, officers are able to efficiently survey and accordingly respond to any occurrences that might happen," says security expert Dean Angelou from Trident Protection Services.
Number of security guards needed for an event
| Attendance | Security Officers | Site & Operations Managers |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 100 | 10 | 1 |
| 100 – 200 | 20 | 2 |
| 200 – 300 | 30 | 3 |
| 400 – 500 | 40 | 4 |
Rule of thumb is one security guard for every ten guests.
"In the case of a VIP event being held with government officials, security presence and numbers is key. Presence serves as the biggest deterrent and makes the event seem like a 'hard target'. This is the look and feel we like to create," states Angelou.
Get free quotes for event security guardsHow to choose the right security service for the special event
Choosing the right event security service is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the success of your event. It's important to thoroughly vet potential security providers to ensure they can meet your specific needs.
How to get the best price for the event security?
Security services can be a significant cost factor in the budget of an event. However, it's important to remember that this is an investment in the safety and smooth running of your event, which can prevent costly disruptions and damage. To manage costs:
- Check the cost guides for security guard services.
- Request detailed quotes from multiple security companies to ensure you're getting a fair price.
- Evaluate the cost against the services offered. Cheaper services may not provide the level of security your event requires.
Procompare only works with qualified and certified security service providers. Submit your request for event security and get up to 6 quotes from local security companies.
How to make sure the event security service will be reliable, effective and professional?
The reliability of the security service provider is crucial. You want to ensure that they will be there when you need them, performing their duties effectively. To address reliability concerns:
- Check references and word of mouth from past clients to learn about their experiences with the provider.
- Choose a security company that offers a comprehensive security plan tailored to your event's specific needs.
- Ask them to show you their PSiRA compliance.
- Ask about the training and qualifications of the security staff.
- Find out about their contingency plans in case of staff shortages or other unexpected issues.
- Ensure that there is a contract in place that clearly outlines the provider's responsibilities and obligations.
"I honestly believe that companies that make contact, follow up, and go the extra mile are the companies that build long-lasting service relationships. Unfortunately, security is the most sourced and competitive industry currently in RSA," argues security expert Dean Angelou.
Security is the most sourced and competitive industry currently in RSA.
"This leaves a major opportunity for 'fly by night' companies to mislead, over-promise, and under-deliver. Thorough sourcing, vetting, and procurement processes are required when choosing a security service provider," concludes Angelou.
Procompare's clients have already rated hundreds of security companies to date, allowing you to quickly check and gain an understanding of what you can expect from their security guards at the event.
When choosing a security service provider, experience is key
Here are some questions you can ask event security company to better evaluate their competencies:
- What is your experience with events similar to mine in size and nature?
- How do you perform risk assessments for events?
- Can you provide a detailed security plan tailored to my event?
- What kind of training do your security personnel undergo? What kind of licences does the company have?
- How do you handle unforeseen emergency situations? Can you provide examples from past events?
- Can you provide references from previous clients?
- What kind of liability insurance does the security company have?
With professional security services, you can focus on ensuring your event's success, confident in the knowledge that safety and security are in expert hands.
Event security guards are the backbone of any successful event.
So whether you're a small business owner, school dean, or night market organiser, remember: a successful event is a safe event. And with the right security measures in place, you can ensure your event is both.
