SEPTEMBER | SECTOR FOCUS
VIP TIPS
Betty Wood of Event Academy says VIP guests
require VI security concerns.
“Discuss what type of security measures
need to be in place to ensure the crowd is
controlled properly e.g. barriers for crowd traffic
management. Emergency plans showing fire
exits and access routes should be circulated, and
a secondary exit should be provided for the
exclusive use of your VIP guests so they may
enter and exit away from the paparazzi (and
where appropriate, non-VIP guests)
“Communicate with your VIP’s manager
and find out what they provisions they want
in order to feel safe and appreciated. Provide
them with a private room (with no street-
facing windows) that they may use before,
after and during the event should they wish.
Again, ensure there’s security (and a member
of your events team) maintaining your
guests’ privacy. Similarly, make all of your staff
(stewards, caterers and organisers) aware of
your VIPs. Your staff should be easily discernible
in a crowd – whether they realise it or not, it
automatically puts your guests at ease seeing a
security presence in the venue.
“Celebrity security is more elaborate:
developing a trusting relationship with your
client is difficult, and can only be done through
transparency. Address any concerns they have
prior to your event – be on hand to ensure that
they feel comfortable during, and maintain a steady
stream of dialogue between.”
THREE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT
CHANGED EVENT SECURITY
1. The Manchester Bombings, Manchester
Arena. Ariana Grande’s concert on 22
May 2017 saw 22 people killed and 116
injured
2. Boston Marathon Bombings, 15 April
2015. Three people were killed, and 264
injured after a bomb was detonated at
the event’s finishing line
3. On June 12 2016, Omar Mateen, a
29-year-old security guard, killed 49
people and wounded 53 others in a
terrorist attack inside Pulse, a gay
nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United
States
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