Event security: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What event security is

An event security team manages crowds and access at an event, checking tickets or bags, watching for hazards and coordinating with venue staff and emergency services. Organizers hire event security for concerts, festivals, weddings, sporting events and corporate functions where people need to move in and out safely.

Signs you need it

  • Your event expects a large crowd, and the venue has asked for a security plan before it will approve the event
  • You are selling tickets and need someone to check them at the gates and prevent resale or forgery
  • Your event serves alcohol or includes a late night program, and you need staff to watch for problems
  • You have had incidents at past events, such as fights, trespassing or crowd surges
  • Your event has VIP guests, performers or sponsors who need controlled access to certain areas

What the pro does

  • Review the venue layout, the expected crowd size and the entry, exit and emergency routes
  • Write the event security plan, including the staffing, the posts and the response steps
  • Brief the security team on the plan, the rules and the contacts before the event opens
  • Check tickets, IDs and bags at the entrances according to the rules you set
  • Watch the crowd, the exits and high risk areas, and respond to problems as the plan says
  • Write an incident log and a post event report with any issues and the actions taken

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The expected attendance and the number of entry points to staff
  • The length of the event and how many hours the team must be on duty
  • The number of guards, the supervisors and the roles, such as bag checks or VIP areas
  • Whether the event serves alcohol or includes special risks that require added staff
  • Whether the team must coordinate with police or fire authorities, which adds planning
  • Whether a written event security plan must be prepared and submitted to the venue

What a written quote should spell out

  • The event dates, hours, locations and expected attendance used for planning
  • The number of staff, their roles and the supervisor for each shift
  • The screening rules, such as ticket checks and bag checks, and who sets them
  • The coordination with venue staff and emergency services, and who is the contact
  • The licenses, insurance and training that apply to the team

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How many staff will you need for an event like mine, and how did you work that out?
  • Who is in charge on the day, and how do I reach them?
  • What is your plan for a medical emergency or a large crowd surge?
  • Do your guards hold the licenses and training the venue requires?
  • How do you handle a person who refuses a bag check or ticket check?
  • Will you write a post event report, and what will it cover?

Red flags

  • Cannot give you a written staffing plan or an event security plan
  • Cannot show proof of licenses and insurance for the team
  • Wants staff paid in cash with no record of hours worked
  • Has no plan for emergencies, medical events or evacuation

What you can do yourself

For a small private gathering, you can set a guest list, assign a few helpers to check names at the door and walk the space before the event. Hire an event security team when the crowd is large, the venue requires it, alcohol is served or the event involves ticket checks, screening or the potential for conflict.

Licenses and permits

Event security work is commonly licensed in many areas, and rules on the license and registration for each guard are set by the state or local licensing agency. Check with that agency for the requirements that apply to your event, and ask the company for proof that each guard is licensed.

Event security questions

Does the venue need its own security plan?

Many venues have their own requirements and may need a plan from the event organizer. Ask the venue what it requires before you contract the team.

Can a security team search people?

The rules differ by state, venue and event. Ask the company what its team may do, and agree the search policy with the venue in writing.

How far ahead should I book?

Book early enough for the security plan to be written, approved by the venue and shared with the team before the event day.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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