Security tops the music charts

The music scene has changed in recent years and security is responding to the special needs of large-scale public events

When the now famous Glastonbury Festival began in the UK in the 1970s, 1,500 people paid £1 each at a Somerset farm gate and shared a field with cows and curious locals in order to be entertained. Security was practically non-existent.

Today, the Glastonbury event in the UK features over 700 acts played on over 80 stages and draws upwards of 170,000 people, despite the fact that they sometimes have to endure days of rain.

Tickets will cost £175 for the 2009 event, with purchasers having to pre-register, including submission of a passport photograph which is security printed into the ticket.

Large-scale outdoor festivals and concerts provide a range of security challenges and problems. Given the nature of open spaces, there are significant difficulties in managing crowds safely.

Indoor concerts present different security challenges, particularly those at venues like the O2 in London whose arena attracts audiences of up to 20,000 each night. When Prince performed there for 21 days in 2007, almost half a million people flocked to the venue – previously known as the Millennium Dome – to see him.

Counter terrorism is now a permanent part of event safety and security planning – particularly when the performance has a high profile or is televised live.

As event security has grown into a multi-billion pound industry, the security and crowd management sector has had to develop in a manner that allows it to provide professional services that can meet audience expectations and provide a safe, secure and enjoyable entertainment experience.

Special security for special events

G4S already has an impressive track record in special events security in the UK, notably at major sporting occasions such as Wimbledon, Ascot and the British Open Golf Championship. With its acquisition of Rock Steady Group earlier this year it has also secured its position as European market leader in crowd management by adding live music and venue services to its portfolio.

Mark Hamilton, the founder of Rock Steady and now managing director, G4S Events, has years of experience in providing security at high profile music festivals.

“Each event needs its own analysis, including an established set of definitions between security and crowd safety management."

“These form part of the overall event security and crowd management plan, which for a large event can be quite a detailed document. We have to be prepared for all eventualities.”

G4S Security Services (South Africa) is among the Group’s operations in other parts of the world which also rise to the challenge of major musical events. In February this year it fielded a team of 100 security officers to play a vital protective role, working alongside two other companies, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, where close on 45,000 people enjoyed two shows by superstar Celine Dion.

Today, the security of any large-scale concert is in the hands of professionals and the safety of customers and performers alike is paramount.

T in the Park 2008

Recent UK events include T in the Park at Balado, Kinross-shire, Scotland, which has been attracting top acts annually since 1994. REM and Amy Winehouse were among the main stage headliners in July this year, watched by an estimated 60,000 fans.

Colin Rodger, event manager at DF Concerts, organisers of T in the Park, is certainly happy with the service provided:

“We have worked with Mark Hamilton and his team since the event began 15 years ago and they have become an integral part of its planning and success,” he says.

“Rock Steady [now rebranded as G4S] are a consistently reliable organisation which provides us with a quality service from experienced staff, whose specialist knowledge and understanding of this industry is second to none."

 
This page is an edited version of the article by Martin Sayers featured in the September 2008 edition of International.
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