Considerations for a Crowd Management Strategy

Congratulations, you are now in charge of a major event and it is up to you that everything runs safely and smoothly. This is quite a big task and you will not be taking it lightly. There are any numbers of problems that can crop up during such an event.

You will need to prepare yourself and use the right tools for a successful event. Thinking about crowd management strategies shouldn’t cause a headache. Here are a few things to consider when coming up with your game plan.

 

The Type of Event

The first thing to consider is the type of event. Your plan for crowd control at a rock concert will be different than the plan for a conference or trade show. A trade show or conference might only need one or two points of entry and exits whereas a concert will need several entrances and exits.

Do your best to understand the type of event and the goal or objective of the event as the better you understand it, the easier it will be discovering the right strategy.

 

The Kind of Crowd

It is always important to know your audience. Having a good read on the type of people who will be attending the event will save you big headaches down the road.

A typical trade show attendee is at the event to walk around and check out the various booths and products. Trade show attendees will be relatively informed about what is going on and won’t need too much direction.

However, a concert needs much different consideration. A concert will require all sorts of navigation from the ticket sales counter to seating and a clear path to the stage.

Think about what frustrates concert goers or trade show attendees. For example, not being able to find the bathrooms is a real problem concert-goers have, so you need to find a solution.

 

Communication

Don’t fall into the trap that you will have everything under control the entire time. Crowds can get big and difficult to control. So one of your primary tasks is to figure out how to effectively communicate with them once the event is in full swing.

One way to communicate with people is by handing out maps, which is ideal for a trade show, but not necessarily for a concert. You might be better served to erect a lot of signs at a concert. Signs are readable by the attendees and not drowned out by concert music.

The other part of communications has to do with your staff. Keeping a crowd managed means being in constant communication with ticket-takers, cleaning staff and the help desk. These are people who are important in keeping the crowd under control.

Ensure that staff and volunteers are trained in crowd management and control techniques. Whatever plan you have, make sure it is shared with everybody.

Remember that a problem can arise at any type of event and snowball quickly. Planning an event requires planning, diligence and attention to detail.

Contact Sonco Perimeter Security for more information on crowd management strategies.