Think Like Your Attendees

Summer is still going strong, which means there’s tons of outdoor events going on. Outdoor events can come with their own headaches, and outdoor events in summer come with even more.

So how do you deal with these problems? No matter what the problem may be, they key is to be prepared. Issues always surface during an event, but preparing can significantly cut down on the issues.

When planning an outdoor summer event, it is important to think about what issues you may run into months before the event even happens. Consider, for example, if lines are going to be long. This could be due to ticket sales or security. How do you prepare for this? You keep lines organized. You promote advanced ticket sales to cut back on lines. You have multiple entrance points so security doesn’t take too long to get through. This way people will get into your event quickly and not be irritated before the event has even begun.

So, once people get into your event, what issues might they run into? Most commonly this will be finding their way your event. Putting an information booth right by the entrance can direct visitors to where they want to go, provide maps, and promote event schedules. The next step is signage. It is extremely important that you have helpful signage at your event. Label different stages and buildings, list events happening in particular areas, and direct people with easy-to-spot signage.

The next problem they may run into? Long lines for shows, food booths, and services. This can happen for many reasons. Sometimes a particular booth or show is just very popular. There is not much you can do about this. What you can do, however, is arrange booths in a way that allows for easy line formation. You should also be sure to have a lot of options when it comes to food and entertainment.

The crowds are in, they are enjoying the festivities, but it’s summer. It’s hot. People are feeling sick and leaving early. How do you stop this? Make sure you have cooling stations throughout the event area. You may also choose to have a centrally located area where guests can purchase water and request first aid. If possible, an air conditioned building within the event area is perfect for providing some temporary relief from the heat.

As the event comes to an end, don’t think your job is over. A large group of people leaving at once is a logistical nightmare. Have volunteers directing the flow of traffic out of the correct areas. Be sure there are others directing actual, vehicle traffic, which is often the most frustrating part of an event. You want attendees to leave with a good impression, not with a sour taste in their mouths.

As you can see, thinking about your event as if you are attending it can be very beneficial. When considering your event specifically, you can also come up with more specific solutions that cater to your event and location. Summer and outdoor events are great, but with people’s high expectations make sure you are up to the challenge!

The festival season is upon us, which means there are even more events to be organized and even more crowds to control. While your actual strategy is likely to change based on the type of festival and the size of it, there are a few things that you should always keep in mind when planning an event.

·        Consider the audience. What is the average age of your attendees? Will there be alcohol? What type of day, and what events, are the most popular? These are huge factors in planning out a crowd control strategy.

·        Consider the venue. Do you know it? Has it held an event like this before? If you’ve held this even before, what didn’t work about the venue?

·        Consider your staff. Are most of them new, or have they done this before? This will help you select where staff members are placed and what type of training they need.

·        Train your staff to be courteous. Friendly interactions with staff members are more likely to keep crowds calm during the festivities.

·        Give your staff members uniforms. This is as simple as having everyone wear the same T-shirt. You want staff to be easily recognizable.

·        Provide a clear chain of command so information gets from your staff to the right people. This is very important.

·        Be sure to brief your staff clearly. They need to know where everything is, the procedures for a multitude of events, etc.

·        Have a clear method of communication. This may be phones or radios, but whatever it is make sure you have it and all staff has access to it in some way. If there is a situation requiring backup but your staff can’t communicate that, it’s going to escalate.

·        Do your research when hiring a security service.

·        Plan the event like you are planning for your family to attend. Think of how you want to keep them safe. That’s the same amount of work that should go into an event for strangers. They’re trusting you to keep them safe too, after all.

Each event is different, but each event should also have these strategies put in play to keep events running smoothly. Happy festival season! 

Holiday Travel Tips

Labor Day weekend begins today. Are you prepared for the crowds that come with it? Keep in mind that gas prices for Labor Day this year are the lowest they’ve been in about a decade. That means a lot of people are going to be on the roads or flying out to visit family, friends, and travel destinations.

While this is great and will lead to long weekends of fun for many people, there are negative side effects. The biggest one is that with more people on the roads, there’s going to be a lot more traffic congestion, delays, and accidents.

Crowd control in a pedestrian environment is entirely different than crowd control of vehicles. Outside of blocking off certain streets, there’s little that can be done in regards to crowds of drivers on the road. We’ve compiled a list of tips for our readers to follow to help them keep safe while on the roads.

·         Before you leave on your trip, check on your car. All maintenance needed should be done so you don’t run into any problems while on the road. Fill up your gas tank as well. A trip that normally takes two hours may take three or four with heavy traffic, so have a full tank of gas!

·         Try to avoid driving during peak travel times. Friday afternoon is predicted to be the worst time for travel this upcoming weekend. If possible, leave earlier on Friday or Saturday morning for lighter traffic. Monday, get on the road in the early afternoon or wait until later that night to avoid more peak traffic.

·         While you are actually on the roads, be a defensive driver. Keep a close eye on traffic patterns and keep your speed to an acceptable level. Everyone is in a hurry to enjoy their weekend, but speeding can be very dangerous, especially when there is a great deal of traffic. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination, and don’t rush.

·         If you have been drinking, are tired, or are distracted, get off the road. It’s not worth risking your life to get to a destination. Have someone else drive in these circumstances, or wait until you are safely able to operate a vehicle.

·         Be patient. Accept that you will run into traffic. The road is not just for you, so take your time and respect others who are on the road.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t go out and have a great weekend. You should! Just exercise proper precautions, and have a great time! 

The Ocean and Safety

It’s summer, and a popular destination for vacation is, understandably, the beach. A day at the beach can make for some great memories. However the ocean comes with a huge host of dangers, some from the water itself, and some from the people. It’s important to practice safety when you head to the ocean for the day.

First, we want to address the issue of crowd safety.

Be aware of the time of day and year that you are going to the beach. If possible, avoid going around major holidays, when many other people will be heading to the beach. Huge crowds can be a problem for a number of reasons. More people means less attention for you from the lifeguards, simply because there are so many people to watch. If you have children, it is easy for them to get lost in big crowds and harder for you to keep an eye on them. This goes for both in and out of the water. Out of the water be sure your children are nearby. In the water, keep a close eye on your child while they swim. Even better, always go in the water with them.

You also have to be selective of what beach you choose. If you are taking children make sure the beach you select is family friendly. If not, be sure the beach has the type of crowd you want to participate in. Some beaches have rowdy crowds, forcing you to take extra safety precautions.

The other thing we want to address is water safety.

The best thing you can do when swimming in the ocean is swim with a swim buddy. In addition, always swim within view of a lifeguard. When you take these steps if something goes wrong it is easier to get help. The leading cause of swimming related incidents has to do with rip currents. Read up on the specifics of rip currents so you know how to escape if you get caught in one. Be sure to watch out for aquatic life as well. People know to watch for sharks, but that’s not the only danger out there. Jellyfish, and even some plants can be dangerous, so keep your distance.

Another tip is to always keep your eye on the weather. Check the forecast before you go, and periodically while you are there. If you see lightning, even in the distance, get out of the water. Weather conditions can change very quickly, so you need to be paying attention.

We don’t say any of this to dissuade anyone from heading to the beach for vacation. The ocean is a fascinating, relaxing, and fun thing to experience. We simply remind you that despite this, there are dangers to be aware of. Use common sense, stay safe, and enjoy the beach! 

Kids and Crowds

We are early into the month of July, which is prime vacation season. Maybe you are going on a big trip to a tourist destination such as Disney World. Maybe you have big events you plan on attending, such as big fairs and festivals. Or perhaps it’s something as simple as a company picnic. No matter what the event, keeping track of children in a crowd can be a huge challenge.

You can make this much less stressful on yourself with a bit of planning and preparation. For the most part, keeping track of kids in crowds uses the same basic strategies no matter the venue you may be in. The strategy does change however, based on the age of the kids. There is a big difference between watching a child who is 4, and one who is 14.

No matter what the ages are though, the most important thing to do is be sure your family has some type of action plan. This includes many things. First, you should have a meeting place picked out in case of emergency. This place should be a safe distance from the crowded festival grounds, but not too far away. Similarly, there should be a dedicated spot within the event venue to meet if separated.

Another good idea for all members of the family is to take a family photo before you go. That way if something happens, you have a recent picture available and you won’t be faced trying to explain what your child looks like or what they are wearing.

For younger kids, it’s a good idea to make them stand out so they are easy to spot. Maybe dress them in bright colors you can easily see, or in something they wear often so you’ll know to look for it. If they have a favorite hat they wear on a near daily basis that is something your eyes will naturally drift to.   

You should also put your phone number somewhere on your child, whether it is on paper in their pocket, or written on their arm. This will make it easy to get in contact with you if you end up separated, especially for young ones who may have a hard time remembering a phone number.

And of course, teach your children about who to go to for help. While the police is the most obvious choice, that may not always be possible. Advise them to go to information booths. If that fails, they should talk to women who have young children, as they are likely mothers with children who would be willing to help. 

These tips should give you a bit of peace of mind while you are out in crowds with your children. Don’t let the crowds stop you from taking children out, just be prepared! 

Crowd Control for Outdoor Events

Summer is here, and with summer comes a large increase in outdoor events. There’s a huge variety of events that take place in summer, in all sorts of venues. Whether you are hosting a small church festival or a large, international music festival in the middle of the city, you need the proper items to control crowds, and you need to manage the crowds in an appropriate manner.

We’re here to offer solutions. Keeping track of crowds in these conditions isn’t easy, but it is doable when you go in with the correct strategy.

The first step is to find out exactly how much space you have, and have a rough estimate of how many attendees you are expecting. That will dictate how you move forward. The venue also makes a big difference. If you are holding an event in a street, you need a lot of coverage so no vehicles interfere. If it is in a park, there must be clear signage so attendees know where exactly they are to go.

Another important aspect that must be quickly decided is how to establish a perimeter. This is needed to keep track of who is coming in and who is coming out. Some venues already have a clear perimeter set up, but many do not. For those that do not, you have to determine what type of perimeter you plan to use. A popular option is to use some sort of fencing or barrier, which can easily be purchased. You may also choose to have personnel positioned around the perimeter, whether it is volunteers or security. This perimeter is important for security, so be sure you have a plan.

Speaking of planning, you need to have a plan for managing your crowds in case of safety concerns. Consider what may go wrong, no matter how big or small. What if there is inclement weather? There would be a plan in place for alerting attendees and informing them of where to go. What about other things, such as a child getting separated from their guardian? There needs to be specific locations to deal with these sorts of situations, with safe crowd control measures in place.

You must also have a security plan in place. Are you planning to hire security? Work with local or state agencies? Have that established far in advanced. Give them whatever information you can. This includes information about the event, expected attendance, different events being held at the event, and more.

And don’t forget that you need to keep your guests happy. Your crowd control efforts should serve their purpose, but they should not make guests feel unwelcome. Guests should not be afraid of security or feel threatened walking into your event. You want to make this event fun and memorable for your guests.

A lot goes into planning an outdoor event, and this is only some of it. We hope these tips will prove useful, and that your next outdoor event will be a success!

Crowds and Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching. Are you prepared to tackle the crowds? It is being predicted that a record number of Americans will be traveling during this holiday weekend. This is being attributed to the fact that it is cheaper to travel this year compared to last.

Everyone is excited for a long weekend, but if you plan to travel you have to be patient. As there will be so many people out and about, travel times are going to be slow. This is the case whether you travel by car or plane, so be prepared.

If you are driving, there are several steps you can take. If it is possible, for instance, try not to leave during peak travel time. This would be Friday night and Monday night. Can you get off early and leave Friday morning? Leave early on Memorial Day? This will go a long way. You should also be sure to fill up your gas tank before leaving. If you can avoid stopping for gas, you can avoid busy gas stations. It’s also a good idea to check on your car. Check your car’s fluids. Make sure your tires aren't low. You’d hate your trip to be ruined because of a setback like that.

Flying? Be sure to get to the airport early, as lines are likely to be long. Make it interesting by planning on activities to do at the airport if you have extra time. Get a meal. Go shopping. It’s better than being late, as with the crowds getting a new flight will be difficult. You can save extra time by checking in for your flight at home and printing your boarding pass. Another good idea is to set up your phone to get alerts if your flight is delayed. That way as soon as you know you can begin making backup arrangements.  

Once you are at your destination, it is up to you. If you’re going to a specific vacation spot such as the beach, get there early. If you are visiting friends or family, you won’t have as many issues.

So pack up and get ready for the long weekend!

Beat the Crowds this Summer

Vacation season is vacation season for a reason. Temperatures and the weather around the country are generally better. Children are no longer in school, making it simpler to take the entire family on a trip. There’s plenty of reasons to go out of town during summer, but it presents many challenges. The biggest of these challenges is often the crowds.

But how do you avoid the crowds? There’s nothing that can be done to stop the crowds, but there are ways to avoid the bulk of them if you try. Not only will this make your vacation easier, but it will act as crowd control in itself by helping to disperse the flow of people. Continue reading to see our tips for managing the crowds while you’re enjoying vacation.

• While all of summer is busy for vacations, June is usually the least busy. Many schools are in session through part of June, making July and August a more popular option. If you can make it work, June is your best option.

•    If you can avoid travel during holidays, do so at all costs. Summer holidays are satiated with vacation goers. Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekend are all very popular with travel. Avoid these days if possible.

• The time of day you go is very important. Places such as amusement parks tend to get more crowded in the early afternoon. Don’t sleep in. Get up early and head out right at open for the attractions you want to see. You’ll have shorter wait times and less crowds.

•   Try to vacation on weekdays. Weekends are busier because locals get out and do things as well as tourists. While that doesn’t mean it’s not crowded on weekdays, it will be easier to navigate the crowds.

•  Pick less popular destinations. Everyone heads to Disney World in summer. There’s tons of other vacation spots, especially if you’ve done a vacation spot once before. Do some research and find areas that are less crowded, but just as amazing.

•   If you can’t beat the crowds, embrace them! Go into vacation expecting the crowds. Plan extra time for your activities. If you go in knowing there will be crowds and try to keep a positive attitude, it might make the experience better. Just remember you’re all there to enjoy a vacation!

Those are our tips for beating the crowds, or at least accepting them. There’s no good way to avoid them unless you plan to travel in the off season. Enjoy the rest of your summer, crowds and all.