Do You Need Crowd Control At Your Wedding?

Crowd control isn’t often in the front of your mind when you are planning a wedding. It’s all about the food, the DJ, the decorations…but having the right crowd control is actually extremely important. What’s even better is that it does not have to be complicated.

Controlling your crowds at your wedding starts very early in the process…with the guest list. Creating your guest list is likely going to be one of the first things you do. The amount of people you plan to invite influences your catering, venue, chair rental, and more.

So, once it’s time to invite your guests, there’s a few things you need to make sure you do. Be specific when addressing your invitations. This means indicating if your attendee may bring a guest or not. This means giving specific names, versus generic ones such as “The Smith Family.” This way you know exactly how many people you are inviting.

The next step for crowd control is to handle your RSVPs appropriately. This may involve extra work, but it will really help with the guest list in the end. What you can do is call all of your guests and thank them for RSVPing. At this point confirm the amount of people their RSVP covers. For example, “Thank you for getting back to me Jasmine. I have you marked down for one. I can’t wait to see you.” This eliminates any confusion. As for people who do not RSVP, track them down and get their answers. Trust us, you don’t want to be scrambling to find somewhere for them to sit on your wedding day.

And speaking of seating, if you want to avoid more crowd disasters, be sure to have assigned seating. Open seating, where guests choose what table they want to sit at, is chaotic and causes a lot of awkwardness for your guests. Assigning a table means your guests know exactly where to go and makes the seating process much smoother.

Now if there are areas of your venue you need to keep guests out of, you can do this with some simple crowd control posts. They are a clear indicator that an area should not be entered. This isn’t strictly necessary, but if the venue layout is confusing it can be helpful.

A huge question you have to ask yourself is do you want to hire security? There are some good reasons you may want to shell out the extra cash. Security would be able to deal with wedding crashers, for example. They can also come in handy if conflict arises, which can happen due to arguments and alcohol. You don’t want your big day ruined by a fight!

We know that planning a wedding is stressful, but don’t forget to include crowd control in your wedding plans!

Keeping Your Events Safe

While in the midst of planning an event, there are many things to consider. You are likely thinking about seating arrangements, the entertainment, food, décor, and of course crowd control. But something that can be overlooked is security at events.

It may sound pessimistic to say, but you never know what is going to happen at an event. Mass shootings and violent crowds are unfortunately a real possibility that you have to be prepared for. We’re going to explain how to look at different aspects of your events to help you determine what kind of security you will need.

·        Where is the event being held? There are many facets to this simple question. Is it outdoors, where the public could get easier access to the event? Is it indoors, with few exits available? Is it in a neighborhood that is considered safe, or dangerous?

·        Who is going to attend the event? Is it an event that is open to the public, or is it by invitation only? What is the demographic of your group?

·        What/Who is the entertainment? Is there going to be music, or a speaker of some kind? What types of events are being held during this gathering? Could any of them be dangerous or cause an injury?

·        What is the topic of the event? Is it for entertainment only? Is it political? Religious? Is the topic of the event controversial? Could it lend itself to protests? You’ll need extra security depending on how you answer these questions.

·        Will there be alcohol at your event? Alcohol lowers inhibitions and while it can be fun, it can also lead to negative behavior from your guests. It can lead to drunkenness and altercations. Have staff on hand in case something gets out of control.

By answering all of these questions, you can get an idea of what type of security your event will need. We’ll give two examples.

Your event is being held inside a hotel ballroom in an expensive neighborhood. This event is by invitation only with a wide demographic. There will be music and dancing, so minor injuries may be possible. The topic of the event is an opposite sex wedding, so it is less likely to be controversial. There will be an open bar, so many people will be drinking. For an event like this, you will want some minor security in place in case the drinking gets out of hand or there’s tension between guests, but a large police presence is not necessary.

Now, another example. Your event is being held outside, at a public park in a neighborhood downtown. This event is open to the public. The entertainment is a speaker, and the topic is political. There is a high probability of protesters attending the event. There will be no alcohol served at this event, but crowds are likely to be rowdy. For an event such as this, larger amounts of security will be required. You would want to be in touch with local police and possibly hire private security, both in uniform and plain clothes to stop any situations from escalating.

By asking yourselves these key questions, you can determine what type of security you need, how much security you need, and crowd control measures that need to be put in place to keep your attendees safe.

Controlling Inauguration Crowds

Inauguration day is coming up, which means added security and crowd control. This is even truer this year with the many protests planned during and following the inauguration. It is likely you have already heard of the Women’s March on Washington, scheduled for Saturday January 21^st. This march alone is predicted to attract 200,000 protesters, and there’s more groups beyond that.

That makes crowd control for this year’s inauguration particularly difficult. Washington DC is no stranger to protests of course, but the sheer mass of them is going to make crowd control a bit challenging. In addition to the planned peaceful protests, anarchist groups are threatening to disrupt the inauguration as well.

However, police do not seem to foresee much of a problem. There will be thousands of officers working the event to prevent major disruptions and stop any demonstrations from getting out of control. Officers are prepared for mass arrests, despite not believing they will be likely.

Over two dozen protest groups have filed for permits before, after, and during the inauguration. Crowd control barriers will be in place as well as backpack checks. Barriers are also going to be set up to prevent a truck attack. These truck attacks, in which trucks drive into large crowds, have happened across Europe recently and pose a real threat. Barriers could include trucks, buses, and more.

Transportation is also being limited. A fair amount of subway stations as well as roads and bridges will be closed. Not only is this important in terms of safe traffic flow, but it keeps demonstrators safe as well. Members of the National Guard will also be on hand.

To keep crowds contained, protesters are limited to specific locations. With the amount of protest requests coming in, there has been trouble finding enough space to accommodate all of the protesters. Luckily Washington DC is used to dealing with protests, so they have a clear strategy when it comes to this type of event.

Of course the biggest challenge will be managing the Women’s March on Washington. Demonstrators have been organized across many states to travel to Washington for the event. There are expected to be officers and marshals on hand to protect the demonstrators and keep things peaceful. The march is prohibiting any form of weapon, including sticks on signs. There are also no backpacks or other large bags allowed. Planned Parenthood is now also associated with the march, bringing their event planning and security advice in.

With all these forces at play, we are hopeful that inauguration weekend will go smoothly without any major problems, save for the general disruption of the city.

Christmas Party Crowds

Christmas parties aren’t essential events, but they are great for many reasons. If you’re holding a company party, it’s great for employee morale. If you’re holding a friend or family get-together, it’s a great way to connect and remember that Christmas is about loved ones, not presents. No matter what type of party you are hosting, you have to consider how you are going to manage your crowds.

You strategy will have to differ depending on the type of party you are holding. We’re going to break it down into three categories; company party, friends/family party, and party with children.

Company Party

A company party is generally a larger affair, which may be held on the premises or in a space that has been rented for the occasion. If you are holding your party at a venue other than your workplace, there are some extra steps you must consider such as how far the venue is from work and what the parking situation is. It’s a good idea to give directions and parking options to all your employees to avoid traffic congestion and confusion.

No matter where your party is, be sure to provide adequate signage so employees can find the party. Many workers stick to familiar areas in a building and may need help finding the party location, especially in a large building. And of course, it goes without saying that you must provide directions if your party is held in a hotel banquet hall, for example. Again, signage helps prevent confusion and stops employees from wandering into the wrong area of your venue.

Now, onto the party itself. Company parties fairly traditionally count on food, alcohol, and sometimes dancing. It is likely you will have a catered meal, and dancing is fairly straightforward. Where you do have to be careful is with alcohol. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and can lead to some awkward situations. Plus people have to be able to get home. If you’re worried about serving alcohol, just skip it. Serve juice, coffee, tea, soda…there’s tons of other beverage possibilities!

Company parties can be quite crowded, especially if family members and significant others are invited. For this reason you must pay close attention to the capacity of your space. Have enough seating and crowd control items such as rope posts to direct any lines that may form. Spread out your food and drinking stations so no area of the party is getting congested, leading to uncomfortable and unsafe conditions.

Friend/Family Party

While it is certainly possible to rent out a venue for a friends and family party, these events are usually held in someone’s home, which presents its own challenges. First off, be sure you do not invite more guests than your home can handle. While you don’t necessarily need seating available for everyone, you should have enough for the majority of your guests. You also don’t want overcrowding in your home, in case of some sort of emergency.

One way to reduce overcrowding is to keep everything spread out. This will work differently depending on the layout of your home. You may choose to have plasters of food spread across your home. For example, leave the warm food in your kitchen, but spread trays of cookies, candy, and cold appetizers across the entire party area. Have seating available in multiple rooms, so guests can spread out and create their own pockets.

Mess can create extra clutter, which can lead to accidents and safety issues. Strategically place garbage cans near food areas to subtly encourage guests to throw away garbage right away, to avoid stacks of plates.

Party with Children

Many parties that do include children are often hosted at home, so make sure to read the friend/family section above. But, in addition to all of those tips, you must add the high energy of children to the equation.

It’s a good idea to have an area of the house dedicated to the kids. Here you can set up toys, craft stations, and games. If you do this make sure there’s some sort of supervision in the room at all times. Alternatively, you could set up this area in one of the main party areas, so there will always be adult eyes on those nearby children.

With sugary treats likely available, children will likely have a lot of energy which can manifest in behaviors that can cause damage. If you’re planning to have children over for this party, we recommend being strategic about where you place items. You don’t want to set a drink station next to where the children are dancing, for example.

No matter what type of party you’re hosting, it’s sure to be a little chaotic. Stay organized, spread out the party, and be clear about where everything is, and make the crowding at your party a little less stressful.

Thanksgiving Crowds Projected to Grow

Planning to head out this coming weekend to visit friends or family for Thanksgiving? Be warned,

travel for the holiday weekend is projected to be up 1.9 percent. It is estimated that approximately 48.7 million people will be hopping on planes or getting in their cars over the next few days.

With low gas prices and lower than average airline fares, it’s no surprise that people are taking advantage. Unfortunately that does mean you will likely run into crowds wherever you go; the airport, taxi services, gas stations, roadside restaurants, and more. Does the idea of being surrounded by crowds make you feel panicked? Here’s our top tips for avoiding the crowds as much as possible.

1.      Pick the least busy days to travel. If you already have plane tickets you’re likely out of luck, but for those of you driving, changing your departure times can make a big difference. The two busiest days to be on the road are the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. If you can leave on Thanksgiving Day, or head home the Saturday or even Monday after, you should encounter less traffic.

2.      Leave early. Maybe you have a flight, or maybe with your work schedule you are limited with the days you can go out of town. If that’s the case, always try to get an early start. If you’re flying get to the airport early. Lines will be long and navigating the crowded airport will be a nightmare. Traveling is stressful enough without adding the stress of trying to be on time. Driving? Avoiding the traffic is all about timing. If you have to leave Wednesday, leave earlier in the day. The same goes for Sunday. Getting an early start is almost always better.

3.      Less luggage is more. More time, that is. If you’re driving this isn’t such an issue, but if you’re flying, listen up. Checking baggage takes up a lot of time. You have to check your bags, hope they arrive to your final destination, and wait in baggage claim to collect them. With most flights each passenger is allowed carry-on luggage, and for a long weekend trip that will usually suffice. Pack smart and avoid long waits by not checking bags at the airport.

4.      Give yourself plenty of extra time. Let’s say, for example, you’re supposed to arrive at your in-law’s house at six in the evening on Wednesday, with dinner plans for seven. What if your flight is delayed? What if you hit traffic? What if your child gets car sick and you have to make a stop? Things like this happen, and if you’re only giving yourself an hour-long window you’re going to be stressed out. Keep plans casual for your arrival day, or give yourself a few hours as a buffer.

5.      Be patient. No matter what you do, you are likely to run into some crowds if you plan to travel during the holidays. Remember that you do not own the roads, the airports, or the sky. Everyone else who is traveling is just as deserving as you are. Bring something to entertain yourself with for long waits. Going to the airport? Bring a book, portable game system, or a laptop. Driving? Get some books on tape or a bunch of CDs. Try to have fun with the crowds. It will make you much less miserable.

Those are our top tips for traveling during the holiday weekend. Drive safe, and have a great Thanksgiving!

Crowd Control Supplies For Halloween

Halloween is almost here, which means many venues will be hosting costume parties over the next couple of weeks. But are you prepared for the crowds? Today we’re going to give you a quick rundown of which crowd supplies will best help you control the crowds at your party, plus show you how they can actually be part of your party décor.

Tape Posts

Tape posts are both economic and easy to use. The tape smoothly guides from one post to the next, making it easy to form barriers to keep guests out of specified areas, in an orderly line, and more. Tape posts can be easily adjusted as the party progresses, which is ideal for line formation. Tape comes in multiple colors, so you can customize the tape to your party.

Wall Mounted Units

Have limited space at your party? Wall mounted units are perfect for you. They can be attached to any wall or vertical flat surface. A wall receiver is attached to the opposite wall, creating a visual and effective barrier. Use this to block off specific areas. Have some fun with it! Make the tape intersect in odd patterns and add “Keep Out” signs so your crowd control items become part of the atmosphere of the party.

Rope Posts & Ropes

Have a theme to your party and want a particular look for your crowd control? Rope posts and ropes give you more options for crowd control. Use plastic chains for a creepy, prison sort of feel, or try twisted polypropylene ropes to give a cautious feeling. Of course if you want more glamorous, velour ropes are the way to go. These crowd control items can really add to the atmosphere of your event.

Who knew you could incorporate crowd control into your party so seamlessly? Shop now to get the items you need before the party day!

Top Stadium Considerations

Football season is here, and if you’re like the majority of the population, you are likely celebrating. Whether we’re talking about professional football or high school games, crowd control is paramount when it comes to directing people around the stadium.

While many professional stadiums likely have their crowd control strategy down, what about college and high school stadiums? Having a crowd strategy is still extremely important, even when the games are not professional. Football draws large crowds, and these crowds are extremely passionate. We’re going to help you with some tips for before, during, and after the next big game.

•         Have staff or volunteers onsite to direct parking.
•         Have clear entrances and exits so you can easily direct foot traffic.
•         Hire security to keep order during and after the game.
•         If the game requires tickets to be purchased, have clear signage available.
•         Check bags before patrons come in to ensure no weapons or illegal materials are making it inside the stadium.
•         If games have assigned seats, have ushers to direct patrons to where they are to sit.
•         Alcohol comes with a high liability risk, so consider not selling it at games.
•         Train all staff before the start of the season, even if they have worked games before. Proper training is extremely important.
•         Keep a close eye on weather reports. Inclement weather can lead to serious injury or death, and it is unlikely your patrons will be paying attention to the weather. They’re there to watch the game.
•         Monitor the parking lot throughout the game. Glass and other items may have been left behind from tailgating. Clean this up to avoid injuries.
•         Make rules in the parking lot and in the stadium very clear. These should be posted so they are easy to spot.

These small tips can save you big headaches on game day.