Crowd management is one of the most difficult parts of hosting an event at any venue. Whether you’re hosting a car show or a big concert, keeping the crowd safe and under control is essential. Otherwise, a whole range of things can happen, from crowd rushes to serious injuries. As the host of the event, you don’t want this to happen, as it can naturally lead to lawsuits.
Thankfully, there are lots of measures you can put in place to protect your crowds. Want to learn more about this? Great. Here are some tips and tricks to manage crowds at any venue.
1) Put Barricades in Place
Barricades are incredibly effective when it comes to managing crowds. Putting barricades in place (e.g., all around the front of the stage if you’re hosting an event at a music venue) prevents crowds from rushing forward and getting out of control. Not to mention, barricades are also great for stopping individuals who want to try and gain access to areas they aren’t supposed to.
2) Use Signage
Next, use lots of signage. This will reduce confusion and give people the directions they need to get where they need to go. For example, towards the end of your event, some people in the crowd might want to leave early to avoid congestion and traffic. However, if there’s no clear signage pointing towards the exit, it’s going to cause problems in the crowd, as nobody will know where they are going.
3) Hire Event Staff and Security
Is your upcoming event going to be at a huge venue with potentially thousands of people in the crowd? If the answer is yes, then it’s highly recommended you hire plenty of event staff and security. Your staff will then be able to monitor the crowd and identify any problems, such as someone falling over and suffering an injury. Remember, if you’re understaffed for a big event, it’s asking for trouble, especially if people in the crowd are drinking alcohol and there’s a party atmosphere.
4) Remove Problem People from the Venue
Your security staff should be under instruction to remove any problem people from the venue. If they spot someone (or a group of people) causing trouble in the crowd, they should be escorted out of the venue immediately. Otherwise, there’s a risk that the individual or group will continue their behavior to the point where it starts to get dangerous.
5) Plan for Any Emergencies
Finally, make sure that you plan for any emergencies. All good event organizers do this, from stocking up on first aid kits to having safety alarms ready to use. It doesn’t matter what type of venue you’re hosting your event at: you can never be too careful. It’s always best to air on the side of caution so that any major emergencies can be quickly handled when they arise.
Summary
The 5 tips and tricks above are all you need to manage crowds at future venues. As the event organizer, you can’t afford to cut corners, as crowd accidents are very common these days. Instead, protect your crowd and your organization’s reputation by following these crowd management best practices.
