You’re having an event and you want to hire security guards. Inevitably, you’ll ask yourself this question: “How many guards do I need?” Most times, people underestimate the number with the intent to not spend “too much” money on guards, but in today’s increasingly violent (and sometimes bizarre) world, safety needs to be a chief concern. Event planners should, therefore, always err on the side of caution, and not be afraid to spend the necessary money in order to protect their guests and property/venue well.
Ideally, guards are there at an event to keep order and keep the event planner’s risk at a minimum.
Prepare for the Unforeseen
First, for your event, think of all the likely scenarios that could go wrong. Then think, “How many guards would be needed for crowd control and to put people at ease if the worst happened?” Start from there with your thinking…
Event Type
Next, will there be alcohol at the event? If so, that automatically increases the need for more guards, because drunk guests cause problems that guards have to take care of… a heavy metal concert where beer is served is a lot different than, say, an alcohol-free church concert.
If no alcohol is present at your event, then consider having one guard for every 150 guests. If alcohol is present, then go with one guard for every 75 guests. Keep in mind that guards often end up watching over gates, doors, and assets, so plan accordingly.
Security Guards for Larger Events
What about small events? If there are less than 10 people, you probably don’t need a guard. Most events, however, tend to fall in the range of 10 to 50 guests. With that scenario, two to four guards make sense. Get more guards if the area covered is larger, with people scattered throughout many areas.
Larger events, with 50 to 250 people, mean that you should consider hiring and utilizing four to twelve guards. If the event brings 250 to 1,000 people, then it’s a good idea to have twelve to thirty guards.
Want to discuss your event with a security professional, to get a better idea of exactly how many guards would be ideal for your particular situation? Please call C.O.P. Security at 585-750-5608.