Whether its a big event open to the public, or a private event (corporate, family, etc) there may be a call to have a guard or guards hired to ensure the security of the venue you are holding your event. Your safety and the security of the area you are in is of the utmost importance. The following are a few tips on what to look for when it comes to hiring a security guard company for any of those events.
Do Your Homework!
With things like the internet, there is no reason you can’t research the various security companies in your area. In any market, there is a lot of security guard companies going around so don’t just go with the first name you see. Take your time to look into every one of the potential security guard companies most of their information can be found on their websites. So don’t be afraid to look into things and do all the research then do it that way.
Timing
Timing is everything. Do not wait till the day before your event to try and secure a security detail. Number one they may not be able to scramble people to get together at the last minute. Another reason is $$$ the sooner you need your services like last minute or emergency services the rates go up. So book in advance as much as you can. Gives the company a long time to get things lined up to your exact specifications.
Seek out references
Don’t just trust the word of the company itself. We like to think every company is trustworthy, but a security company is a company, they are trying to sell you something. Make sure it’s worth buying. The best way to do that is to seek out references. Look up reviews on things like yelp, google, or even ask for references from the company.
Insurance
Make sure, Can’t say that enough, Make sure, that the company you go with is insured. If the company that you chose is not insured and licensed it could put you in some serious legal or financial situations should and accident or incident occur even while they are working for you. So make sure the company is licensed and insured to work for the location that you are holding your events will be the best for all involved.
Know what you want
A key thing to know is what you want. What are you looking for in a security guard(s)? Do you only need one guard or do you need a couple or a whole team? Do you need unarmed or armed? Some companies even offer off duty cops, so would you like a guard with the legal authority to detain/arrest somebody? Do you want to just have some guard to provide access control, or do you want to have someone do full tours of the property? Walking tours or patrol car tours?
See there is so much to offer its almost like a menu at a restaurant. It helps if you know what you want before you order. However, it’s not needed to know it all. Don”t worry if you don’t know every detail, feel free to speak with the company ask them what they may recommend, ask them if they have done events like the one you are apart of, and what has been the protocol for those events.
Conclusion?
Do research, don’t go with the first name that pops up on your search engine because you could be doing yourself a real disservice.
