13th March 2024
We are a specialist UK security company providing security for festivals. If you are looking to hire a firm for your upcoming festival or event, we can provide assessments, trained guards, VIP protection, crowd management, access control, emergency planning, and more. Get started by requesting a quote, and we will be in touch with more information on how we can help.
Festival security is one of the vital security services we provide at Stage Security. It is one of our most challenging tasks, but we are always dedicated to ensuring all attendees, performers, and staff have a fun and safe day. Several obstacles can cause danger at a festival, from public disorders to drug abuse, which is why we must be prepared. The steps we take to execute a successful festival and the risks involved can depend on the nature and size of the event.
In this article, we will discuss key steps in planning for festival security and highlight the high risks that our experienced team is trained to identify.
As with much of our work, providing security for a festival starts right at the planning stage. This is where we will conduct several risk assessments to determine the current level of risk. For instance, we will assess the current risk of overcrowding and, if necessary, identify actions to mitigate it. Other risks that we frequently encounter include electrical and fire hazards, crew safety and weather or environmental conditions. Ultimately, we must prepare for any scenario, including those that are unexpected or unlikely to occur. Should an unexpected situation arise during the festival, the correct procedures must be in place to counteract the threat and mitigate the level of risk. By assessing the risks, we can determine what resolutions need to be in place before the festival and prioritise resources for the risks that are more likely to happen.
In addition to risk assessments, this early process involves planning the festival in as much detail as possible. We will consider aspects such as site suitability and transport links. It’s essential that the festival site can accommodate the intended capacity, that sufficient transportation options are available for attendees, and that the festival does not negatively impact the local community and environment. It’s also essential to outline what items can and cannot be brought into the festival site in the form of a prohibited items list that can inform security personnel and festival-goers of the clear regulations.
We will also prepare for any emergency to ensure an effective evacuation plan is in place should the site need to be evacuated at any point. It’s vital to liaise with local councils and emergency services at every step to explain the security measures that will be taken, and to hear their suggestions and concerns. When we plan for a festival, we will always produce security briefing packs to provide clear and informative communication for all those who require it.
When it comes to the festival week itself, crowd management is crucial to the work we carry out. We make sure that suitable fencing and barriers are in place. It’s essential that a streamlined entrance and exit system is in place and that restricted areas are clearly marked and secured. When permitting access to guests, our security personnel are both friendly and firm when conducting searches, ensuring that a good first impression is made while restricting unauthorised access and removing any prohibited items. Festivals are meant to be fun, but from time to time, some people either take it too far or attend with bad intentions in mind. Our security guards are trained to spot all kinds of bad behaviour, including anti-social behaviour, out-of-control mosh pits, crowd disturbances and drug use, and respond appropriately.
Festivals can lead to unpredictable situations, regardless of the event’s size. They are typically much larger than a concert or an event at an indoor venue and require complex management. Effective communication among all festival staff is crucial for running a safe and successful festival. We will always provide security briefing packs to inform relevant personnel about key information. This ensures that everyone is on the same wavelength regarding various security matters, including prohibited items, evacuation procedures, and key contact information. We take steps to ensure that the security personnel for Stage Security maintain a visible presence and have access to a good radio communications system. We must ensure strong and clear communication between all relevant agencies, including the police, first aid, and event management. We also perform regular spot checks on staff and events car parks, as well as storage areas.
As a professional security firm, it’s our priority to maintain the welfare of all those involved in the successful operation of the festival. It goes without saying that we aim to keep all attendees safe, so they have a fun and entertaining time at the festival. However, there are three particular areas of welfare that we pay special attention to. One of these areas is staff welfare. Festival staff should be able to carry out their tasks without encountering risks. Securing restricted areas, providing efficient crowd management and preventing health & safety hazards help us to keep staff safe. We know that some festival-goers can become loud and aggressive after becoming intoxicated, which is why our security guards always maintain a highly visible presence.
Then there is the welfare of children at family-friendly festivals. There is a risk of children running around where they shouldn’t, getting seriously injured, or losing their parents or guardians at large-scale events. Our personnel hold the necessary qualifications and skills to safeguard the welfare of children and will be fully aware of the procedures to reconnect lost children with their parents/guardians.
Finally, we look to provide adequate solutions to ensure site welfare. This includes setting up lost and found areas, providing necessary supplies to attendees, and ensuring key facilities are available, such as toilets, power points, and food & drink.
We understand the importance of customer service when interacting with the public. Security for festivals should not make attendees feel intimidated or deterred by an overly intrusive security presence. We do everything we can to ensure everyone’s safety first and foremost, but it’s absolutely possible to achieve this with a friendly and positive attitude. We understand the importance for festival organisers that attendees leave with a positive experience. This is especially true for annual shows that rely on returning attendees. Our role in customer experience starts at the very beginning. We will typically be the first point of contact for festival-goers as soon as they arrive, so we must leave a good first impression. All our personnel are instructed on the essentials of security, as well as people skills, clear communication, and maintaining friendly interactions.
Hiring a professional security company to oversee your festival is only one of the essential measures that you should put in place. To ensure the safety and well-being of your festival attendees, there are additional safety requirements to consider. For instance, you may need to hire several medical services. You can partner with a medical provider, such as St John Ambulance. This measure will provide you with trained medical personnel such as doctors and paramedics, ambulance vehicles, a mobile medical centre, and first aid equipment. Ultimately, it will ensure that your customers can receive vital treatment during a medical episode, an area in which security guards are limited in their capabilities to deal with. Other partners you may work with include local police forces, Highways England, wellbeing charities, disability organisations, and fire safety consultants.
We have vast experience working on various festivals across the South East. Our security experts have worked on a range of festivals, from small to large, including music festivals, food & drink festivals, maritime festivals, and cultural events.
An example of a festival we’ve provided security for is the LeeStock Music Festival, one of the region’s largest festivals. The event celebrates music and people in honour of local musician Lee Dunford, who sadly died from blood cancer in 2006. The money raised by the festival goes to the Willow Foundation, which helps create memorable experiences for young adults with serious illnesses.
We’ve also worked at the Stowmarket Food and Drink Festival, a family-friendly event that ensures an excellent day out for all. This annual festival takes place on the first Sunday of every July and typically draws crowds of over 7,000 people. With its focus on food and drink, visitors can choose from a wide range of tasty goods, including street food, pop-up bars, sweet treats and produce stalls.
The Suffolk Show is another family-friendly event that our guards have attended, ensuring a safe and pleasant experience for visitors. The festival raises money for the Suffolk Agricultural Association, a charity dedicated to Suffolk’s food, farming and countryside matters. The Suffolk Show promises a fun-filled day with a range of attractions and activities suitable for the whole family.
We’re proud to support the annual 1 Big Multicultural Festival, which brings together people of diverse faiths and community backgrounds. This diverse event is run by the Bangladeshi Support Centre, an Ipswich-based charity that supports people from all walks of life. We’ve been working with this festival since 2014 and have seen it grow yearly. Visitors can expect a diverse range of experiences, including international cuisine, live music and dance, sports, and much more.
One of our favourite local events to cover is the Ipswich Music Day. Set during the summer months in the gorgeous Christchurch Park, this is the UK’s largest free one-day music festival. Attendees can enjoy live music and entertainment across six fantastic stages, as well as fairground rides for both children and adults, street food, a marketplace, and more.
Other local festivals we’ve supported include the Ipswich Maritime Festival, a one-day event held over the August bank holiday, featuring good entertainment and spectacular sailing yachts; the Smoke and Fire Festival; and Summertime Ipswich. Our team is dedicated to ensuring the safety of the public and VIPs while hosting a successful event that is enjoyed by all.
If you are reading this article, you are likely seeking information about how best to prepare for your upcoming festival. Security for festivals is an essential measure as it safeguards your event from potential risks, ensuring attendees are safe and preventing incidents that could harm someone, disrupt the festival, or expose your business to legal consequences. No matter the size or nature of your festival, it’s highly recommended to hire a dedicated security company with experience in this area.
The benefits of hiring a specialist include:
Festival security is one of the many professional services we offer at Stage Security. For more information, click the button below to request a customised quote and hear from our team about how we can support your festival or event.
Having a professional team of security personnel who are friendly and skilled at their job can significantly enhance your festival, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all attendees. Crowd control is a critical element, and guards are skilled at managing the flow of people to prevent overcrowding. They also set up and monitor entry and exit points to avoid bottlenecks. The security personnel will usually be the first representatives of the festival that attendees will face, so offering welcoming, friendly and engaging communication from the outset will leave a strong first impression.
The majority of festivalgoers are well-behaved, law-abiding citizens, so they will feel at ease knowing a security company is there to keep them safe. Guards will prevent incidents by patrolling the site to deter criminal activities and conducting thorough security checks to prevent the entry of prohibited items or attendees with bad intentions. In addition to maintaining order, preventing incidents, and handling emergencies, security guards often serve as the primary point of contact for information and assistance. Attendees may approach a guard for information on the festival, including the event schedule, lost and found services, or directions, or for assistance with vulnerable attendees, such as children and individuals with disabilities.
At Stage Security, we’re proud to have a record of going above and beyond to ensure a safe, friendly and fun event for both attendees and organisers. We regularly receive glowing feedback from event organisers and their customers, some of which is included below.
– “Firstly, a big thank you for all the work you and your team put in over the weekend. We had nothing but compliments and I am delighted we opted to use you for LeeStock. Following on from our previous security arrangement, it was a big step for us, but you made it really easy. Your team was excellent throughout and we were in close contact with your manager backstage throughout the weekend and he was a credit to you too.” – Matt Keogh, LeeStock Music Festival
– “I would like to thank Adam Howes and his team for their work and support at Suffolk Pride 2019. They brought their professional expertise and clear understanding of our needs to our event. They understood and delivered our objectives for the day in a proficient and skilled manner whilst carrying out their role. They embraced the importance of the event which was fantastic.” – Suffolk Pride
– “May I take this opportunity to say thank you, it has been a pleasure dealing with you and the company. Also, we all wanted to pass on our personal thanks to David who was such a nice person and he did such a good job giving us such peace of mind (and a much needed break every night after such long days!). We may be having a similar event next year for WW2, if we do need security again then we will of course be back in touch as you provided us with such a good service.” – Katrina Robertson, Whitton Parish
– “Always on point from a customer perspective and as a festival colleague… these guys nail it everytime very professional and friendly but secure safe with a smile! ! A quality that lacks these days massively… East Anglia’s no 1 Unit.” – Aaron Cooper
– “The boys who did the Spedeworth Camping over the weekend were brilliant, they cleaned the site for us as they didn’t have much to do bless them. Thanks as always.” – Graham, Trinity Park Events
– “A big thank you last night to one of your Security Team for an amazing act of kindness. I didn’t catch his name (description very tall, long black hair, full on beard) but he was an absolute credit to your team.” – Neil Swan, Customer at The Apex
If you plan to host a festival in the UK soon, we would be more than happy to discuss how Stage Security can assist you. We can provide security for festivals in areas such as event assessments, emergency planning and crowd management. Visit our request a quote page to leave your contact details, and a member of our team will contact you.
What our clients say about us
As a leading regional 24/7 security provider, we ensure every member of our team is fully SIA-licensed, highly trained, and prepared to deliver the highest standards of protection. Our commitment to robust quality processes ensures our clients benefit from consistent, reliable, and professional service at all times.
As a local security company, we take pride in offering a personalised approach backed by industry-leading standards. We work closely with each client to understand their needs, ensuring our solutions are tailored, effective, and delivered with care.
Our reliability, integrity, and meticulous planning make us one of the region’s most trusted security providers, being well-equipped to meet your requirements and safeguard your business and assets.
"Stage took the time to understand our business requirements and plans for growth. It was clear that they were the best security provider to partner with our business as we looked to expand in the UK and region of Suffolk. The services Stage has delivered to our business since the start of 2022 have helped ensure our site, staff and property is always protected."
— Sheng Li, FDS Corporation
"We have used Stage security since the beginning of 2022 and have found them to be personable and responsive to our questions and needs regarding a broad range of events. Offering appropriate security personnel to suit each event is key to us, and the team at Stage have always delivered."
— Jonathan Senior, Wherstead Park
"We have been working with Stage Security for a few years now and have always found their service to be very reliable and professional. We would certainly recommend them to other clients."
— Josie Stone, Beyond the Box Student
"The guys were amazing! Super friendly, fully capable, and highly visual. They took onboard our specific instructions, and we're nice to all that attended. Everyone at the event was very complimentary of the guys. I've recommended stage to several people based on this experience already."
— Councillor Ruman Muhith, Ipswich Borough Council
"We are very pleased with the level of service provided and look forward to continuing our partnership with them moving forward."
— Elmstead Place, Yugo
"Stage Security has been an invaluable partner in safeguarding our Ipswich office. Their professionalism and prompt response times consistently reassure us and allow us to focus on our core operations. Since partnering with Stage, we’ve seen a marked improvement in service quality and reliability. We confidently recommend them as a trusted, first-choice security provider."
— Birketts LLP
"I wanted to pass on a compliment for the security team working at the Regent on the 27th Feb: Another amazing security team- Allen, Kelly and Keira. They were proactive at the start helping to hand out wristbands to customers and putting smiles on people’s faces. Great customer service!"
— House Manager, Ipswich Regent Theatre
"Thank you to your two guys who were patrolling Christchurch Park today. They were very friendly and approachable. They took time to speak to the young people who were enjoying being in the park. As a parent it is very reassuring that they are in the park, and if there is any problems people know that they can approach them and they are there to help!"
— Lisa Cooper
"May I take this opportunity to say thank you, it has been a pleasure dealing with you and the company. Also, we all wanted to pass on our personal thanks to David who was such a nice person and he did such a good job giving us such peace of mind (and a much needed break every night after such long days!)."
— Katrina Robertson, Whitton Parish
"Kieran was the best front-of-house SIA security staff member we have worked with for years. He was attentive in what was going on, helpful and approachable with the customers. The little jobs I often have to remind staff to do just happened without prompt, he wasn't in a rush to leave for his later job, and he wasn't constantly on his phone in front of the customers."
— Shaun Whymark, Ipswich Regent Theatre
"I would like to thank Adam Howes and his team for their work and support at Suffolk Pride 2019. They brought their professional expertise and clear understanding of our needs to our event. They understood and delivered our objectives for the day in a proficient and skilled manner whilst carrying out their role."
— Suffolk Pride
"Thank you and to your team so much for Wednesday. You really were superstars and I can’t thank you enough for all your help and support. From the word 'go' you were all so professional and just got on doing what you do best."
— Sarah Shinnie, Suffolk District Council
"A very big thank you to you and your staff for a successful event (Stowmarket Christmas Fayre) that was held yesterday (28th Nov 2021). Your staff were exemplary, actively engaging with members of the public, reinforcing the road closure and also alerting myself and other Town Council staff to potential issues of concern. Thank you once again."
— Michael Marriott, Stowmarket Town Council
"I wanted to say a big thank you and well done to the security who worked here last night, especially Steph and Karl. We had a first aid incident which involved a lady fainting. Steph was very quickly on the scene and took a lot of control of what was happening."
— Mark Wright, Operations Manager, The Apex
"I wanted to write to say how brilliant your two security guards were at the school ball. They were the best we have had. They were friendly and professional, worked the whole time and were very observant with regards to the behaviour of our students; they were proactive about stepping in when required."
— Mrs Isobel Tyndale-Brown, Woodbridge School
"We held a music festival at our Holiday Park for over 3000 people, guests and owners. Hiring Stage Security was a simple process, from start to finish with professional care and regular communication throughout the whole preparation time before the event."
— Kelly Evans, The Orchards Holiday Village
