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Party security – What to look for in a security guard

A great party calls for great security. The last thing you want is the night you’ve been planning for so long being ruined by unwanted guests, disturbances and fights. So what should you look for in a security guard? There are probably a few things you haven’t thought of…

First things first, the old rule is always a good one; you get what you pay for. Many people will offer their services very cheap. You may even get some friends who offer to do it for you either free or very very cheap. The issue with this is, the whole reason you want to pay for a security guard is in case anything bad happens. Do you know what your friends are like under pressure? What qualifications do they have? If a fight breaks out, are they going to know what to do, or might they just make the whole situation worse?

The same goes for the super cheap security guards you can find. More than likely they’ll just provide someone who looks big and scary, but when push comes to shove, they might not have the skills to deal with all the situations that might arrive. We’ve seen it all; security guards getting involved in fights instead of breaking them up, falling asleep on the job, and just general poor decision making.

Another shortcut some security guard providers take is under-providing for the numbers. If someone tells you one security guard will be enough for your party of 800 people, they’re telling you lies to win the business. If something happens with a crowd of that size, one person is not going to be enough to contain the situation. They’re banking on nothing happening at your party, in which case, why would you get a security guard at all?

It’s not just crowd control
Hiring a security guard isn’t just about blocking party crashers and stopping fights. They can provide a whole host of services that will make your party run as smoothly as possible. Things like stopping intoxicated guests from drinking any more or doing anything stupid, making sure drunk people get into a taxi (not behind a wheel!), prevent theft by keeping an eye out on your valuables, watch out for vandals who target parties, and the biggest thing, they grant you peace of mind. You can relax and just enjoy the party, instead of nervously scanning for any signs of trouble.

So what to look for?
The first thing you want to ask is about their previous jobs. Make sure they have enough experience so that you know you can trust them to take care of any situation that might arrive. Another thing to look for is the proper qualifications. Make sure they are trained and have the right qualifications for the job. Thirdly, make sure that what they’re offering you makes sense and doesn’t sound like they’re just telling you what you want to hear. If everyone is quoting 4 hours and two people, and someone else quotes you two hours with one person, they’re just trying to get a cheaper quote to win your business, and you’re the one who’ll pay the consequences!

Some questions to ask would be;
How many events have you done similar to mine?
What’s the largest number of guests you’ve catered for?
Give an example of a time you had to break up a fight.
What qualifications do you have?
What guarantees can you make?

Elite Investigations provides security services that go well above and beyond a typical security guard, since many of our security staff are also detective investigators. This means they approach the security of your event with a sharp eye for detail and knowledge of the many ways in which your security could be compromised. The epitome of discretion and professionalism, Elite Investigations detectives and security services will make your event a roaring success. Give us a call on 1300 721 715 or email info@eliteinvestigations.com.au.

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