Showsec secured Belladrum Tartan Heart festival, near Inverness, for the forth year, over which time the security operation has evolved with growth of the festival to its current 13,000 capacity.
Festival organiser Joe Gibbs, a member of the Association of Independent Festival Organisers, says: “We have a unique family festival which is becoming an integral part of the highland events calendar. There is no other company of Showsec’s calibre who could maintain the balance between our relaxed family atmosphere and the safety and security of our patrons and artists.”
Changes have been introduced year on year taking account of the specific needs of the organisers, alongside the companies experience at other festival sites. This year Showsec supplied 199 licensed security professionals, selected in line with the family oriented audience. Since opening the Scottish office in 2009 there has been an increasing number of Scottish staff at Belladrum, in 2010 Scott Anderson, area manager Scotland based in Edinburgh and Steve Dyker, operation executive based at Aberdeen contributed a team of 50 out of the total of 199 event security staff.
Showsec’s Northern area manager Allan Wallace, the appointed festival head of security says: “We enjoy a productive open relationship with the festival family based on trust and understanding; they are willing to accept fresh ideas to improve their event. They have some very clear ideas about the kind of festival they want to put on, so we find the safest, most effective way for them to achieve that.
“For example, the division of campsites has been undertaken to create a family friendly quiet yellow area, whilst the red area caters for visitors who like to party into the night, with a mid-range green campsite for families. Our staff were briefed to enforce this and on the first (Thursday) night moved some rowdy party campers from yellow to red, which kept everyone happy.
“The organisers want a family focused festival so staff were briefed to apply zero tolerance to under age drinking and interject quickly and quell any anti-social behaviour. The use of separate wristbands for under 18’s, who are not allowed on site without an adult, made it easier at the bars but requires sensitive, patient enforcement at the entrance gates.
“The result is that there were relatively few ejections because we have been pro-active with the whole festival team to create the right atmosphere. Belladrum has a brilliant “bon ami” with a unique character on a beautiful site.”
Showsec managed crowds across the weekend (August 6 and 7) from perimeters, backstage areas, campsites to all public areas, along with six live stages varying from local folk and ceilidh bands to The Wailers, to Amy Macdonald to the mosh pits of Feeder and Glasgow based Twin Atlantic. There was a busy daytime kids area and the ‘Mothers Ruin’ area dedicated to DJs; and a late night headphone disco.
Showsec and Mr Tumble
A balance of maintaining safety and security with a very customer focused operation for festival organisers Rob da Bank and John Hughes with the Loud Sound production team was called for at the family-oriented Camp Bestival, from July 28 to 31.
Southern Regional Manager Steve Reynolds says; “Customer care was a high priority for everyone. We worked with all stake-holders to create a plan and briefed staff very thoroughly in that area. It was imperative we create a relaxed and safe environment for the 25,000 capacity crowd from the moment they arrived on site. Parents with small children had travelled for hours in warm cars, so all staff were encouraged to welcome guests courteously, familiarise themselves with all key locations for giving directions and to be patient at all times.”
The team of 280 event security staff from Showsec offices across the UK, including 80 from the new South Coast area, ensured that all visitors were greeted in friendly fashion.
Showsec’s Festival Security Manager Tracey McCarthey co-ordinated operations with local agencies and ran what the contractor termed a family oriented security operation.
Tracey said: “We carefully selected staff for the specialist audience profile comprised of 10,000 children and 15,000 adults. Andy Edwards supervised the Kids Field, and with so many attractions staff kept a constant vigilance for lost children, with clear communication through radio communication and the event control room, resulting in all families being quickly reunited. Mr Tumble was the star attraction of the dynamic Kids Field, with interactive circus, art and kiddies catwalks keeping children amused. Adults were entertained with bands such as The Fall, Madness and Tinchy Stryder on the main stage. This audience went from the old experienced gig-goers to the younger, smaller and inexperienced members of the audience, with some boisterous teenagers also ‘in the mix’, which required attentive monitoring by the pit team, as crowds got excited at the front of the stage.”
