Set in the south Derbyshire countryside at Catton Park, Bloodstock is a dedicated heavy metal festival. Founded and organised by the Gregory family, it sees 15,000 fans each year. The event security contractors Showsec likewise have become familiar faces at the festival due to their enjoyment of the working experience. As well as the heavy metal line-up, which in this instance was headlined by Within Temptation, Trivium and Rob Zombie, one of the other big attractions was an art exhibition featuring the work of the festival’s co-founder Paul Raymond Gregory. This included Gregory’s work-in-progress ‘Mordor Festival’ which made another appearance in the RAM Gallery by the Main Stage, along with many other fantasy art work pieces that include a design of the festival logo every year.
The ‘Mordor Festival’ is inspired by Tolkien and has a unique frame, which now features the Showsec logo with many other partners of BOA.
Showsec Operations Executive Darren Evans, is himself a heavy metal fan who attended the festival before he began working for Showsec. “Our support of the art exhibition is a good example of how we have worked closely with the Gregory family to help develop the very unique and special festival community at Bloodstock Open Air. We have a great relationship with all who work at Bloodstock, everyone knows everyone and this all adds to the success of the event.
“It is like a big family gathering with a real sense of togetherness and community spirit which ensures the festival is enjoyed by everyone.”
“A large number of our staff look forward to working at Bloodstock all year round. So much so, that staff from as far afield as Wales are willing to travel to Catton Park to work each year.”
In praising the contribution of Showsec, Bloodstock Director Adam Gregory cited an example of interaction with fans which highlighted the important role that is played in stimulating such a good-natured, friendly atmosphere.
Adam Gregory said: “Showsec provide a pivotal team to help with Bloodstock each year, the staff are friendly and welcoming to all while at the same time ensuring the fan and staff safety is their top priority throughout the festival. Bloodstock fans have embraced the Showsec team and consider them very much a part of the family.
“Walking through the crowds on Saturday, I personally heard one of the fans asking a Showsec staff member for his name and said: ‘GREAT to meet you’, which I thought was a really nice gesture. It goes to show exactly how the working relationship between Bloodstock and Showsec has grown.
“Showsec’s staff understand how to be in control without coming over aggressive, a rare commodity these days and we look forward to a continued partnership.”
This was the 15th year Bloodstock has been staged and for the last six of those years, Showsec have been there. Although some of the sights were scary, including Predator, zombies, Judge Dredd and a clown sporting a gas mask, the vibe is of a metal family mainly there to ‘rock out’ and have fun. One metal fan wrote on the festival’s Facebook page: “I love the Showsec personnel. They’re all really nice people, a lot of whom seemed to love the music as well. Maybe that’s why the same personnel seem to sign up for working it every year.”
While the good nature of its followers and the community spirit generate a special atmosphere, there is nevertheless an important role for Showsec to fulfil to ensure that it is an enjoyable experience for all in attendance, such as having an experienced pit team to manage the enthusiasm and energy within the crowd.
