Showsec provided event security and crowd management in Hyde Park’s busy summer calendar, ensuring the safety of over 350,000 people attending Wireless Festival, Hard Rock Calling and Madonna’s MDNA concert, pictured, in June and July 2012.
The company has worked with organisers Live Nation to provide crowd management at the annual series of shows for eight consecutive years. Combining experienced event security professionals alongside new team members, Showsec introduced improved site briefing and reporting procedures to ensure effective communications, both internally and with clients.
Diverse line up’s across the three week period drew a varied range of audience profiles, with headline artists Rihanna and Drake taking to the stage at Wireless, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon performing for Hard Rock Calling, followed by Madonna’s tour concert. Knowledge of changes in site layout and audience behaviour were crucial, with Showsec providing approximately 600 SIA professionals and stewards from its UK network of offices across each key concert date.
New technology supported updated operational procedures to improve on-site communications, with Showsec utilising its new GPS tracking system around the site perimeter; using QR codes to produce a detectable trail of site reports which are logged back to the control office.
Steve Reynolds, head of 2012 operations, says:
“This year’s first run of Hyde Park concerts has provided an opportunity to fine-tune improved site procedures, including new search operations and entrance layouts to ensure accurate flow rates for the thousands of visitors. This information will form part of our final training and briefing protocols in preparation for the subsequent major live music events across London this summer.
“With an expanding workforce following our ‘Be Part of It’ recruitment campaign, these shows have meant experienced managers and supervisors have been able to successfully integrate considerable numbers of new staff at all levels into how Showsec deliver consistently high standards.
“We’ve utilised established management personnel to meet the different security requirements from a large festival environment to that of a standalone tour show and the entire team has shown a solid commitment to the series of concerts, with a focus on creating a sunny atmosphere for crowds through challenging weather conditions.
“A smooth transitional period in between each event has been integral to meet the expectations of clients and associated partners including Live Nation, Madonna MDNA World Tour, Metropolitan Police and TFL. Continuous planning meetings were implemented to ensure strong relationships and effective communications between all parties, especially as we move forward to the remaining series of Hyde Park events.”
