How to Effectively Manage Crowds at Events
Whether it’s a music concert, outdoor festival, sporting event or business conference, crowd management is crucial if you’re planning a large event. To make sure you get it right for your upcoming event, read up on our tips for successfully managing large crowds of people.
The importance of crowd management at events
Crowd management is vital in big crowds for the purpose of safety. Whenever there is a large number of people in one place, there’s a higher risk of accidents and injury. If entrances and exits aren’t properly managed, too many people can try and get through at once, leading to injury and even fatalities.
Emotions can also run high at events, especially when alcohol is present. If a crowd becomes violent, mob mentality can make things escalate quickly. Ensuring you have efficient crowd management is crucial for helping reduce violence and limit damage to both people and property.
How to manage crowds at events
There are a few simple things you can do to efficiently manage large crowds in any outdoor or indoor venue:
1. Have queue barriers
One of the easiest means of crowd control is to use queue barriers. Queue barriers help show attendees where they need to be in the venue. Using them at ticket stations, registration points, or entrances also helps ensure a controlled flow of people, rather than a large crowd entering at once.
2. Make check-ins easy
You’ll also need to make sure check-in is as quick and easy as possible to avoid long queues and agitated attendees. Boredom and frustration can quickly turn into an opportunity for aggression in some scenarios, so be sure to have an efficient queueing system in place. You can do this by:
- Having several check-in points if the location allows it.
- Letting attendees check-in online.
- Using e-tickets or apps with quickly scannable QR codes.
Consider using technology like facial recognition for faster processing and assigning dedicated lanes for pre-registered attendees to expedite entry.
3. Place staff at key locations
Once you’ve determined the number of attendees to your event, ensure you have enough staff to manage the crowds. The staff at your venue should be placed strategically. Entrances, exits, and registration points – all key areas inside and outside should be manned.
4. Hire security staff
If you’re anticipating large crowds and potentially rowdy behaviour, hire trained security personnel. They can intervene in conflict, monitor suspicious activity, and enforce crowd control measures. Security professionals are crucial for maintaining a safe environment during large-scale events.
5. Ensure means of communication
Communication is vital during events. Use reliable tools such as:
- Walkie talkies for staff members.
- A tannoy system for public announcements.
Event apps that send real-time notifications to attendees can also improve event flow and safety.
6. Provide clear signage
Good event signage helps attendees navigate with ease. Signs should highlight:
- Toilets
- Smoking areas
- Bars
- Check-in points
- Entrances and exits
Consider adding large banners, custom flags, or A-boards for high-visibility areas, and link branded signage to barriers to control crowd flow while reinforcing event branding.
7. Have a contingency plan
Prepare for emergencies. Staff should be trained on procedures for scenarios such as severe weather, overcrowding, or security threats. Knowing how to manage evacuation calmly is critical for safety.
