Scoping event security well is the difference between an event that runs smoothly and one that doesn’t. Here’s how it should be approached - and how you can think about it before you book a provider.
1. Start with the event, not the guard count
Before anyone talks numbers, understand the event itself:
- Expected attendance and crowd profile
- Whether alcohol is served, and your licence conditions
- The venue layout - entries, exits, bars, stages, high-risk zones
- Time of day, duration, and bump-in / bump-out
Guard numbers should fall out of this, not lead it.
2. Map the risks and the licence conditions
Every event has conditions attached - from the venue’s liquor licence, the local council, or the event approval. These often dictate minimum security and RSA requirements. A good provider works from these, not around them.
3. Decide the right mix of roles
Most events need a planned mix of:
- Crowd controllers for entry, flow and incident management
- RSA marshals where alcohol is served
- Static guards for fixed points like gates, back-of-house or equipment
- A supervisor once you’re past a handful of staff
Not sure of the difference? See RSA marshal vs crowd controller.
4. Get a written plan
Any provider worth booking will give you a written operational plan: guard numbers and positions, emergency and evacuation procedures, communication between their team and yours, and a clear escalation path. If you can’t see the plan, you can’t rely on it.
5. Ask these questions before you book
- Are your staff licensed, and can you show me?
- Will I get the same supervisor and team, or a rotating roster?
- How do you handle incidents, and how fast do you escalate?
- What reporting do I get after the event?
- Have you worked events like mine, near me?
How Arokin scopes an event
We scope every event in person where we can. We walk the site, work from your licence conditions and history, and build the plan with you - then brief and supervise the team on the day, and document the event afterwards. Plan the site, then staff it: that’s how we operate, applied to your event.
Planning something? Tell us about it and we’ll help you scope it properly.