Concerts can be exciting, energetic events, where fans can see their favourite performers live on stage. However, concerts don’t come without risks, which is where event security guards come in. Concert security guards are there to keep venues safe from weapons, violence, and unruly behaviour. But what about mosh pits? In this blog, we’ll discuss how security guards handle this concert activity.
What Is A Mosh Pit?
Moshing is a style of improvisational dance performed at live music events where participants push, slam, and sometimes swing their arms at each other. The mosh pit itself is a circle within the crowd where moshing is performed. Moshing is traditionally performed at punk, hardcore, and heavy metal concerts, though rap concerts have also adopted the tradition in recent years. Due to the obvious danger of physical contact, mosh pits can create serious safety concerns.
In addition to injuries resulting from physical contact, mosh pits can also cause crowd crush. This is where crowds become too tightly packed, making it difficult for members of the crowd to move and, in extreme cases, breathe. Moshing can also sometimes lead to another dangerous concert activity: crowd surfing. Crowd surfers often suffer and inflict injuries ranging from bruises to sprains, and even head injuries.
So, how do security guards handle mosh pits?
Monitoring Crowds For Signs of Distress
Event security guards will keep a watchful eye out for any injured individuals in the crowd and mosh pit. In addition to those suffering injury, they will monitor for those who may be fragile, such as the elderly, children, and disabled people. Security guards will attempt to move these individuals away from the mosh pit for their safety.
Security guards will also monitor for any disruptive or unsafe behaviour, such as intentional hitting and aggression. Individuals committing harmful acts will be removed from the crowd area, and potentially the concert venue, before the situation escalates.
Administering First Aid
In the event of a concert injury, an event security guard will remove the injured person from the crowd and provide first aid assistance. This may include bringing them to the concert’s first aid area, or a quieter space to administer first aid. At Blackbird Security, our security guards receive first aid training through our in-house training program, Blackbird Academy. First aid training allows our guards to respond promptly to injuries, ensuring a quick response and support for event staff.
In the case of serious injuries, event security guards will coordinate with first responders and assist medics in accessing and removing the injured individual from the concert venue.
Providing Support For Attendees
As part of their commitment to ensuring safety, event security guards are present to provide support for concert attendees. A uniformed event security guard is easily distinguishable within crowds and can be approached by attendees if they feel unsafe or need help.
Blackbird Security guards prioritize customer service and professionalism, receiving customer service training through Blackbird Academy. This enables them to be a supportive, reassuring presence within the crowd who attendees can feel comfortable approaching. Additionally, security guards within the crowd may distribute water to attendees, ensuring crowd members stay hydrated and comfortable.
Communicating With Crowd And Performers
Communication is key to managing mosh pits effectively. Security guards often coordinate with performers and event organizers to ensure that crowd members maintain a safe environment. Performers can be encouraged to address the crowd if they notice unsafe behaviour, and may even stop their song and flag security to ensure crowd safety.
Similarly, security guards often communicate directly with attendees to provide instructions or warnings when necessary. These open lines of communication help create a cooperative environment where everyone understands the importance of safety.
Closing The Mosh Pit
If the mosh pit becomes too out of control, or multiple injuries occur, event security guards will close down the mosh pit by entering the crowd and issuing verbal warnings. This helps to ensure the safety of all attendees while ensuring the show can continue as scheduled.
Partner With Canada’s Best Concert Security Provider
Safeguarding your large-scale concert against unsafe behaviour is crucial for maintaining an environment of safety while allowing attendees to enjoy themselves. It’s critical for venues to organize comprehensive, professional security for live events. At Blackbird Security, event and concert security is one of our specialties. We’ve protected concerts across Canada, such as Bryson Tiller and Kid Laroi, in major cities including Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton.
Looking for event security for your next concert? Get in touch with us through the form below to get started.
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