Metal Detectors

[Club Security]

I would like input on the use of metal detectors. There are large walk thru detectors, hand held wands and even smaller, almost totally hiden hand held models.

I would like to know your thoughts. You use them and love them. You use them and hate them. You don't use them and never will. You don't use them but need or want to. You need them but don't know enough about them.

I would also like to know about any good or bad experiences when you visited a club that had metal detectors.


Thanks,

Robert
Nightclub Security Consultants

[buzz]

I have exp. with alot different metal detect. We mainly use a wand. I have also used a pad down method that works really well. Alot of the security starts with your outside personal. At both clubs that i have managed on are busy nights we use outside security to monitor the parking lot, which they watch customers and radio to the door guy if they try carry anything in. I would say that metal detect. good way to go, but you must change things around at your door. If you dont customers know what you do and they try get things in different ways. I'll have my guys pad down one night then use the wand other nights for change up. If you still have problems you might want to look at your music. Different music brings in different customers.


later buzz

[Club Security]

Thanks for the replay buzz.

I also believe in changing things up at the door once in awhile. Using "Pat Downs" to search customers is an totally differant thing. Touching the customers as they enter the club is a whole subject of its own.

So you know, I don't own a club, I just want to get information from anyone and everyone on the use of metal detectors. Good, bad or whatever.

Thanks again,

Robert
Nightclub Security Consultants

[steffen]

I've been thinking about this the last few days...

I've got to side with Robert, about the whole touching the customer thing... It just invites trouble if not done properly or should an "accidental" touch happen.

I don't mind the metal detectors though, I think it could be a reassuring point for some people, and a negitive towards others.

Take this account for the type of club-goer, that sees a wand or metal detector....

* - The "never-goes-out" person - Can be good or bad..."This club has so much trouble, they use metal detectors..." or "At least they're trying to prevent it..."

* - The "club regular" - "Ya Ya, get it over with...."

* - The "New to this club, but goes out" - Is the one that I'd be worried about, and is by far the largest group. You can't tell who they are, and if they don't like it... there is the possibility of your "street rep" getting bad.


So, bottom line? I see it both ways, but unless it gives me some sort of break with the insurance, liquor board, or city regulators... I probably won't ever use 'em.

[Andrew]

Recently, a "heavy" club closed down in an area that I do all my clubbing in. A mate and I were discussing where that (scary) clientelle would go, and we knew trouble would soon follow.

Anyway, they went from a place that had pat-downs and metal-detectors to a place that I had trouble getting into (I love the irony). This place had a guy on the street; no detectors and no pat-downs.

A stabbing occurred about a week ago. Could have been avoided with a metal detector. I feel funny about pat-downs (a bit too personal for my liking) but I am all for metal detectors.