How many guards should I have?

[Tyler]

I am wanting to know how many guards I should hire for a temp teen nightclub. I am expecting around 800 people a night. Also are off duty cops better? Know how much the cops charge? Thanks for help!!!

[Club Security]

Hello,

If you ask that question of 10 general managers or security managers you will get several answers, perhaps even 10 separate answers. There is no book, there are no guidelines and there are no rules.

One good rule is to have 1 guard per 50 customers. 800 capacity would mean 16 to 18 guards. Some say that rule of thumb is high. Some thoughts have put it at 1 per 100 customers. 800 capacity equals 8 to 10 guards. I prefer to stay with the larger number ratio, 1:50 and think that with that number, the staff can handle almost any event that can occur. Remember, this number is not just in the club. You have a team of two making restroom checks for narcotics and smuggled alcohol. You have to have a team of two making parking lot or outside building checks for narcotics usage, drinking in their cars, fights or domestic violence. The dance floor will have several guards in a concentrated area for the safety of all on the floor. The 1:50 number goes quickly. Yes, on occasion you will have extra guards. Then again, on other nights, you will not have enough.

One other thing, normally within a large crowd there usually won’t be several instigators or troublemakers, just a couple. If your staff is large enough and trained correctly they will be able to recognize the potential troublemakers before things go sour and remove the bad apple with several of the guards present. Removing a customer who is starting to cause trouble quickly is very important to the whole dynamics of group fights. All groups are usually incited by just one loud mouth or jerk. Strength in numbers and don’t be shy about showing several security members to remove just one guy.

Good luck,

Nightclub Security Consultants

[Andrew]

Personally, I like seeing lots of security staff. I can say for sure that I know one club that was having a bit of trouble with the council so they put on extra security staff and even patrolled the immediate neighbourhood!

Crazy? Not when you find out that they won over the local residents and got additional support from the people most likely to complain.

BTW, I have seen security staff get up and dance! A dangerous precedent as they lose objectivity.

[Club Security]

Opps... I forgot the cop question.

Cops can be good and bad. I think you will hear both sides here.

I am a cop and I make a good hourly wage. You won't want to pay me my hourly wage for working in your club. Other cops from other cities will take less and not care.

Suggestions. First, call the local police station and ask if it is even allowed for the cops to work in a nightclub or bar. In San Diego for example, it isn't against the law but there is a strict Department policy preventing San Diego cops from working in any police regulated activity such as a bar, nightclub, massage parlor, strip club, etc.

Second, if it is legal, what do you want them to do? Do you want them as a deterrent or to really be cops when something happens in your club? What about liability if they use force and are acting as a cop? What if they allow things to happen and act as a good witness instead of a trained security member? A lot of questions that only you can answer.

In Ebor City (Tampa, Florida) many clubs pay the salary of a cop to the city to allow cop to sit at their front doors and be a great deterrent to the troublemakers. If there is an issue in the club, they work with the security staff and while calling for their own back up police officers. In San Antonio and Dallas, Texas, the cops can work in and around your club in uniform for overtime pay. The cities have made special rules for clubs that want the cops on their premise and from what I have seen, most clubs with uniformed cops just don’t have the problems. And even with the uniformed cops in and around the clubs the profits roll in.

Good luck.

Nightclub Security Consultants

[Tyler]

Thanks for your answers that really helped.

[Club Security]

Hello Tyler,

You mentioned that at one club they had extra patrol for the neighborhood.

In many states, the area surrounding the club... the neighborhood... is the responsibility of the club. That is, if patrons are using the side streets and any adjacent parking lots for parking or a pre-party location, those areas are absolutely the responsibility of the club. No questions asked. There are some distance limits but if your club is the only one around, the distance limits go out the window. Soooo providing extra security guards to help keep the neighborhood safe, quite and clean is a great idea. Not to mention a great "in your face" we want to do a good job for our neighbors action.

Another thing. Think about this idea. Many clubs are having constant trouble with noise from patrons leaving the club or standing in line. The music often floats from the club and disturbs nearby homes. What about taking a couple of "People Person" employees and walk the neighborhood on a Saturday or Sunday during the day when neighbors are home. Ask questions. Ask them what their concerns are. Ask what they would like to see done. Ask how the club can help them. Ask them for suggestionson how the two groups, the club and the neighbors, can live together. Then, have a pre-planned day to offer a free meal for the neighbors. Offer a lunch or a brunch for your good neighbors. Show them you want to be apart of their community all the time and not just when they want to sleep.

Just a thought. Good luck!

Nightclub Security Consultants

[Tyler]

that's a really good idea to keep the peeps in the community happy. It will make you look like a good biz. Thanks alot!!!

[CPal37]

I agree with the above - actual police may or may not be right for you. And ,as mentioned, they may not be allowed to work bars/clubs.

That said, I will give my experience with the subject. The bar I used to work at did use uniformed officers working an off-duty "side job". Pretty much the extent of their duties was to work the door, check ID's. However, several "extras" did come with this. First of all, most trouble makers and/or under aged would not even bother coming to the place because of the presence of the officer. Secondly, if there were a problem, the officers usually would ASSIST the club staff in the situation. And people were less likely to cause more of a scene with staff because the uniformed officer was there. And, finally, and possibly most importantly.... The local police knew that "one of their own" was checking IDs - so there were no surprise inspections for underage drinking (or other violations). Keep in mind, however, that this is no free pass to serve underage, or break other laws/codes - the local PD just figured "why check that place if one of our guys is a;ready there checking it?".. . Additionally the State Liquor Control board - while not a guarantee - usually would have the same philosophy and would not want to "step on the toes" of the local PD unless they had received reports of the place.

At the time - 5+ years ago (price may have changed since then) - the price for the officer was $12.50/hr with a min. of 4 hours. Also, this was not a large club, rather a smaller-medium bar. With a large club, they may require you to hire more than on (they required two officers at larger gatherings like wedding receptions, etc. - but that may have been a requirement of the banquet hall, rather than the PD.

Hope this helps some...

Chris

[Tyler]

Thanks a lot for your help man!!!